MLB Player News
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Connor Thomas RP | ATH
Braves' Connor Thomas: Optioned to Triple-A
Atlanta optioned Thomas to Triple-A Gwinnett on Tuesday.
The move comes one day after Thomas was bludgeoned for 11 runs over 2.2 innings in a 78-pitch relief outing versus the Mets. His spot on the roster will be absorbed by Elieser Hernandez.
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Esmerlyn Valdez RF | PIT
Pirates' Esmerlyn Valdez: Good to go Tuesday
Valdez (hand) will be in the starting lineup for Tuesday's game against the Diamondbacks, Jason Mackey of MLB.com reports.
Valdez exited Monday's series opener after being struck on the left hand by a pitch, but he won't end up missing a start after he underwent medical testing and was diagnosed with a bruise. The 22-year-old is in a bit of a slump, having gone 3-for-16 with six walks and eight strikeouts over his past six games, but he's been a force at the plate overall in July with a 1.043 OPS through 21 contests.
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Kyle Schwarber DH | PHI
Phillies' Kyle Schwarber: Rare day off Tuesday
Schwarber is absent from the lineup for Tuesday's game in Miami.
It's the first time Schwarber has been out of the lineup since he missed two games in late June with lower-back tightness. Bryce Harper will get a day at designated hitter, Alec Bohm will shift to first base and Edmundo Sosa will net a start at third base for the Phillies.
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A.J. Smith-Shawver SP | ATL
Braves' AJ Smith-Shawver: Will start first game of twin bill
Smith-Shawver (elbow) is expected to be activated from the 60-day injured list to start the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Mets, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
Smith-Shawver had been slated for one more rehab start, but Atlanta will have him make his 2026 debut with the big club instead after a rainout Tuesday created a doubleheader Wednesday. The right-hander has been excellent in five rehab outings, posting a 1.53 ERA and 21:5 K:BB over 17.2 innings. Smith-Shawver went four frames and threw 77 pitches in his last rehab start with Triple-A Gwinnett last Thursday, so he will likely have a somewhat truncated workload versus the Mets. He'll be making his first start in the majors since he underwent Tommy John surgery in June 2025.
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Spencer Horwitz 1B | PIT
Pirates' Spencer Horwitz: Suffers concussion on rehab
Horwitz (hamstring) was diagnosed with a concussion Tuesday after being hit in the helmet with a pitch while on a rehab assignment at Single-A Bradenton, Aiden Stepansky of MLB.com reports.
Horwitz's activation from the 10-day injured list had appeared imminent, but his status is now up in the air as a result of the head injury. The first baseman initially landed on the IL in late June due to a left hamstring strain, but he appears to have made a full recovery from that injury. Horwitz will remain on the IL for now and might need to play more rehab games once he clears concussion protocol.