MLB Player News

Steer (rib) will start in right field and bat cleanup in Wednesday's game against the Mariners.

After being lifted late in Monday's 8-0 loss due to a rib contusion, Steer was held out of the starting nine for Tuesday's 4-2 win. He went unused off the bench but was reportedly available after checking out fine when he took pregame swings, per MLB.com. Following the full day of rest, Steer is ready to step back into the starting nine for the finale, covering right field while Noelvi Marte heads back to the bench.

Julien will start at second base and bat eighth in Wednesday's game against the Nationals.

The left-handed-hitting Julien will draw his first start of the series after sitting Monday and Tuesday while the Nationals sent lefty starters to the hill for both contests. Julien is batting just .148/.258/.296 thus far in July, and he no longer appears to have a firm grasp on a strong-side platoon role after the Rockies held him out of the lineup against right-handed starters in the final game before the All-Star break and in the first game of the second half.

Sullivan will start at catcher and bat ninth in Wednesday's game against the Nationals.

The Rockies are giving All-Star Hunter Goodman a day off from catching but keeping his bat in the lineup at designated hitter, so Sullivan will get a turn behind the dish in the series finale. Sullivan has started in just two of the Rockies' last six contests, and his playing time will likely remain scarce so long as Goodman is healthy and the team continues to carry three catchers (Sullivan, Goodman and Braxton Fulford) on the roster.

Johnston is not in the lineup for Wednesday's contest against the Nationals.

Right-hander Cade Cavalli is toeing the slab for the Nationals, but the lefty-swinging Johnston will nonetheless begin the game on the bench. Hunter Goodman is getting a day at designated hitter for the Rockies, and Brett Sullivan will enter the lineup at catcher.

Crooks is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Angels.

Crooks has delivered late-game solo home runs off the bench in two of his last five contests, but the power surge doesn't seem to have earned him a major uptick in playing time. After sitting out against Angels righty Walbert Urena in Tuesday's 5-1 loss, the left-handed-hitting Crooks will remain on the bench for the finale while the Halos send southpaw Reid Detmers to the bump.

Tovar is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game versus the Nationals.

Tovar went hitless in the first two games of the series and is just 2-for-32 at the dish across his last 10 contests. Willi Castro will slide over to shortstop, and Edouard Julien will handle second base for the Rockies on Wednesday.

Fermin will start in center field and bat seventh in Wednesday's game against the Angels.

Though he'll draw back into the starting nine while southpaw Reid Detmers takes the hill for the Angels, Fermin appears to have lost hold of a regular spot in the lineup against right-handed pitching. The Cardinals kept him on the bench when the Angels sent righties to the bump for the first two contests of the series, with Blaze Jordan getting the nod over Fermin at third base in both games.

Church is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Angels.

The Cardinals will send Church and fellow left-handed-hitting outfielder Lars Nootbaar to the bench Wednesday while southpaw Reid Detmers toes the rubber for the Angels. Jose Fermin will take Church's spot in center field and will bat seventh.

Nootbaar is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Angels.

The Cardinals will send Nootbaar and fellow left-handed-hitting outfielder Nathan Church to the bench Wednesday while southpaw Reid Detmers toes the rubber for the Angels. Nelson Velazquez will take Nootbaar's spot in left field and will bat fifth.

Holmes (fibula) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Syracuse on Thursday, Max Goodman of NJ.com reports.

Holmes is slated to throw three innings in what will be his first game appearance since he suffered a fractured right fibula in mid-May. Mets interim manager Andy Green noted that Holmes will likely require an additional rehab outing after Thursday, though it will depend on how the righty feels during and after his start with Syracuse. Holmes has posted a 2.39 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 45:18 K:BB through 52.2 innings this season and is a candidate to be traded at the deadline.