MLB Player News

Montas (lat) may rejoin the Mets in a bullpen role rather than being plugged into the rotation right away, Tim Britton of the Athletic reports.

In his most recent rehab start for Triple-A Syracuse on Friday, Montas got hammered for eight runs in only 1.2 innings, and he'll get to make only one more start before his 30-day rehab stint expires. The 32-year-old is stretched out enough to handle a starting role -- he's thrown 129 pitches over his last two appearances -- but if his performance doesn't improve in his final outing for Syracuse, the Mets may not want to risk him in the rotation. New York plays 13 games in 13 days beginning Tuesday however and will almost certainly need a sixth starter to get through that stretch, and their options for that spot are limited with Paul Blackburn already set to fill in for Kodai Senga (hamstring). If the Mets decide that Montas isn't quite ready to start when he's activated from the 60-day injured list, it could open the door for a prospect such as Nolan McLean to make a spot start instead.

Lee went 1-for-5 with a two-RBI triple in Sunday's 5-4 loss to the Dodgers.

Lee knocked his fifth triple of the season down the right-field line in the fourth inning, driving in two runs and giving the Giants a 3-2 lead. The 26-year-old struggled in the club's three-game series against Los Angeles, going 1-for-13 with two RBI, a triple, a run scored and a 2:1 BB:K over 15 plate appearances. Lee is batting a lackluster .205 in June but has also posted an 11.1 percent strikeout rate, 10 runs scored, three RBI, three triples, three doubles and a stolen base across 54 plate appearances.

Fortes went 3-for-4 with a double and a run scored in Sunday's win over the Nationals.

The 28-year-old catcher has a five-game hit streak going, during which he's gone 9-for-17 (.529) with a double, a homer, four runs and four RBI. Fortes has become primarily a short-side platoon player as the Marlins also try to find playing time for Agustin Ramirez and Liam Hicks behind the plate, but the role may be agreeing with him.

Lucchesi (0-1) took the loss in Sunday's 5-4 defeat to the Dodgers, allowing two earned runs on three hits over two-thirds of an inning.

Lucchesi made his Giants debut Monday, entering the game with two outs in the fourth inning and allowing a single before inducing the final out. Lucchesi then surrendered back-to-back singles to start the fifth and was pulled after securing the first out. The 32-year-old was a last-minute addition to the major-league roster, with the team trading Sunday's projected starter, Kyle Harrison, and three other players to the Red Sox in exchange for Rafael Devers. Lucchesi had been working in relief for Triple-A Sacramento before joining San Francisco, posting a 3.23 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and a 31:8 K:BB across 30.2 innings in 20 appearances.

DeJong (orbital) will begin a rehab assignment at Double-A Harrisburg on Tuesday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

He was cleared to play in rehab games after meeting with the doctor who performed the surgery in late April to repair DeJong's sinuses and orbital plate. Considering how much time he's missed, the veteran infielder will likely require a handful of rehab contests before returning from the 10-day injured list. Prior to getting injured, DeJong had been serving as the Nationals' primary option at third base, but he could end up filling more of a utility role upon his return from the IL if top prospect Brady House -- who is set to be promoted from Triple-A Rochester on Monday -- performs well enough in his first taste of the big leagues to hold down a full-time role at the hot corner.

Atlanta activated Alvarez (wrist) from the 60-day injured list Monday and optioned him to Triple-A Gwinnett.

Alvarez has recovered from the wrist injury that initially cropped up in late February, but he will stick around with Gwinnett, where he had been on a rehab assignment. The 22-year-old will play regularly all over the infield at Gwinnett.

Atlanta designated Azocar for assignment Monday.

The move frees up a spot on the active roster for the return of Stuart Fairchild (finger) from the 10-day injured list. Azocar will go through the waivers process, and if he clears, he'll have the ability to elect free agency.

Atlanta activated Fairchild (finger) from the 10-day injured list Monday.

Fairchild had been shelved since late May with a dislocated pinky finger but is ready to roll after going 5-for-12 in three rehab contests. He will see occasional playing time in the outfield against left-handed pitching.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell acknowledged Sunday that Tucker's sprained right ring finger still isn't 100 percent, Patrick Mooney of The Athletic reports.

Counsell noted that Tucker's finger injury is "not bad," but between rest Sunday and a team off day Monday, the skipper saw an opportunity to give Tucker "two days without swinging a bat." Tucker suffered the finger sprain back on June 1, and he's slashing a good-not-great .244/.380/.415 with only one home run in 13 games so far this month. The 28-year-old will be back in the lineup Tuesday as the Cubs host the Brewers.

Diaz allowed two earned runs on five walks over one inning of relief Sunday in his appearance for Triple-A Reno.

Diaz made his second appearance for Reno since rejoining the squad following a stay at the Diamondbacks' facility in Arizona to work on command issues. Judging by Sunday's effort, the right-hander's wayward command was not solved. The 24-year-old had previously started in each of his first eight appearances of the season with Reno, but both of his last two outings have come out of the bullpen. Arizona might not have completely closed the door on developing Diaz as a starter, but he looks like he'll first need to find some success in a relief role before he's considered for a spot in the Reno rotation.