MLB Player News

The Reds activated Marte from the suspended list Thursday.

Marte has completed his 80-game PED suspension and the Reds will return him to their active roster on the first day he's eligible. The 22-year-old struggled mightily while on his rehab assignment, slashing just .151/.151/.170 with no home runs and a 15:0 K:BB over 53 plate appearances. Fantasy managers might be wise to keep Marte out of their lineups for now while he knocks some rust off, but the infielder should be rostered virtually everywhere. He should operate as the Reds' primary third baseman.

The Reds optioned Soto to Triple-A Louisville on Thursday, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

With Noelvi Marte making his return from an 80-game suspension, Soto will be pushed back into the minors. He went 0-for-3 with a strikeout during his season debut Wednesday and owns a .767 OPS through 230 plate appearances in Triple-A. Should the Reds run into any more infield depth problems, there's a good chance Soto would be the one to get the call back Cincinnati.

Phillies manager Rob Thomson said Thursday that he expects Turnbull (lat) to be sidelined for 6-to-8 weeks, Alex Coffey of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Turnbull suffered a right lat strain in his first start back in the Phillies' rotation Wednesday and was placed on the 15-day injured list Thursday. Given the pitcher's lengthy injury history, the team will proceed with extra caution. Michael Mercado will slide into the Philadelphia rotation for now, at least until Taijuan Walker (finger) is ready.

Carpenter isn't in the Cardinals' lineup for Thursday's game versus the Reds, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

St. Louis will match up against left-handed starter Andrew Abbott on Thursday, so the lefty-hitting Carpenter will step out of the lineup. Willson Contreras will take over as the DH while Pedro Pages starts at catcher and bats ninth.

Siani isn't in the Cardinals' lineup for Thursday's game against the Reds, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Left-hander Andrew Abbott will take the mound Thursday for the Reds, so the lefty-hitting Siani will retreat to St. Louis' bench. Dylan Carlson will get the nod to start in center field instead, batting seventh.

Gorman isn't in the Cardinals' lineup for Thursday's game against the Reds, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Gorman and his .596 OPS against southpaws will take a seat Thursday as the Reds prepare to send lefty Andrew Abbott to the mound. Jose Fermin will take over at second base and bat eighth.

Phillies manager Rob Thomson said after Wednesday's game that Mercado would likely join the rotation if Spencer Turnbull (lat) needed to miss time, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Turnbull has since been placed on the 15-day injured list, so it would appear Mercado is set to join the Phillies' rotation next week. Mercado made one one-inning relief appearance earlier this week in his major-league debut, but he's been used mostly as a starter this season at Triple-A Lehigh Valley, collecting a 1.71 ERA and 44:23 K:BB over 47.1 frames covering 10 starts and four relief outings. The 25-year-old's first big-league start is tentatively lined up to come Tuesday in Chicago against the Cubs.

The Phillies recalled Marte from Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Thursday.

Marte held a 2.70 ERA and 12:5 K:BB over 13.1 frames with the Phillies earlier this season before missing time with a shoulder issue. He will operate in middle relief.

The Phillies placed Turnbull (shoulder) on the 15-day injured list Thursday with a right lat strain.

Turnbull had to depart Wednesday's start against the Tigers with right shoulder soreness. While the pitcher downplayed the injury after the game, subsequent testing revealed a lat strain. It's not yet clear how much time Turnbull might miss, but it's certainly the type of injury that could cost the right-hander several weeks. With Taijuan Walker (finger) also still out for a while, Michael Mercado could enter the Phillies' rotation.

Wesneski will remain in the Cubs' rotation following the injury to Javier Assad (forearm), Patrick Mooney of The Athletic reports.

Wesneski got a spot start Wednesday in San Francisco as the Cubs gave other members of their rotation some extra rest. However, with Assad landing on the 15-day injured list Thursday, Wesneski will stick in the rotation for the near future. He's tentatively lined up for two starts next week at home against the Phillies and Angels.