MLB Player News

Blanco (leg) began a rehab assignment with the Florida Complex League Pirates on Saturday, Anthony Murphy of DKPittsburghSports.com reports.

Blanco has been sidelined all season with a leg injury, but he should be nearing a return to Single-A Bradenton. He has excellent power potential but will need to display the ability to make more consistent contact to eventually make an impact in the majors.

Arenado (finger) isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game versus Atlanta.

Arenado sprained his right index finger during Friday's contest -- the second time he's done so in the past two weeks. He'll take a day off to heal Saturday, and the Cardinals may opt to keep him on the bench until play resumes following the All-Star break.

Pages isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against Atlanta.

After going 1-for-2 with two RBI during Friday's loss, Pages will give way to Yohel Pozo behind the dish.

Baldwin isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against St. Louis.

Baldwin will get a chance to catch his breath Saturday after going 2-for-4 with an RBI in Friday's series opener. Sean Murphy will pick up another start at catcher and bat fourth.

Pham is not in Saturday's lineup against the Twins.

Pham has been the Pirates' best hitter since late June, hitting .429 with three homers, 15 RBI and seven runs scored across his last 14 games. He'll hit the bench after starting six straight games, with Jack Suwinski starting in left field.

The Reds optioned Encarnacion-Strand to Triple-A Louisville on Saturday.

Encarnacion-Strand has seen his playing time dwindle over the past several days, and Jake Fraley's (shoulder) return from the IL will now leave the former without a spot on the active roster. The 25-year-old Encarnacion-Strand has slashed .208/.234/.377 across 137 plate appearances this season.

The Reds reinstated Fraley (shoulder) from the injured list Saturday.

A partial tear of Fraley's right labrum has kept him sidelined since late June, but he's been cleared to return to the Reds after going 2-for-11 with a run scored during a three-game rehab assignment at Triple-A Louisville. The 30-year-old should reclaim his role as Cincinnati's primary right fielder against right-handers now that he's healthy. Christian Encarnacion-Strand was optioned to Triple-A in a corresponding move.

The Cardinals optioned Svanson to Triple-A Memphis on Saturday.

Svanson has been fairly reliable out of the bullpen for the Cardinals this season, turning in a 3.12 ERA and 0.81 WHIP through 26 innings. However, the Cardinals will prioritize filling their bullpen with a fresh arm heading into the All-Star break, so the 26-year-old will head back to Triple-A in favor of Gordon Graceffo.

The Cardinals recalled Graceffo from Triple-A Memphis on Saturday.

Graceffo owns a 6.62 ERA and 1.30 WHIP in 17.2 innings with the Cardinals this season, but he's given up just one run in 7.1 frames since being sent to Triple-A on June 23. His recent turnaround will afford him another chance with the big club, and he'll replace Matt Svanson in St. Louis' bullpen.

Bummer will serve as Atlanta's opening pitcher in a bullpen game Saturday against the Cardinals.

For the second Saturday in a row, Bummer will fill an opener role in a bullpen game while Atlanta has yet to settle on a permanent replacement in the rotation for Spencer Schwellenbach (elbow), who is likely to be sidelined until around September. In his previous turn as an opener last weekend against the Orioles, Bummer covered 2.1 innings, and Atlanta could be looking for him to handle a similar workload Saturday. Atlanta doesn't have an obvious candidate to serve as a bulk reliever behind Bummer, though Jesse Chavez and the newly claimed Joey Wentz are available on three days' rest and should be capable of covering multiple frames, if needed.