MLB Player News

Sugano isn't expected to make his next start until the Rockies' weekend series versus the Giants at Coors Field while he tends to a finger injury, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

After claiming victories in four straight starts, Sugano's winning streak came to a halt last Friday, when he was charged with a season-high seven earned runs over five innings in a no-decision against the Twins. Sugano may have been battling the finger injury at some point during that start, prompting the Rockies to give him at least an extra day or two of rest before he slots back into the rotation. The right-hander owns a 4.80 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 48:23 K:BB over 84.1 innings with Colorado on the season.

The Rockies are expected to activate Gordon (hip) from the 15-day injured list to start or pitch in bulk relief Tuesday against the Marlins at Coors Field, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

Tomoyuki Sugano is nursing a finger injury that will result in him being pushed back in the pitching schedule a few days, so the Rockies will have an extra spot in the rotation this week that will likely fall to Gordon. The right-hander had posted a 6.37 ERA and 1.56 WHIP in 35.1 innings over nine appearances (two starts) with the Rockies before landing on the shelf June 5 due to a right hip impingement. Gordon covered four innings and 38 pitches in his lone rehab outing with Triple-A Albuquerque last week, so he could be in line for a light workload if he does in fact start for the Rockies on Tuesday.

Pauley is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Rockies.

The Marlins will send Pauley and two other left-handed batters (Griffin Conine and Owen Caissie) to the bench while lefty Sean Sullivan toes the rubber for Colorado in the series opener. After being called up from Triple-A Jacksonville on Friday, Pauley started at third base in two of the Marlins' three matchups with right-handed pitchers in St. Louis over the weekend, going 2-for-6 with two doubles, two RBI and one run. He could occupy the strong side of a loose platoon at the hot corner with Javier Sanoja, who will occupy the position Monday.

Caissie is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Rockies.

The Marlins will send Caissie and two other left-handed batters (Griffin Conine and Graham Pauley) to the bench while lefty Sean Sullivan toes the rubber for Colorado in the series opener. Caissie had started in Miami's last five games, going 4-for-12 with a home run, a double, a walk, three RBI and three runs.

Conine is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Rockies.

The Marlins will send Conine and two other left-handed batters (Owen Caissie and Graham Pauley) to the bench while lefty Sean Sullivan toes the rubber for Colorado in the series opener. Since returning from the 60-day injured list June 21, Conine has gone 3-for-20 with a double, two walks, an RBI and no runs.

Conforto will start in right field and bat seventh in Monday's game against the Padres.

Conforto will draw his second consecutive start and could be primed for a strong-side platoon role in the corner outfield after Matt Shaw (hand) was moved to the injured list Monday. For the season, Conforto is holding down a .781 OPS over 129 plate appearances, though he's slashing just .147/.194./265 with a 36.1 percent strikeout rate in June.

Kelly is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Padres.

The Cubs will keep Kelly on the bench for the second game in a row, affording Miguel Amaya another turn behind the plate after he went 1-for-2 with a double in Sunday's 4-3 win over the Brewers. Kelly has been serviceable throughout the season with a .276/.362/.391 slash line across 218 plate appearances and still appears to be the Cubs' No. 1 catcher.

The Padres optioned Wagner to Triple-A El Paso on Monday.

Wagner served as a strong-side platoon player for most of his three-week stay in the big leagues, slashing .257/.422/.286 while scoring five runs in 16 games. Since Wagner was likely to become an odd man out of the lineup with another left-handed hitter in Jake Cronenworth (concussion) returning from the 7-day injured list Moday, the Padres opted to send the 27-year-old to Triple-A so that he can continue to play regularly.

The Padres placed Morgan on the 15-day injured list Monday due to left knee inflammation.

The injury may have cropped up following Morgan's most recent relief appearance against the Dodgers on Friday, when he struck out two but allowed one run on two hits. He'll be replaced in the San Diego bullpen by right-hander Bradgley Rodriguez, who was called up from Double-A San Antonio. Morgan owns a 4.50 ERA, 1.77 WHIP and 26:13 K:BB across 22 innings in the majors this season.

The Padres recalled Rodriguez from Double-A San Antonio on Monday.

San Diego initially sent Rodriguez to the rookie-level Arizona Complex League on June 19, a move that was made to build in some rest for the hard-throwing right-hander. Rodriguez eventually moved up to San Antonio, with whom he made his lone appearance Sunday before getting the call back to the big leagues. The 22-year-old has been exceptional during his time with San Diego this season (2.10 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 32:12 K:BB in 34.1 innings), but due to the number of quality arms in the bullpen, Rodriguez may have to settle for a middle-relief role.