MLB Player News

Ragans (shoulder) is expected to begin his rehab assignment with Triple-A Omaha on Sunday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Ragans has spent the majority of the season on the IL and has been on the shelf since mid-June due to a left rotator cuff strain. He ramped up his throwing program with bullpen sessions in mid-August, and the 28-year-old southpaw has progressed enough in his recovery to embark on a rehab assignment. Royals manager Matt Quatraro relayed Friday that Ragans is scheduled to pitch two innings Sunday and could ramp up his workload barring any setbacks.

Simpson is not in the Rays' starting lineup against the Guardians on Friday.

After going 0-for-4 with a strikeout in Thursday's series opener, Simpson will be on the bench for the beginning of Friday's contest while Richie Palacios starts in left field and bats in the leadoff spot. In the 26 games since returning from the 10-day IL in early August, Simpson has slashed .277/.308/.339 with seven steals, two triples, 14 runs and seven RBI in 117 plate appearances.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Friday that Smith has a bone bruise in his right hand that he'll likely have to manage for the rest of the season, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

A CT scan cleared Smith of any fractures, but he's likely to be held out of action for the entirety of the Dodgers' weekend series with the Orioles and could have to deal with discomfort down the stretch of the season. Dalton Rushing will start at catcher Friday, and Ben Rortvedt has been called up from Triple-A Oklahoma City to serve as Rushing's backup while Smith remains day-to-day.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Glasnow was scratched from his scheduled start Friday against the Orioles due to back tightness, and the plan is to have the right-hander make a start "early next week" against the Rockies in Los Angeles, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Glasnow's back issue first cropped up Friday afternoon, prompting the Dodgers to scratch him and turn to Shohei Ohtani to start the series opener versus Baltimore. Roberts didn't specify which day Glasnow will make his next start, but the 32-year-old looks like he'll be available at some point during the three-game series versus Colorado. Glasnow may need to make it through a throwing session over the weekend without issue before the Dodgers lock him in for his next start.

Matos is absent from the lineup for Friday's contest in St. Louis.

Matos started the last two games and 12 of the last 13 games, but he will begin Friday's festivities on the bench. Drew Gilbert will draw the start in right field and bat eighth for the Giants in the series opener.

Olson (shoulder) has begun a throwing program, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

Olson has already been ruled out for the regular season, but it's an encouraging sign that he's started throwing. He's been sidelined since late July due to a shoulder strain. If his recovery continues without interruption, Olson could be healthy at some point during the playoffs.

Junk (elbow) will be activated from the 15-day injured list and start Monday against the Nationals, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

Junk pitched well in what will be his lone rehab start, striking out eight over five innings of one-run ball Tuesday at Triple-A Jacksonville. The right-hander has been sidelined since late August with right ulnar nerve irritation in his pitching elbow. Junk has collected a 4.09 ERA and 61:10 K:BB over 88 innings covering 12 starts and five relief appearances for Miami in 2025.

Weathers (lat) will rejoin the Marlins' rotation in the middle of next week, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

The exact date of Weathers' return had not been confirmed, but he appears lined up to start Sept. 10 against the Nationals. Weathers has been sidelined since early June with a left lat strain but has been cleared to return after making a couple rehab starts. The left-hander threw 68 pitches and went 4.2 innings in his last rehab outing, so he will have a relatively limited workload in next week's return to the Marlins' rotation.

Brennan (elbow) recently underwent sports hernia surgery, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.

Brennan is still rehabbing from Tommy John surgery but felt some nagging discomfort in his groin while doing sprinting and agility drills. He remains on track to be ready for the start of spring training next year.

Dezenzo (hand) has been pulled off his minor-league rehab asssignment due to an elbow sprain, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Dezenzo had been rehabbing from a left hand capsule strain at Triple-A Sugar Land, but he's been pulled off the assignment after picking up a sprained elbow. The 25-year-old's last minor-league appearance came Sept. 2. At this point, it's unclear when Dezenzo will be activated.