MLB Player News

Simpson isn't in the starting lineup for Monday's game against the Dodgers, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Simpson will head to the bench for the series opener with southpaw Eric Lauer expected to toe the rubber for Los Angeles Monday evening. Ryan Vilade gets the nod in left field and is batting cleanup in Simpson's place.

Feduccia isn't in the starting lineup for Monday's game against the Dodgers, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Feduccia will head to the bench for the series opener with the Rays slated to face lefty Eric Lauer. Nick Fortes will draw the start behind the dish and bat eighth.

Diaz (elbow) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session this week, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

Diaz was given the green light to resume throwing at the end of May, and it seems he's now been cleared to ramp up his throwing progression. He'll presumably need to make it through at least a few BP sessions before advancing to pitching against live hitters.

Steele (elbow) will throw plyo balls for the next week and then progress to throwing a baseball, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

The club has already ruled Steele out through the All-Star break, but he's moving in the right direction. Montemurro notes that he'll be around the team for the next three weeks while continuing his rehab, and he could resume throwing a baseball as early as next Monday, which would be the first step in building up his throwing progression. The Cubs have yet to provide a firm timetable for Steele's return.

Hernandez (hamstring) is expected to ramp up his baseball activities this week, and if all goes well, he could be sent out on a rehab assignment by the weekend, Jack Harris of the California Post reports.

Hernandez landed on the 10-day injured list at the end of May after being diagnosed with a Grade 1 left hamstring strain. He was initially expected to miss one month, but if all goes well during the week and he's cleared to embark on a rehab stint by the weekend, there's a chance he could beat that one-month timeline.

Edman (ankle) is expected to be activated from the 60-day injured list Tuesday, Sonja Chen of MLB.com reports.

Edman is expected to be penciled into the starting lineup upon his return Tuesday, which likely means Alex Freeland will get bumped to the bench. Katie Woo of The Athletic reports that Edman should see opportunities at second base, third base and in left field and should play in 3-to-4 games a week as he continues to get acclimated to live action.

Boyd (knee/shoulder) will throw an up-down bullpen session Tuesday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

The Cubs will make a decision about next steps for Boyd after the bullpen session. Boyd had been slated to rejoin the big-league rotation this past weekend following last month's meniscus surgery, but that was scrapped after he developed left shoulder soreness after a bullpen session. Following the setback, it seems likely that the Cubs will ask Boyd to make another rehab start. However, more clarity on that front will be available after Tuesday's session.

Mauricio (thumb) could begin a rehab assignment later this week, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Mauricio has been sidelined since early May with a fractured left thumb, but he's been going through baseball activities lately and has responded well. He would seem to have a chance to be activated before the end of June, though it's not a given Mauricio will be put back on the major-league roster at that time.

The Astros announced Monday that Shewmake (adductor) has taken part in baseball activity and is working his way through a running progression at the team's facility in Florida, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Shewmake is making progress in his recovery from the right adductor strain that sent him to the injured list June 2, but the fact that he's conducting his rehab in Florida rather than with Houston suggests that his return isn't imminent. Once Shewmake eventually recovers from the adductor injury, he'll likely have to settle for a utility infield role now that Jose Altuve has beaten him back from the IL.

Conine (hamstring) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Jacksonville on Tuesday, Stephen Strom of Marlins Radio Network reports.

Conine required left hamstring surgery in late April but has progressed enough that he's ready to test things out in a game setting. Given how much time the 28-year-old has missed, Conine's rehab assignment will likely be fairly lengthy.