MLB Player News

The Cubs selected Tinoco's contract from Triple-A Iowa on Friday, Patrick Mooney of The Athletic reports.

Tinoco was acquired from the Royals in a trade Tuesday and will go straight onto the major-league roster rather than report to Iowa. The 29-year-old reliever holds a career 4.58 ERA and 61:47 K:BB over 57 appearances at the major-league level. He allowed nine runs over 10 innings in a stint with the Rangers earlier this season.

Williams (elbow) resumed playing catch from 60 feet earlier this month but remains without a clear timeline for a return from the 15-day injured list, MLB.com reports.

Before landing on the IL on June 4 with a right flexor muscle strain, Williams had been a pleasant surprise for the Nationals this season with a 5-0 record, 2.22 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 47:16 K:BB in 56.2 innings. While the strong form he displayed prior to getting hurt should be enough for him to reclaim a rotation spot once he's activated from the IL, Williams' return still looks to be multiple weeks down the road. He'll eventually need to resume throwing off a mound and facing hitters in live batting practice before embarking on a minor-league rehab assignment prior to being reinstated from the IL.

The Cubs optioned Canario to Triple-A Iowa on Friday, Patrick Mooney of The Athletic reports.

The 24-year-old was called up by the Cubs just ahead of the All-Star break and will now return to Triple-A with Mike Tauchman (groin) being activated from the injured list. Canario has appeared in 15 big-league games this season and has a .280/.357/.440 slash line, but with a 39.3 percent strikeout rate.

The Cubs activated Tauchman (groin) from the 10-day injured list Friday, Patrick Mooney of The Athletic reports.

Tauchman missed a month of action with a strained left groin but has been cleared to return to action after playing in a couple rehab games. His playing-time outlook is a bit cloudy with the Cubs electing to deploy Christopher Morel at designated hitter lately, but in the short term with Cody Bellinger (finger) on the shelf, Tauchman should see at least semi-regular starts versus righties. He won't be in the lineup Friday versus right-hander Ryne Nelson and the Diamondbacks, however.

Pederson is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Cubs.

The Cubs are sending southpaw Justin Steele to the hill, so the left-handed hitting Pederson will begin the first game of the second half on the bench. Randal Grichuk will handle designated hitter duties.

Atlanta activated Laureano (oblique) from the 10-day injured list Friday.

Laureano wound up missing more than three weeks of action with a left oblique strain. He will skip a rehab assignment and go right back onto Atlanta's active roster. Adam Duvall and Laureano could split starts in right field against righties, with both Duvall and Laureano likely to be in the lineup most days versus lefties.

Nelson will start Arizona's series opener on the road against the Cubs on Friday, Jesse Friedman of GoPHNX.com reports.

Nelson will get the ball first as the Diamondbacks come out of the All-Star break, carrying a 4.98 ERA and 6.1 K/9 over 86.2 innings in 17 appearances, including 15 starts, this season. With Jordan Montgomery (knee) returning to the rotation this week and Eduardo Rodriguez (shoulder) and Merrill Kelly (shoulder) on the horizon, Nelson may need to impress in his next few starts to solidify his spot in the team's starting rotation.

Myers (ankle) was placed on the 10-day injured list Thursday.

Myers was diagnosed with a fractured left ankle Saturday and is expected to miss 6-to-8 weeks, so Thursday's move to the IL comes as no surprise. The Marlins will likely promote someone to provide outfield depth prior to Friday's game against the Mets.

Luzardo (back) has been participating in bike workouts and working on forearm and shoulder strengthening in recent weeks, MLB.com reports.

While Luzardo hasn't been shut down from physical activity since landing on the injured list June 22 with a lumbar stress reaction, he's yet to resume throwing after nearly a month. The Marlins transferred him to the 60-day injured list a day after placing him on the 15-day IL, so the club is already preparing for his absence to extend into the second half of August. A clearer target date for his return won't be available until he's ready to begin a minor-league rehab assignment.

Simpson (elbow) threw a 20-pitch bullpen session July 9, MLB.com reports.

Simpson opened the season on the injured list after being diagnosed with left elbow neuritis, but he appeared to be tracking toward a brief stay on the shelf. However, after making a rehab appearance April 6, Simpson incurred a setback and ultimately underwent surgery later that month. Nearly three months later, Simpson is finally starting to make some real progress in the recovery process as he conducts his rehab at the Marlins' facility in Jupiter, Fla. He could be cleared to start facing hitters in live batting practice shortly after the All-Star break.