MLB Player News

Kelly is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's contest versus the Brewers.

Kelly started at catcher in the first two games of the series, so he will get a break during Wednesday's tilt. Miguel Amaya will be behind the dish and will bat ninth for the Cubs.

Taylor will start in right field and bat eighth in Wednesday's game versus the Brewers.

It's the third straight start for Taylor but the first start against a right-hander since Aug. 9, with this one coming against the flamethrowing Jacob Misiorowski. Taylor has slashed a robust .413/.462/.565 in 19 contests since joining the Cubs, so manager Craig Counsell is playing the hot hand.

Ramirez (back) remains out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Brewers.

Ramirez has not played since Sunday as he battles back spasms, though there's been no indication thus far that he might require time on the injured list. Matt Shaw is again handling second base for the Cubs.

Gilbert (undisclosed) will start in center field and bat leadoff Wednesday in Pittsburgh.

Gilbert had to be scratched from Tuesday's lineup with an undisclosed injury, but he is back in there a day later. The 25-year-old is coming off his best month, having posted an .801 OPS with four home runs across 27 games in August.

Alvarez is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game in Tampa Bay.

Alvarez was behind the dish for the first two games of the series, but he'll take a seat in the finale. Luis Torrens is doing the catching and batting ninth in the rubber match.

Karros has cleared concussion protocol and will begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Hartford on Thursday, Eli Whitney of Blake Street Banter reports.

Karros has been on the 7-day injured list twice since mid-August, which is worrisome, but he appears to be in the clear now. He is slated to remain with Hartford through the end of the weekend. If all goes well, Karros appears poised for a return to the Rockies' active roster next week as the club begins a road trip.

The Mets optioned Ross to Triple-A Syracuse on Wednesday.

Ross tossed a perfect inning of relief Tuesday versus the Rays in his major-league debut, but he's now headed back to Syracuse to make roster space for the return of Justin Hagenman (rib). The righty reliever should be back in the big leagues later this month.

The Mets activated Hagenman (rib) from the 60-day injured list Wednesday.

Hagenman will make a spot start Wednesday versus the Rays in what will be his season debut for the Mets. The right-hander has been shelved since spring training with a fractured rib, but he's pitched well in three rehab outings, yielding five runs (three earned) with a 9:1 K:BB over 9.1 innings. Hagenman tossed 64 pitches in his last appearance, so his workload will be truncated in Tampa Bay. He will likely work in long relief after Wednesday's start.

Gonzalez is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game versus the Giants.

It's the first time in the second half that Gonzalez hasn't started at shortstop for the Pirates when the opposition had a righty on the bump. Jared Triolo will handle shortstop Wednesday as the Giants send righty Landen Roupp to the hill.

Soroka (shoulder) will throw a simulated game Friday, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.

Soroka was placed on the 15-day injured list with right arm inflammation last week and is eyeing a minimum-length stay with a potential return next week if all goes well during his simulated game. The right-hander owns a 3.40 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 91:24 K:BB across 95.1 innings spanning 18 starts this season.