MLB Player News

The Padres reinstated Fermin (head) from the injured list Friday.

Fermin has been on the shelf since July 3 with a head bruise but began playing in rehab games July 8 and has since gone 3-for-12 with a walk and two RBI in three contests. Now fully healthy, he'll return to the active roster for the start of the second half but will remain on the bench Friday while Luis Campusano starts behind the plate. Rodolfo Duran was optioned to Triple-A in a corresponding move.

Campusano (abdomen) will start at catcher and bat ninth Friday against the Royals.

Campusano was a late scratch from the lineup ahead of Sunday's first-half finale due to abdominal soreness, but he now appears to be feeling better after getting a chance to recover during the break. He's gone 6-for-18 with five walks, a homer and four runs scored since returning from a fractured toe July 4.

Manager Dave Roberts said Friday that Smith's neck continued to bother him as he attempted to ramp up his activity, so the Dodgers will fully shut him down for a week, Jack Harris of the California Post reports.

The Dodgers still expect Smith to return at some point this season, and although there's still no clear idea of when exactly that might be, Roberts noted that the earliest possible date for the catcher's return likely will be in mid-August. Dalton Rushing will continue to serve as Los Angeles' primary backstop in the meantime.

The Nationals recalled Ford from Triple-A Rochester on Friday.

Ford's promotion was reported earlier this week and is now official, as he'll absorb the roster spot vacated by the injured Drew Millas (finger). The 23-year-old has slashed a disappointing .223/.370/.335 with four homers, zero stolen bases and a 45:65 BB:K across 257 plate appearances at Rochester. Ford should operate primarily as the backup catcher behind Keibert Ruiz.

Alvarez went 2-for-3 with a pair of solo home runs and a walk in Thursday's 4-1 win over the Phillies.

It was the first multi-homer game of the season for Alvarez and the seventh of his career. The slugging backstop has fared well at the dish since returning from the injured list with a torn meniscus in early June, batting .280 with seven long balls, two doubles and 14 RBI over his last 100 at-bats (28 games). For the campaign (236 plate appearances), Alvarez is slashing .259/.325/.448 with 11 big flies, seven doubles and 24 RBI.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said recently that while he "certainly" expects Smith (neck) to play again this season, he has "no idea" when it will happen, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Smith has been sidelined for more than a month with a lingering neck issue. He has been hitting and throwing but seems unable to get over the hump with the injury, as there's no timeline for when he will be ready for a rehab assignment. The Dodgers will enter the second half with an 11.5-game lead in the National League West, so they can afford to take their time with Smith.

The Nationals will recall Ford from Triple-A Rochester ahead of Friday's series opener with the Athletics, Kyle Williams of TheBanner.com reports.

After the Nationals placed Drew Millas on the 10-day injured list Wednesday due to a fractured left index finger, the team will need another catcher to complement Keibert Ruiz. Ford was acquired from the Mariners last winter and has slashed .223/.370/.335 with four homers, 22 RBI, 34 runs scored and a 45:65 BB:K across 257 plate appearances at Rochester. The 23-year-old was the 12th overall pick in the 2021 draft.

The Nationals placed Millas on the 10-day injured list Wednesday with a fractured left index finger.

The move is retroactive to July 12. Millas was removed from Washington's July 11 game in the ninth inning, when he presumably suffered the injury. Millas has slashed .185/.277/.262 with two homers, 11 RBI, 18 runs scored and a 14:37 BB:K across 152 plate appearances as the Nationals' No. 2 catcher.

Rushing is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Diamondbacks.

The 25-year-old continues to operate as the Dodgers' primary catcher with Will Smith (neck) on the injured list but will get a breather for the final game before the All-Star break. Eliezer Alfonzo will step in behind the plate Sunday in place of Rushing, who is poised to finish the first half with 10 home runs and an .808 OPS in 60 games, barring an appearance off the bench.

Campusano was scratched from the lineup for Sunday's game against the Blue Jays due to abdominal soreness, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

The 28-year-old was penciled in to start behind the plate Sunday but was instead replaced by Rodolfo Duran due to the injury. Campusano will now have five full days to recover before the Padres start the second half of the season Friday in Kansas City.