MLB Player News

Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said Monday that Holmes has elected to treat his right elbow injury with rest and rehab rather than undergoing Tommy John surgery or another procedure, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

Holmes has been diagnosed with damage to his UCL, but after weighing opinions from two doctors, he'll attempt to recover from the injury through non-surgical methods. Atlanta doesn't have a timeline for when Holmes will begin a throwing program, but if he hasn't shown enough progress early in the offseason, surgery would still be an option. Per O'Brien, even in the best-case scenario, Holmes won't be back on a mound until spring training.

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said Monday that Blackburn (shoulder) will make another rehab start Friday, Joe Pantorno of amNY.com reports.

Blackburn looks ready to return from the 15-day injured list, having collected a 2.21 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 22:6 K:BB in 20.1 innings over four rehab starts. However, the Mets aren't ready to remove Frankie Montas from the rotation at this point, so they'll kick the can down the road and have Blackburn make another rehab start. Blackburn has been out since early July with a right shoulder impingement.

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said Monday that the team is considering using an opener ahead of Montas in his next scheduled turn through the rotation Saturday versus the Brewers, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Montas' issues aren't exclusive to the first inning, but he has a 6.43 ERA and opponents have slashed .333/.379/.667 against him in the opening frame this season. The Mets will mull using the right-hander in a bulk-relief role this weekend as they seek to get him on track. Montas has posted a 6.68 ERA and 29:10 K:BB over 33.2 innings covering seven starts this season.

The Pirates activated Oviedo (lat/elbow) from the 60-day injured list ahead of his scheduled start Monday versus the Giants.

Oviedo will make his 2025 debut for the Pirates after he missed the entire 2024 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery and the first four months of this season while working his way back from a right lat strain. The right-hander threw 62 pitches in his final rehab start last Tuesday, so he'll face some workload restrictions against the Giants.

The Mets selected Hamel's contract from Triple-A Syracuse on Monday.

The right-hander will head to the big leagues for the first time, slotting into the Mets bullpen as a replacement for righty Austin Warren, who was optioned to Syracuse. Over 22 appearances (eight starts) at the Triple-A level this season, Hamel has produced a 4.73 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 59:15 K:BB in 53.1 frames. He'll likely function as a long reliever for the Mets and is unlikely to see much use in higher-leverage spots while he's up with the big club.

Taillon (calf) struck out one batter and allowed seven earned runs on seven hits across three innings in a rehab start with Triple-A Iowa on Sunday. He also hit two batters.

Making his first appearance at any level since June 29, Taillon didn't issue any walks but lacked command in the 64-pitch outing. Though the right-hander's results left much to be desired, he left the contest feeling healthy and without any reported setbacks with his calf. The Cubs may want to build Taillon up a bit more in another rehab start, but he appears to be closing in on a return from the 15-day injured list. Chicago added Michael Soroka to the back end of its rotation before the trade deadline, but Taillon is likely to slot in as the team's No. 3 starter behind Shota Imanaga and Matthew Boyd once he gets activated.

Marquez (biceps) threw a 20-pitch bullpen session Saturday, MLB.com reports.

Marquez was placed on the injured list July 23, but he has made relatively quick progress since. Manager Warren Schaeffer has already stated that Marquez will need a rehab assignment, so he may not be able to return until late August.

King (shoulder) yielded six runs on four hits, one walk and one hit batsman over 3.1 innings in his first rehab start with Triple-A El Paso on Sunday. He struck out five batters.

King served up a pair of home runs and needed 61 pitches to cover his 3.1 frames. He averaged 92.2 miles per hour with his sinker and 92.7 mph with his four-seamer in the outing, which were both down a bit from his season averages. Some rust from King is not a surprise, as he was making his first game appearance since May 18 as he comes back from a pinched thoracic nerve in his right shoulder. Getting stretched out to 61 pitches means King could require just one more rehab start before coming off the 60-day injured list and rejoining the Padres rotation in mid-August.

Sears is slated to start Monday's game against the Diamondbacks at Chase Field.

Sears will be making his team debut this week after he was acquired along with right-hander Mason Miller on Thursday in a deal that sent four prospects to the Athletics. The 29-year-old southpaw had been a mainstay in the Athletics rotation this season but hadn't been especially effective, turning in a 4.95 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and a 14.4 K-BB% across 111 innings. With historically pitcher-friendly Petco Park as his home park, Sears could show some improvement with his numbers, as he had posted a 5.48 ERA and .387 wOBA over his 47.2 innings in the less forgiving confines of Sacramento's Sutter Health Park. Sears may need to get off to a strong start to his tenure with the Padres to ensure he sticks in the rotation for the rest of the season, as he or fellow trade-deadline pickup Nestor Cortes would seemingly be most at risk of moving to the bullpen once San Diego gets Michael King (shoulder) back from the injured list.

Cabrera (5-5) allowed one run on two hits and a walk over six innings Sunday, striking out seven and earning a win against the Yankees.

Cabrera coughed up a leadoff shot to Trent Grisham to begin the contest but was lights-out after that. The Yankees did not put another runner in scoring position against Cabrera as he delivered his second consecutive quality start. His seven strikeouts were the most he has produced since punching out 10 against the Angels on May 25. He forced 15 whiffs on 94 total pitches, including eight with his curveball. Cabrera reached the 100-inning mark for the first time in his MLB career, and he's finally back to showing the potential he had as a highly rated prospect. His ERA is down to 3.24 with a 103:34 K:BB. Cabrera is expected to start in Atlanta next weekend.