MLB Player News

Abrams went 2-for-4 with a stolen base in Wednesday's 8-3 loss to the Cubs.

Abrams has multiple hits in nine of 14 games in July, and he's added nine of his 18 steals on the season in that span. The shortstop has thrived atop the order, going 15-for-37 (.405) from that spot since he moved there July 7. Abrams has lifted his slash line to .254/.302/.414 with eight home runs, 36 RBI, 43 runs scored, 17 doubles and four triples over 87 contests overall.

Cubs manager David Ross said Wednesday that he's optimistic Swanson (heel) will be able to return this weekend, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Swanson began taking batting practice Monday and has increased his level of baseball activity in the days since with no apparent issues. The shortstop has been on the shelf since July 8 because of a bruised left heel.

Crawford was placed on the 10-day injured list Wednesday, retroactive to July 17, with left knee inflammation.

Crawford will be sidelined for at least the next eight days with another leg injury. He's slashed just .207/.285/.333 in 64 games (222 plate appearances) this season when healthy.

Perdomo is absent from the lineup Wednesday at Atlanta.

Nick Ahmed will start at shortstop and bat eighth versus right-hander Charlie Morton and the NL East leaders. This looks to be a routine day of rest for Perdomo, who had two hits and two RBI in the Diamondbacks' 16-13 defeat of Atlanta on Tuesday night.

Marcano will start at shortstop and bat seventh Wednesday against the Guardians.

Marcano had started at shortstop in nine of the Pirates' first 12 games of July, but he was the bench for the first two contests of the series in the wake of prospect Liover Peguero's promotion from Triple-A Indianapolis. Though Peguero looks like he'll get a trial as the Bucs' primary shortstop for the time being, he'll take a seat Wednesday in favor of Marcano after going 0-for-6 with five strikeouts in his first two starts. If neither Peguero nor Marcano is able to provide consistent production at the plate over the next several games, one or both could be headed back to Triple-A once Ji Hwan Bae (ankle) eventually makes his return from the 10-day injured list.

Wendle is not in the lineup Tuesday at St. Louis.

Jon Berti will start at shortstop and bat eighth with left-hander Jordan Montgomery toeing the slab for the host Cardinals. The left-handed-hitting Wendle continues to sit against most southpaws.

Edman (wrist) began a throwing program and fielded grounders Tuesday, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

Edman has also been cleared to resume taking light swings as he ramps back up following a shutdown period that began just before the All-Star break. It's not yet clear whether he will require a minor-league rehab assignment before he returns from the right wrist inflammation that sent him to the injured list July 7.

Luciano was promoted Tuesday to Triple-A Sacramento, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Luciano missed the first month of the minor-league season after suffering a stress fracture in his lower back while playing in the Dominican Winter League and then got off to a relatively slow start with Double-A Richmond upon his arrival there in early May. He had turned it on lately, though, slashing .309/.416/.564 across his last 113 plate appearances dating back to June 10. The highly-touted shortstop prospect, who turns 22 in September, is now just one step away from the majors.

Shewmake is slashing .328/.421/.656 over his last 18 games for Triple-A Gwinnett with seven doubles, a triple, four homers, four steals and a 7:7 BB:K.

The 25-year-old shortstop has no clear path to the majors as long as Ozzie Albies and Orlando Arcia are healthy, but Shewmake appears to be taking a big step forward as a hitter. His glovework has never been in question, so if he can demonstrate the ability to provide some kind of offense in the majors, he stands a much better chance of securing a starting role in the future -- whether it's with Atlanta, or in another organization should he get shipped out at the trade deadline.

Abrams went 1-for-4 with a hit-by-pitch, a run scored and a stolen base in Monday's win over the Cubs.

Fresh off being named NL Player of the Week for the abbreviated period following the All-Star break, Abrams made a quick impact from the leadoff spot once again, getting hit by Drew Smyly's fourth pitch of the game, promptly stealing second and coming around to score on Jeimer Candelario's homer. Abrams is up to 17 steals on the season, including a perfect 8-for-8 performance on the basepaths in his last eight games -- a stretch in which he's batting a blistering .394 (13-for-33).