MLB Player News

The Cubs activated Hodge (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list and optioned him to Triple-A Iowa, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Hodge is over the shoulder issue that sent him to the IL earlier this month, but the Cubs have decided to keep him at Iowa, where he had been on a rehab assignment. The hard-throwing righty should get another chance with the big club later this season.

The Cubs recalled Ballesteros from Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Ballesteros went 3-for-16 at the plate in an earlier stint with the Cubs and has slashed .332/.393/.496 with nine home runs this season with Iowa. The Cubs don't have a clear opening in the everyday lineup for the 21-year-old at the moment, though he could serve as the team's primary designated hitter in the short term while Ian Happ is day-to-day with a shin injury. Ballesteros will start at DH and bat seventh in Wednesday's series finale with the Brewers.

The Cubs designated Brujan for assignment Wednesday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Brujan never found his niche with the Cubs, slashing only .222/.234/.289 in 36 games while playing sparingly. His versatility could make him an interesting waiver pickup for other teams, but a career .192/.259/.271 batting line over parts of five seasons in the majors suggests that expectations should be low.

Rogers (4-3) took the loss in Tuesday's 3-1 defeat to the Pirates, allowing two earned runs on four hits while striking out one over one inning.

Rogers entered with the game tied in the eighth inning and gave up four singles that led to a two-run deficit. The right-hander threw 12 of his 16 pitches for strikes. The 34-year-old allowed his first run since June 30 and now owns a 1.80 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and 38:4 K:BB across 50 innings in 53 appearances this season.

Miller (elbow) threw a 30-pitch bullpen session at Oracle Park on Tuesday, per MLB.com.

Miller ramped up his intensity after throwing a 20-pitch bullpen session Saturday. The left-hander was placed on the 15-day injured list July 5 due to a sprained left elbow. He's on track to return in the second or third week of August and is expected to require at least two tune-up games before rejoining the big-league club, according to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle.

Realmuto is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's contest against the White Sox.

Realmuto will get a breather in Wednesday's matinee after starting each of the previous eight contests. Rafael Marchan will fill in behind the plate and will bat ninth for the Phillies.

Roupp (elbow) threw 35 pitches off flat ground Tuesday and is expected to continue pitching at the Giants' complex in Arizona while the team is on its six-game road trip, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Roupp was placed on the 15-day injured list Friday, retroactive to Wednesday, due to right elbow inflammation. The right-hander will continue ramping up and is expected to return shortly after he's first eligible Aug. 6. Roupp may go on a rehab assignment before rejoining the Giants during their next homestand, per Rubin.

King was removed from an appearance Tuesday versus the Marlins due to a left side injury, Daniel Guerrero of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

The Cardinals deemed King's removal precautionary, with the hope being that he is merely dealing with cramps rather than an oblique injury. He will be re-evaluated Wednesday. King threw two-thirds of a scoreless frame before exiting.

Toglia went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Tuesday's loss to the Guardians.

Toglia's lone hit of the night went deep to left field in the seventh. It was his first hit since July 18 and just his second home run since June 19. There's known power in Toglia's bat, but he has played himself out of a regular role at first base due to his cold hitting.

Farmer went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Tuesday's loss to the Guardians.

Farmer left the yard in the ninth inning for his fifth home run this year, tying his total from last season. He's now scored four runs over his last two games but has not shown much life at the plate otherwise, slashing .216/.265/.347.