MLB Player News

Wade (hamstring) has begun hitting and throwing programs at the Giants' complex in Arizona, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Wade still has plenty of boxes to check off before he can start playing in rehab games, but resuming baseball activities is a step in the right direction. The 30-year-old was diagnosed with a Grade 2 hamstring strain in late May and still projects to be sidelined until at least the end of June.

Gallo is absent from the lineup for Friday's game against Atlanta.

Gallo started against a lefty earlier this week, but he will begin Friday's game on the bench as Atlanta turns to southpaw Chris Sale as its starting pitcher. Joey Meneses will start at first base for the Nationals.

Freeman went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run in Thursday's 11-7 win over Pittsburgh.

Freeman helped Los Angeles' offense get off to a fast start with his three-run blast in the first inning. The long ball extended his modest hitting streak to five games, during which he has slashed .389/.455/.889 with two homers, five RBI, five runs and two steals. Freeman has four home runs over his past 15 contests, matching the amount of homers he hit across his initial 49 games of the campaign.

Encarnacion-Strand (wrist) had a follow-up exam with Reds doctors Wednesday, and he was cleared to take the next step in his rehab, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

While that would seem to be good news for Encarnacion-Strand, who was diagnosed with a right ulnar styloid fracture May 8, he opted to get a second opinion, putting his rehab on hold for the moment. At the time of his diagnosis, Encarnacion-Strand was given a four-to-six week recovery timeline.

The Rockies recalled Toglia from Triple-A Albuquerque on Thursday

With Kris Bryant (ribs) and Sean Bouchard (foot) headed to the injured list, the Rockies will call upon Toglia to add depth to their depleted outfield group. The 25-year-old owns a .505 OPS through 49 plate appearances in the big leagues this season, but he's slashed .277/.363/.571 with nine homers and 27 RBI since being sent down to Triple-A in late April.

The Rockies placed Bryant on the 10-day injured list Thursday with a left rib contusion.

Bryant missed three games in a row due to back soreness, but the Rockies are now reporting his injury to be rib related. The 32-year-old missed a month earlier in the season due to a back/rib issue, though the current injury is likely to require a shorter stint on the shelf. Greg Jones was recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque in a corresponding move.

Joe is not in the lineup for Thursday's contest versus the Dodgers.

It's the first time since May 13 that Joe has been absent from the Pirates' starting nine. Rowdy Tellez will occupy first base and Edward Olivares will patrol right field while Joe gets some rest.

Freeman went 1-for-5 with a stolen base and a run against Pittsburgh in a loss Wednesday.

Freeman has been much less active on the basepaths this season -- he's attempted just four steals (with three successes) after going 23-for-24 last year. That 2023 performance was likely an aberration, as the 23 thefts were 10 more than his previous career-high mark. Freeman's other numbers are mostly down so far this season as well, but he's still been quite productive with a .294/.397/.476 slash line, seven homers, 17 doubles, 35 RBI and and 36 runs through 63 contests.

Bell went 3-for-4 with an RBI during Wednesday's 5-3 loss to the Rays.

Bell has generated at least one hit in eight consecutive contests, with Wednesday's performance his third three-hit game during that span. The first baseman drove in Vidal Brujan on a fifth-inning single, marking Bell's 30th RBI of the campaign. Through 262 plate appearances, Bell owns a .716 OPS and a 19.1 percent strikeout rate, down from 21.8 percent in 2023.

The Rockies will likely place Bryant (back) on the 10-day injured list Thursday, Luke Zahlmann of The Denver Gazette reports.

Wednesday marked the third game in a row Bryant missed due to his sore back, which has not responded well to treatment. He will likely be joined on the IL by Sean Bouchard (ankle), and the Rockies will presumably call up a couple of minor leaguers to fill the openings in their outfield. Injuries have limited Bryant to just 24 games so far this season, during which he's slashed .186/.307/.279 with 10 RBI.