MLB Player News

Alzolay (forearm) will begin a rehab assignment with the Cubs' Arizona Complex League affiliate Friday, Patrick Mooney of The Athletic reports.

Alzolay has been on the shelf since mid-May with a right flexor strain but is ready for game action. The reliever will need many rehab appearances and will eventually move up to a higher affiliate, so he's likely still at least a couple weeks away from a return.

The Reds reinstated Fairchild (back) from the 10-day injured list Friday.

Fairchild had been eyeing a return after the All-Star break, and he'll hit that goal by being available for Cincinnati's series opener against the Nationals on Friday. The outfielder has been shelved since July 7 with a disc injury. Before the injury, the 28-year-old had been seeing regular work in center field in place of TJ Friedl (hamstring), but with Friedl likely back next week and both Rece Hinds and Austin Slater added to the mix since Fairchild landed on the IL, he may be limited to a short-side platoon role. Edwin Rios was designated for assignment in a corresponding move.

Brown (neck) will throw a bullpen session Friday, Patrick Mooney of The Athletic reports.

Brown had to be shut down again just before the All-Star break due to lingering discomfort in his neck, but he appears to be feeling better. The right-hander hasn't made a game appearance in six weeks, so he's going to need several rehab outings before becoming an option for the Cubs again.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Friday that Merryweather (ribs) is on track to return by next weekend "at the latest," Patrick Mooney of The Athletic reports.

Merryweather has allowed one run with a 3:0 K:BB over three innings on his rehab assignment and will make a fourth appearance Friday, this one with Triple-A Iowa. He's been out since early April with a rib stress fracture but should quickly rejoin Chicago's high-leverage crew once activated.

Kelly (shoulder) is expected to throw two more bullpen sessions before facing hitters, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.

Kelly is slated to throw off the bump Saturday and is expected to require one additional bullpen session before being cleared to face hitters. Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said Friday that the right-hander is "feeling really, really good." Kelly is been limited to just four starts this season with a right shoulder strain and will need time to ramp things back up, but the recent reports on his progress have been positive.

Floyd had shoulder surgery and won't pitch again until 2025, Carlos Collazo of Baseball America reports.

It's not clear exactly when Floyd had the procedure, but he opened the year on the injured list with right elbow discomfort and never pitched before needing shoulder surgery. Depending on the severity of the procedure, Floyd may not be ready for the start of the 2025 campaign. He still hasn't made his pro debut after the Reds selected him with the 38th overall pick in the 2023 draft.

Duno is on the 7-day injured list at Single-A Daytona with a broken rib, Carlos Collazo of Baseball America reports.

Per the report, Duno is rehabbing at the Reds' spring training complex and could return very late in the season. The 18-year-old catcher jumped over the Arizona Complex League and went straight from the Dominican Summer League to Single-A this season. He slashed .267/.367/.422 with three home runs and a 28.8 percent strikeout rate in 32 games before suffering the injury.

Montgomery (knee) is on track to rejoin the Diamondbacks' rotation early next week in Kansas City after completing a three-inning, 56-pitch simulated game Thursday, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.

Montgomery has been shelved since late June with right knee inflammation, but a return is right around the corner. He will skip a rehab assignment, with the Diamondbacks deeming a trio of simulated games enough to get the veteran left-hander ramped back up. Montgomery holds a disappointing 6.44 ERA in 13 starts for Arizona this season.

Ritchie (elbow) was activated from the 60-day injured list July 12 and tossed five no-hit frames with one walk and seven strikeouts that night for Single-A Augusta.

Ritchie successfully made it all the way back from May 2023 Tommy John surgery. He just turned 21 in June and now has a 3.49 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and a 42:8 K:BB in 28.1 career innings at the Single-A level, so a promotion to High-A could be coming in short order.

Wicks (oblique) was transferred to the 60-day injured list Friday, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports.

The left-hander landed on the shelf in mid-June with a Grade 2 right oblique strain, and he hasn't recovered as quickly as the Cubs had hoped. Wicks will be eligible to return in mid-August, but he may need to ramp up his throwing soon in order to have a chance of avoiding a longer absence.