MLB Player News

Heim is absent from the lineup for Monday's tilt in Kansas City.

Heim has essentially been an everyday player for the Athletics over the past two months, but he will begin Monday's contest on the bench. Brian Serven will handle catching duties for the Athletics in the series opener.

Rodon (elbow) will be activated from the 15-day injured list to start Tuesday's contest in Baltimore, Meredith Marakovits of YES Network reports.

Rodon breezed through 4.1 scoreless innings with seven strikeouts in his second and final rehab start Thursday with Double-A Somerset. He threw only 58 pitches in that outing, so Rodon won't have enough stamina to pitch deep into Tuesday's game. Rodon had been on the shelf since early July due to left elbow inflammation.

Story (sports hernia) said that he could be reinstated from the 60-day injured list as soon as Friday, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

Story has been on the shelf since May 16 following sports hernia surgery, but he's finally nearing the finish line of what's been a lengthy recovery process. He kicked off a rehab assignment Sunday at Triple-A Worcester and went 1-for-2 at the dish while playing four innings at shortstop. Story is scheduled to play for Worcester on consecutive days Tuesday and Wednesday before rejoining the Red Sox for a re-evaluation. If the Red Sox medical staff is satisfied with Story's health, he could get the green light to return to action for the big club during their weekend series with the Giants. Once activated, Story will likely usurp Andruw Monasterio as the Red Sox's preferred option at shortstop.

Montgomery is not in the lineup for Monday's game versus the Cubs.

Montgomery had made 19 straight starts, but he's managed a lowly .539 OPS with a 39.3 percent strikeout rate over that span. With a lefty in Shota Imanaga on the hill for the Cubs, the left-handed-hitting Montgomery will get a day to regroup. Luisangel Acuna will cover shortstop for the White Sox.

Duran is absent from the lineup for Monday's game against the Diamondbacks.

The left-handed-hitting Duran will get a break versus southpaw Mitch Bratt after starting each of the previous 17 contests. Eli White will occupy left field for the Red Sox in the series opener.

The Royals reinstated Garcia (hand) from the 10-day injured list Monday. He'll start at third base and bat cleanup in the team's series opener versus the Athletics.

Kansas City will get two major lineup pieces back ahead of its four-game series versus the Athletics, as first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino (wrist) was also activated from the IL. Garcia had been on the shelf since June 22 due to a muscle strain his left hand, with his return getting pushed back further after he experienced renewed discomfort following his first rehab game July 28. He then underwent a cortisone shot that appears to have yielded the desired effect, as Garcia resumed his rehab assignment at Double-A Northwest Arkansas last week and went 4-for-10 with a double, three walks and a stolen base over three games. Garcia is expected to step back in as the Royals' primary option at the hot corner, resulting in Nick Loftin shifting into more of a utility role.

The Royals reinstated Pasquantino (wrist) from the 10-day injured list Monday. He'll start at first base and bat fifth in the team's series opener versus the Athletics.

Kansas City will get two major lineup pieces back ahead of its four-game series with the Athletics, as third baseman Maikel Garcia (hand) was also activated from the IL. Pasquantino ended up spending just under three weeks on the shelf due to soreness in his right wrist, the same hand he previously required surgery for June 14 to address a broken hamate bone. Though Pasquantino should be available to play on a near-everyday basis as the regular season winds down, fantasy managers may want to temper expectations for his power production as he works to regain full strength in his wrist.

The Red Sox optioned Burgos to Triple-A Worcester on Monday.

Burgos helped save the bullpen with four innings of one-run ball in Sunday's loss to the Pirates, but he's being sent down a day later. The Red Sox called up Wyatt Olds from Triple-A to take Burgos' spot in the bullpen.

The Red Sox selected Olds's contract from Triple-A Worcester on Monday.

Olds will receive his first call-up to the big leagues after submitting a 5.33 ERA and 74:28 K:BB over 50.2 frames this season with Worcester. The right-hander -- who turned 27 earlier this month -- will likely provide Boston with some bullpen protection for a short period of time before returning to Worcester.

The Athletics announced Monday that Kuroda-Grauer (testicle) has resumed taking part in light, non-impact activities, Jason Burke of Roundtable.io reports.

Kuroda-Grauer will be eased back into baseball-related workouts after he required surgery July 21 to address a ruptured testicle, an injury he suffered a day earlier when he fouled a ball off of himself. The Athletics aren't putting a timeline on Kuroda-Grauer's return from the injured list, but since he hasn't yet begun a hitting, running or fielding progression, he doesn't appear on track to make it back from the shelf before the end of August.