MLB Player News

Canning is slated to work as a bulk reliever in Wednesday's contest versus the Rockies at Petco Park.

Left-hander Kyle Hart will work as an opener ahead of Canning, in a repeat of the arrangement the last time Canning's turn in the rotation came up Thursday in Atlanta. Canning hasn't fared well this season, either as a traditional starter (6.79 ERA) or reliever (7.71 ERA), and with the trade deadline looming, his time to make a positive impression could be running out.

Tena is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Blue Jays.

After starting in each of the Nationals' previous five consecutive matchups with right-handed starters, Tena has now been left on the bench against righties Shane Bieber and Trey Yesavage for the final two tilts with Toronto. Rather than leaning Tena as their regular designated hitter, the Nationals may prefer to rotate a number of different players at that lineup spot.

Hart will serve as the Padres' opening pitcher for Wednesday's game against the Rockies.

Hart opened ahead of bulk reliever Griffin Canning in a game last week in Atlanta, and it's expected to be the same setup for Wednesday's contest. The lefty Hart has posted a 5.21 ERA and 33:12 K:BB across 38 innings for the Padres this season.

Drohan has been scratched from his scheduled outing Wednesday in San Francisco, as Milwaukee will call up Thomas Pannone from Triple-A Nashville to start the series finale, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

The Brewers haven't revealed whether an injury or illness factored into the decision to push Drohan off the start, or if the team simply wanted to build in extra rest for the southpaw and the other four members of the rotation. In any case, those intending to use Drohan in DFS or activating him in season-long leagues with daily lineup moves should make alternative plans. Drohan hit six innings in each of his last four starts and went 2-2 with a 4.44 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 23:5 K:BB.

Nardi (ribs) said Wednesday that he's about 2-to-3 weeks away from beginning a rehab assignment, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

It's unclear where Nardi is in his throwing program, but the reliever has progressed enough that he believes he's not far off from pitching in games. The lefty collected a 5.16 ERA and 27:11 K:BB over 22.2 innings before going down with a left ribcage stress reaction in late May.

Sisk (elbow) will begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Indianapolis on Thursday, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.

Sisk has been shelved for the past month with left elbow inflammation, but he's progressed enough to pitch in games again. The southpaw reliever was terrific out of the Pirates bullpen before getting hurt, collecting a 2.23 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 43:13 K:BB in 36.1 innings.

Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Wednesday that Cruz (hand) has been cleared for all baseball activities, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.

Cruz is finally trending in the right direction as he continues rehabbing a fractured left hand. The Pirates anticipate the center fielder getting in some live at-bats later this week or early next week before heading out on a rehab assignment shortly thereafter. Cruz is eligible to return from the 60-day injured list Aug. 7, and he could be ready to go on or around that date if all goes well. Jake Mangum has been filling in as the Pirates' everyday center fielder since Cruz went down, but he will revert to fourth-outfielder duties once Cruz is back in the fold.

Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Wednesday that Hernandez is expected to be out for 6-to-8 weeks while recovering from a left oblique strain, Danny Demilio of PittsburghBaseballNow.com reports.

Given the recovery timeline laid out by Tomczyk, Hernandez's 2026 campaign is most likely over, as High-A Greensboro will wrap up its season Sept. 6. After the 20-year-old right-hander totaled 74 innings between his 18 starts at High-A and Single-A Bradenton, he may have been a shutdown candidate at some point in August if the injury hadn't intervened. The oblique strain shouldn't dramatically affect Hernandez's offseason training program nor his standing as one of the top pitching prospects in the minors heading into 2027. Hernandez overwhelmed Florida State League and South Atlantic League hitters with his power arsenal during his first season in the pro ranks, racking up 118 strikeouts while pitching to a 2.43 ERA and 1.05 WHIP.

Crews is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's contest versus the Blue Jays.

Crews homered in the Nationals' victory Tuesday, but he'll get some rest during Wednesday's afternoon tilt after starting the last six games. Daylen Lile, Jacob Young and James Wood will patrol the outfield for the Nats.

Ruiz is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game versus the Blue Jays.

Ruiz was behind the dish for the first two games of the series, so he'll get a break during Wednesday's matinee. The Nationals will go with Harry Ford at catcher in the rubber match.