MLB Player News

Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said after Monday's 9-8 win over the Nationals that concern about the left oblique injury Walker suffered during the game is "not minimal," ESPN.com reports. The skipper added that Walker is scheduled to undergo an MRI on Tuesday.

Lovullo is holding out hope that Walker won't have to miss much time, but the Diamondbacks won't have a clearer idea regarding the length of a potential absence for the first baseman until the results of his MRI are read. Walker can be viewed as day-to-day for now, but fantasy managers should at the very least expect him to be out of the lineup for Tuesday's contest. Kevin Newman came off the bench to replace Walker ahead of the fourth inning of Monday's game, but Arizona could recall Pavin Smith from Triple-A Reno and have him serve as the primary first baseman should Walker require a stint on the injured list.

The Giants are expected to recall Luciano from Triple-A Sacramento prior to Tuesday's game against the Athletics, Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic reports.

San Francisco has an open spot on its active roster following Monday's trade with Atlanta and that spot will be filled by Luciano, who boasts a .413 on-base percentage with six home runs in July at Sacramento. The 22-year-old hit well with the Giants earlier this season, too, with a .986 OPS in 10 games, but his defense at shortstop was lacking. That position is now being filled by the red-hot Tyler Fitzgerald, but Luciano could receive regular reps at second base and/or designated hitter.

Davis was promoted from Single-A Palm Beach to High-A Peoria on Tuesday, Sam Dykstra of MiLB.com reports.

A first-round pick in the 2023 First-Year Player Draft, Davis really struggled at Palm Beach last year and for the first two months of this season, but he got going this June and has put up a .917 OPS with six home runs since the start of that month. He'll now be tested against a higher level of competition.

Atlanta designated Vines for assignment Monday.

The transaction comes after Vines allowed three runs (two earned) over an inning out of the Atlanta bullpen earlier Monday in the club's 8-3 loss to the Brewers. Vines has struggled both in the majors (8.56 ERA) and minors (5.14 ERA) this season, but the 26-year-old was viewed as a solid prospect not long ago and could draw some interest via trade or waivers.

Atlanta recalled Elder from Triple-A Gwinnett on Tuesday.

Elder will draw the start for Tuesday's game in Milwaukee. The right-hander has struggled mightily in his eight outings with the big club this season, putting up a 6.35 ERA and 1.64 WHIP across 39.2 innings. With Max Fried (forearm) out and Reynaldo Lopez's (forearm) status iffy, Elder could be needed for an additional start this weekend versus the Marlins.

Finnegan (2-5) took the loss Monday against the Diamondbacks, coughing up five runs on five hits while recording only one out.

The Nationals' closer got the call to protect a four-run lead in the bottom of the ninth inning, but instead Finnegan served up a leadoff triple to Alek Thomas and a two-run homer to Ketel Marte before pinch hitter Corbin Carroll walked it off with a two-run shot of his own. Finnegan has served up three homers in his last two appearances and nine in 44 innings on the season, which could give pause to trade-deadline shoppers looking for bullpen help. However, his 3.48 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 28 saves in 32 chances will still likely fetch a strong return if the Nats elect to move him.

Falter (tricep) is scheduled to start Tuesday's game against the Astros in Houston.

After returning from the 15-day injured list Monday, Falter will reclaim his spot in what tentatively shapes up as a six-man rotation for the Pirates. The southpaw was placed on the shelf July 7 with left tricep tendinitis and needed just one rehab start to convince the Pirates that he was ready to slot back into the rotation. Though Falter was limited to just three innings in his rehab start with Triple-A Indianapolis last Wednesday, he tossed 60 pitches in the outing, so he should be relatively stretched out as he rejoins the big club.

Atlanta will recall Elder from Triple-A Gwinnett to start Tuesday against the Brewers.

Elder already joined Atlanta's taxi squad in Milwaukee on Monday, so it comes as little surprise that he'll get the starting nod for the second game of the series. If Elder fares well Tuesday in his return to the big club and if Reynaldo Lopez (forearm) is forced to miss his next turn through the rotation, Atlanta could have both Grant Holmes and Elder make starts against the Marlins over the weekend. The outlooks for both Elder and Holmes beyond this week are murkier, however, especially if both Lopez and Max Fried (forearm) are able to move past their current injuries. Elder has previously made eight starts for Atlanta this season, going 1-4 with a 6.35 ERA and 1.64 WHIP across 39.2 innings.

McNeil went 2-for-4 with a double, two runs scored and three RBI in Monday's win over the Twins.

The 32-year-old shifted back to second base Monday following the acquisition of Jesse Winker, but that didn't derail McNeil's momentum at the plate. Over his last 14 games, he's slashing .340/.352/.720 with 11 runs, 15 RBI and 11 extra-base hits (seven doubles, four homers) among his 17 total knocks.

Torrens went 3-for-4 with a walk, a double, a run scored and three RBI in Monday's rout of the Twins.

Getting the start behind the plate and batting eighth with Francisco Alvarez nursing a sore shoulder, Torrens did most of his damage with a two-run double in the seventh inning. Alvarez isn't expected to miss much action, but Torrens has demonstrated he's more than capable of filling in should the Mets decide their starting catcher needs a bit more time off. Through 72 plate appearances since joining the team, Torrens is slashing .308/.361/.538 with six doubles, three homers and 13 RBI.