MLB Player News

Fortes is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Mets.

Fortes will get a chance to clear his head after committing three errors in Sunday's win over New York. Ali Sanchez will spell Fortes at catcher, forming a battery with starting pitcher Yonny Chirinos.

Pages will start at catcher and bat ninth in Monday's game against the Pirates.

Even though his playing time has been sporadic in recent weeks following Willson Contreras' return from the injured list, Pages has continued to hold his own at the plate when included in the lineup. He'll take a nine-game hitting streak into the series opener in Pittsburgh, though only two of the 11 hits he's recorded during that stretch have gone for extra bases.

Siani is absent from the lineup for Monday's game in Pittsburgh.

Siani started all three games of St. Louis' weekend series in Atlanta, but he'll begin the series opener versus the Pirates on the bench. Lars Nootbaar will slide over to center field, while Alec Burleson will play right field, Willson Contreras will serve as the designated hitter and Pedro Pages will start at catcher.

Palacios is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Cardinals, Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Palacios had started the last five games and nine of the last 10 contests, but he'll take a seat versus righty Andre Pallante. Connor Joe will pick up a start in right field in place of Palacios.

Manager Bob Melvin indicated over the weekend that Ray (elbow) could be activated from the 60-day injured list and start for the Giants during the club's four-game road series against the Dodgers that begins Monday, MLB.com reports. "I don't want to get ahead of myself, but there's a good chance he'll be pitching in L.A," Melvin said. "It's a big deal. He's probably not going to go out there and throw 120 pitches his first time out, but he got up a sixth time [in his rehab start Friday]."

Ray completed the 10th and presumably final start of his rehab assignment Friday, throwing 78 pitches over 5.1 scoreless innings for Triple-A Sacramento. The veteran southpaw underwent Tommy John surgery last May but rung up a 45:6 K:BB over 29.1 innings during his rehab stint. After pitching on four days' rest for Sacramento on Friday, Ray is likely to make his Giants debut either Wednesday or Thursday. A road matchup with the division-leading Dodgers isn't the most appealing draw, but his strikeout upside makes him a worthwhile pickup in most fantasy leagues, even if managers aren't keen on including him in active lineups right away.

Phillips' hold on the closer role is in jeopardy after Sunday's latest blunder against the Red Sox, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports. He allowed three runs on three hits and two walks while only managing to record one out via a strikeout.

Phillips was brought in to begin the ninth inning with the Dodgers leading 9-3 and allowed a single and two doubles to the first three hitters he faced. He was able to get Tyler O'Neill out on strikes before issuing back-to-back walks and getting the hook. Phillips has had a very rough stretch since the end of June, allowing nine runs on 12 hits and three walks while recording eight strikeouts over his last 7.1 innings. Prior to that, the right-hander had a 1.52 ERA, 0.97 WHIP in 23.2 innings. Manager Dave Roberts commented after Saturday's win that he was still a "long ways" from removing Phillips from the closing role and that he would give him "as much runway as he wants" to regain his previous form. His view on Phillips may have changed after Sunday's outing. Daniel Hudson picked up two saves over the weekend, and the Dodgers could also acquire another high-leverage bullpen arm at the trade deadline to address their closer situation.

Hudson did not walk or strike out a batter during a two-out save in Sunday's 9-6 win over the Red Sox.

Evan Phillips was initially called upon to begin the ninth inning with the Dodgers leading 9-3, but he only recorded one out and surrendered two runs before getting the hook. Hudson came in to replace him with the bases loaded and got Masataka Yoshida to ground into a fielder's choice before sealing the game with a fly out. Manager Dave Roberts told reporters following Saturday's win that he was a "long ways" from removing Phillips from the closer role and that he would give Phillips "as much runway as he wants" to regain his form, per Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times. However, after Phillips' latest blunder Sunday, it's entirely possible that the Dodgers adopt a committee approach to the ninth inning for the time being. The team could also add another high-leverage bullpen arm at the trade deadline. Hudson has converted three straight save opportunities and sits at six total for the year. He has a 1.56 ERA, 0.79 WHIP and 43:7 K:BB in 40.1 innings.

Fitzgerald went 1-for-2 with a solo home run and a walk in Sunday's 3-2 win over the Rockies.

Fitzgerald has homered in back-to-back games as he continues to build a case for more playing time. Most importantly, his homer Sunday came off right-hander Ryan Feltner -- Fitzgerald has mostly operated in a short-side platoon role. For the season, the utility man is batting .298 with four homers, seven stolen bases, 10 RBI and 16 runs scored through 92 plate appearances. He continues to be an option primarily in the middle infield whenever Brett Wisely or Thairo Estrada need rest.

Paxton (8-2) earned the win Sunday over the Red Sox, allowing three runs on four hits and four walks while striking out seven over five innings.

Paxton served up a two-run homer to Jarren Duran on just the third pitch of the game but was able to settle in from there and hold the Red Sox scoreless until the sixth inning. Control issues remain an issue for Paxton, as he's issued 15 walks and given up 17 runs over his last 22.2 innings. For the year, the 35-year-old owns a 4.43 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 64:48 K:BB in 89.1 innings. He lines up to face the Astros on the road over the weekend.

Cobb (hip/shoulder) struck out four and scattered two hits and one walk over five scoreless innings in a rehab start Saturday with Triple-A Sacramento.

Making the fifth start of his rehab assignment, Cobb jumped up a couple levels after having previously pitched in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League and with Single-A San Jose. He needed 60 pitches to record 15 outs in what was his lengthiest rehab appearance to date. Cobb looks to be nearing the finish line in his recovery from left hip surgery as well as a sore pitching shoulder, the latter of which resulted in his throwing program being slowed down earlier this season. Per MLB.com, manager Bob Melvin said Sunday that the organization is still determining the next step for Cobb, but the veteran righty appears to be on track to make one more rehab start with Sacramento before coming off the 60-day injured list during the Giants' next homestand, which begins Friday and runs through July 31.