MLB Player News

Church will start in center field and bat ninth in Monday's game versus the Marlins.

Church has now started both games in center field for the Cardinals since he was called up from Triple-A Memphis after Victor Scott (ankle) was placed on the injured list. Lars Nootbaar is also an option for reps in center field, but Church has a much better glove and and had a breakout season offensively in the minors, slashing .329/.386/.524 with 13 home runs and 16 steals across three levels. It's not clear yet when Scott will return, but until he does, Church might serve as the Cardinals' primary center fielder against right-handed pitching.

Horton was removed from his start in the first game of Monday's doubleheader with the Brewers midway through the third inning due to an apparent blister on his pitching hand, Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com reports. He struck out three batters and gave up one run on four hits and one walk over 2.2 frames prior to departing the contest.

The Cubs will likely provide clarity later Monday regarding whether Horton was battling a blister or some other kind of health concern, but the rookie was pulled from the contest after he was visited twice on the mound by Craig Counsell and a team trainer and on an another occasion by pitching coach Tommy Hottovy. Prior to Monday's twin bill, Horton had been the Cubs' top performing starter since the All-Star break, having posted a microscopic 0.32 ERA and 0.71 WHIP in 28.1 innings over his last five starts. After exiting with a 1-0 deficit, Horton will be on the hook for his fourth loss of the season if the Cubs are unable to tie the game or take the lead at any point in the remainder of the contest.

The Marlins placed Pauley on the 10-day injured list Monday with a right oblique strain.

Miami hasn't shed light on the severity of the injury that Pauley sustained over the weekend, but given that even mild oblique strains typically entail more than a 10-day recovery, the 24-year-old is unlikely to return from the IL when first eligible Aug. 27. Miami recalled infielder Maximo Acosta from Triple-A Jacksonville in a corresponding move, but Javier Sanoja and Eric Wagaman may be likelier candidates to pick up starts at third base while Pauley is on the shelf.

The Marlins recalled Acosta from Triple-A Jacksonville on Monday. He'll start at second base and bat eighth in the Marlins' series opener versus the Cardinals.

Acosta will join the Marlins' 26-man active roster as a replacement for third baseman Graham Pauley (oblique), who was placed on the 10-day injured list in a corresponding move. Though Pauley's absence creates an opening at the hot corner, Acosta won't necessarily be in the mix for steady playing time with Miami, as he's been used exclusively at the middle-infield positions throughout his minor-league career. Acosta batted just .236 with a 10.6 percent walk rate and 26.5 percent strikeout rate over 431 plate appearances for Jacksonville this season, but he showcased a fantasy-friendly skill set with 13 home runs and 28 steals (in 35 attempts).

Reds manager Terry Francona said in an interview on MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM that Burns (elbow) will resume a throwing program Monday.

Burns landed on the 15-day injured list Friday after being diagnosed with a Grade 1 right flexor strain, but the fact that the rookie has already been cleared to throw backs up the Reds' optimism that the righty is not facing an extended absence. When Burns returns from the IL, he could be deployed in relief, as the Reds have a bevy of other rotation options and also want to manage the 22-year-old's workload.

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said after Sunday's 7-3 win over the Mariners that Alvarez would return to New York on Monday to undergo an MRI on his jammed right thumb, the Associated Press reports. "Right now, we don't know what we're dealing with," Mendoza said of Alvarez's injury.

Alvarez went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI before exiting in the eighth inning, after he had initially stayed in the game upon jamming the thumb on a head-first slide into second base on his seventh-inning double. The Mets are off Monday, so the team will likely wait for the results on Alvarez's MRI to become available before determining if he'll meet back up with the team in Washington on Tuesday for the start of a three-game set with the Nationals. Luis Torrens would be in line to take over as the Mets' No. 1 catcher if Alvarez requires a stint on the injured list.

The Phillies recalled Hoffman from Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Monday.

Hoffman was acquired from the Rangers in June and has collected a 5.00 ERA and 73:32 K:BB over 54 innings at the Triple-A level this season. The right-handed reliever will be making his major-league debut when/if he gets into a game.

The Phillies optioned Lazar to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Monday.

Lazar pitched both of the previous two days and was knocked around for three runs over 1.1 innings in an appearance during Sunday's 11-9 win over the Nationals. He'll give up his spot on the 26-man active roster and in the bullpen to Nolan Hoffman, who was recalled from Triple-A.

Antone (elbow) has tossed 2.2 scoreless innings across two rehab appearances with High-A Dayton.

Antone is recovering from a third Tommy John surgery and has made a total of only nine appearances at the major-league level since 2022. The odds are against him making it back to be a successful reliever for the Reds, but it's possible he'll receive consideration for a promotion during the stretch run if he's pitching well.

Hall said Monday that an MRI on his right oblique showed a "Grade 1ish, Grade 2ish" strain, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

Hall suffered the injury during an appearance this past Friday in Cincinnati and subsequently landed on the 15-day injured list. He hopes to resume throwing within two weeks and return within three weeks, but that seems to be a best-case scenario. Hall has posted a 3.35 ERA and 27:17 K:BB over 37.2 innings covering 19 appearances (three starts) in 2025.