MLB Player News

Nootbaar is not in the lineup for Friday's game versus the Cubs, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

The left-handed hitter will get a day off as the Cubs send southpaw David Peterson to the bump. Nootbaar had made 11 straight starts, including three versus lefties, and posted a .333/.409/.462 slash line during that span. Jose Fermin will be in left field for the Cardinals in the series opener.

Padres manager Craig Stammen said Friday that Vasquez (ankle/illness) has been discharged from the hospital after testing came back "all clear," MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM reports.

Vasquez took a comebacker off the ankle during Thursday's start against the Dodgers. While on his way to get X-rays, he fainted and was taken to the hospital as a precaution. Scans of the right-hander's ankle came back negative, and it seems whatever caused the fainting spell is not a long-term concern. Vasquez is tentatively lined up for two starts during the final week of the first half, but the Padres will monitor him in the coming days before determining whether he'll make his next start as scheduled Tuesday against the Diamondbacks.

The Marlins recalled Kempner from Triple-A Jacksonville on Friday, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

Kempner was sent down last month despite logging nine scoreless innings with a 10:2 K:BB in six relief appearances. The 25-year-old will likely fill a middle relief role, but his stay in the majors could be brief as the Marlins will need a spot next week for a fifth starter, expected to be Janson Junk (shin).

The Marlins optioned Gusto to Triple-A Jacksonville on Friday, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

Gusto made five starts for Miami, collecting a 5.06 ERA and 18:10 K:BB over 21.1 innings. With Gusto returning to Jacksonville, Janson Junk (shin) appears set to rejoin the Marlins' rotation next week.

Jensen went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Thursday's 5-2 loss against the Rays.

He kicked off the scoring with a monstrous 449-foot leadoff homer off lefty Ian Seymour, Jensen's 13th long ball of the campaign. The left-handed hitter has excelled against southpaws this season, batting .308 with an .831 OPS in 78 at-bats compared to a .229 batting average and .741 OPS in 201 at-bats against right-handers. Over his past 14 games, Jensen has been one of the hottest hitters in baseball, slashing .368/.419/.702 with five homers, four doubles, 11 RBI, 11 runs and a stolen base.

The Cubs selected Pomeranz's contract from Triple-A Iowa on Friday, Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com reports.

Pomeranz was cut loose by the Angels in mid-June after turning in a 5.01 ERA and 16:12 K:BB across 23.1 innings. The veteran left-hander excelled with the Cubs in 2025, logging a 2.17 ERA and 57:15 K:BB over 49.2 innings, and he'll aim to rediscover that form after making two scoreless appearances for Iowa.

Sandoval (biceps) is an option to replace Connelly Early (elbow) in Boston's rotation, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.

Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy mentioned Sandoval or Brayan Bello as potential fill-ins for Early, who was placed on the 15-day injured list Wednesday with left elbow inflammation. Sandoval, whose rehab assignment ends Saturday, will make one more start at Double-A Portland this weekend and is scheduled to throw around 70 pitches. With a scheduled day off coming Monday, however, Boston won't need a fifth starter until July 11.

Zastryzny (shoulder) will begin a rehab assignment with the Brewers' rookie-level Arizona Complex League affiliate Friday, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Shoulder and intercostal injuries have kept Zastryzny on the shelf all season, but he's ready to test things out in game action. The lefty reliever will eventually move up to a higher affiliate and could be ready to join the Brewers' bullpen around the All-Star break.

Graceffo (6-1) tossed a perfect inning and was credited with the win Thursday in Atlanta.

Graceffo needed only nine pitches to cruise through the bottom of the sixth inning, vulturing another win after the Cardinals' offense exploded for seven runs in the top of the seventh. While he has managed to post a 3.35 ERA and 1.12 WHIP to go along with his six victories, five holds and one save in 35 appearances, Graceffo's 18:19 K:BB over 40.1 innings isn't pretty.

Bruihl logged 2.2 scoreless innings with two strikeouts in Thursday's win over Atlanta.

Bruihl was first out of the bullpen for the Cardinals after starter Dustin May exited with an ankle injury after retiring just two batters. The team's bullpen wound up turning in 8.1 scoreless frames in a comeback victory. Bruihl got off to a rocky start this season but has settled in, authoring a 1.04 ERA and 15:2 K:BB over 17.1 innings covering his last 13 appearances.