MLB Player News

Phillies manager Rob Thomson said that Kerkering was unavailable to pitch in Tuesday's 4-3 loss to the Giants due to soreness but is available Wednesday, Lochlahn March of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Kerkering might have gotten a save chance had he been available Tuesday. Instead, the Phillies turned to Jordan Romano, who gave up three runs in the ninth inning to take a blown save and loss. The source of Kerkering's soreness isn't known, but he will evidently be ready Wednesday, if needed. Kerkering has notched two saves for the Phillies this season.

High-A Jersey Shore activated Spikerman (undisclosed) from the 7-day injured list July 2 and assigned him to Single-A Clearwater.

The 22-year-old outfielder shifted his rehab assignment to the Florida State League on June 25 and will end up sticking around with the affiliate after Jersey Shore didn't have an opening for him on its roster. Over his 10 games with Clearwater this season, Spikerman has slashed .242/.359/.424 with two home runs and three stolen bases.

The Brewers designated Rodriguez for assignment Wednesday, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

The transaction clears a spot on the 40-man roster for outfielder Steward Berroa (shoulder), who was acquired via trade from the Dodgers. Rodriguez has made two starts and four relief appearances for the Brewers this season, allowing 18 runs with a 17:7 K:BB over 18.2 frames.

The Brewers acquired Berroa from the Dodgers on Wednesday in exchange for cash considerations, optioned him to Triple-A Nashville and placed him on the 7-day injured list due to right shoulder bursitis, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

Berroa has now been traded for the second time since May, as he previously went from the Blue Jays to the Dodgers. The 26-year-old has produced a .270/.358/.345 batting line with one home run and 20 stolen bases over 51 games at the Triple-A level in 2025. Berroa hasn't played in three weeks due to the shoulder issue, and it's unclear when he might be ready for game action.

Birdsong isn't scheduled to make a start during the Giants' three-game series with the Dodgers this weekend, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

The Giants will take advantage of an off day Thursday to realign their rotation, resulting in Birdsong's turn being skipped while Landen Roupp and Robbie Ray both make their second starts of the week Saturday and Sunday, respectively. According to Rubin, manager Bob Melvin said that Birdsong will be available out of the bullpen for the series against Los Angeles before slotting back into the rotation following the All-Star break. Since moving into the San Francisco rotation May 20, Birdsong has gone 3-3 with a 5.10 ERA, 1.49 WHIP and 43:23 K:BB in 42.1 innings over his nine starts.

Moniak is not in the lineup for Wednesday's contest in Boston.

Moniak started each of the previous seven game against right-handed pitching, but he'll begin Wednesday's contest on the bench as the Red Sox send righty Lucas Giolito to the bump. Yanquiel Fernandez will start in right field and bat seventh in the series finale.

Estrada (thumb) remained out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Red Sox.

Estrada jammed his left thumb while sliding into third base on Monday against the Red Sox, per MLB.com. While X-rays came back clean, he remains sore and will miss a second straight start. Kyle Farmer will pick up the start at second base in Estrada's stead.

Goodman is not in the lineup for Wednesday's contest in Boston.

Goodman will get a routine day off after he started in both of the first two games of the series. Austin Nola will handle catching duties and bat ninth Wednesday as the Rockies try to avoid being swept.

Rojas will start at third base and bat seventh in Wednesday's game against the Brewers.

Rojas will cover third base for the fifth game in a row, after going 3-for-13 with a home run, a double, a walk and three RBI over his prior four starts. Though Max Muncy's (knee) extended absence creates a long-term opening at the hot corner, it's not yet clear if Rojas will end up settling in as the primary option at the position, despite his recent usage. Each of Rojas' previous three starts came with Tommy Edman (toe) out of the lineup, and though Edman will check back in at second base Wednesday, the Dodgers are facing a left-handed starting pitcher (Jose Quintana). Edman is capable of playing third base, so the right-handed-hitting Rojas could end up ceding his spot in the infield to the left-handed-hitting Hyeseong Kim on a more frequent basis when the Dodgers oppose righties.

Kim is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Brewers.

Though he will hit the bench Wednesday while the Brewers send southpaw Jose Quintana to the mound, the left-handed-hitting Kim's outlook for playing time versus righties seems to have improved with both Max Muncy (knee) and Enrique Hernandez (elbow) recently landing on the injured list. Kim had started in each of the Dodgers' previous three matchups against righties and went 1-for-11 with six strikeouts, though it's worth noting that Tommy Edman missed all of those games while nursing a pinkie toe injury. Edman is back in action Wednesday, so the final spot in the Dodgers' regular infield configuration against right-handed pitching may come down to either Kim or Miguel Rojas.