MLB Player News

The Cubs recalled Brown from Triple-A Iowa on Monday, Patrick Mooney of The Athletic reports.

Brown is a candidate to eat up some innings in a bulk relief role Monday versus the Royals behind opening pitcher Ryan Brasier. He's posted a 6.13 ERA in 14 starts and two relief appearances with the Cubs this season, though he's racked up 91 strikeouts across his 79.1 frames.

The Nationals announced Monday that Crews (oblique) was able to complete a full assortment of baseball activities over the weekend and is drawing closer to a rehab assignment, Spencer Nusbaum of The Washington Post reports.

More specifically, Nusbaum notes that Crews was able to field groundballs, shag flyballs, play catch, hit off a tee, take part in batting practice and run the bases. Crews may need to complete a few more workouts before embarking on a rehab assignment, and he'll likely need multiple games in the minors to get his timing back at the plate while his left oblique strain has kept him on the shelf since May 21.

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said Monday that he expects Marte (knee) to be activated from the 10-day injured list later this week, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Marte will need a few more days to recover from a right knee bruise, but he will bypass a rehab assignment and appears likely to be back when the Mets begin a road trip this weekend. Upon his return, Marte will see some playing time in the designated hitter slot, with perhaps most of it coming against left-handed pitching.

Brooks is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Marlins.

The left-handed-hitting Brooks was on the bench for the final two games of the Padres' series in Washington over the weekend while the Nationals sent lefties to the hill, but he'll be absent from the lineup Monday versus Marlins righty Eury Perez. Since getting called up from Triple-A El Paso on June 15, Brooks is slashing just .158/.200/.289 over 40 plate appearances, and he could soon be at risk of losing his roster spot.

Merrill (illness) will start in center field and bat sixth in Monday's game against the Marlins.

After being scratched from the lineup ahead of Sunday's 8-1 win over the Nationals, Merrill apparently made enough progress overnight to re-enter the lineup for the series opener in Miami. Though fantasy managers in the majority of leagues will likely still want to keep Merrill active as the Padres open a seven-game week, the 22-year-old has struggled to get going at the plate since returning to action June 22 after a stint on the 7-day injured list due to a concussion. He's slashing just .163/.277/.263 with two home runs, no stolen bases, six RBI and 10 runs over the last month of action.

Smith is not in the lineup for Monday's contest in Atlanta.

Smith has been serving as the Giants' primary first baseman against right-handed pitching, but he will take a seat in Monday's series opener. Wilmer Flores will draw the start at first base and bat seventh for San Francisco while Atlanta sends righty Bryce Elder to the hill.

Kolek has joined the Padres' taxi squad and will be called up from Triple-A El Paso to start Tuesday's game in Miami, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.

Kolek will slide into the fifth slot in the Padres rotation, although he isn't necessarily guaranteed any more starts beyond Tuesday. The right-hander has made 12 starts for San Diego in 2025, posting a 4.24 ERA and 49:22 K:BB across 68 innings.

Bart is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Tigers.

Bart will be on the bench for Monday's series opener, but he may have worked his way back into a timeshare at catcher with Henry Davis. The two backstops have now alternated turns behind the plate for each of the Pirates' last eight games, drawing four starts apiece.

Pham is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Tigers.

The Pirates haven't indicated that Pham is dealing with an injury, but his absence from the lineup is curious after he also went unused in Sunday's 7-2 loss to the White Sox. Jack Suwinski will draw another start in left field in place of Pham, who has gone 2-for-13 with a solo home run over his last three contests.

Wagaman is absent from the lineup for Monday's contest against the Padres.

Wagaman had started each of the previous two games, but he'll hit the bench for the third time in four matchups versus a right-handed starting pitcher. Liam Hicks will get the nod at first base and will bat sixth for Miami.