MLB Player News

Horwitz is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Reds.

The left-handed-hitting Horwitz could end up settling into a full-time role with the Pirates eventually, but he'll take a seat for the series opener versus the Reds while lefty Nick Lodolo takes the hill for Cincinnati. After being reinstated from the injured list Saturday after he had been on the shelf all season while recovering from a procedure to alleviate pain in his right wrist, Horwitz started at first base in the final two games of the Pirates' weekend series with the Phillies, going 1-for-6.

Reds manager Terry Francona said that Greene (groin) is on track to return from the 15-day injured list to start Friday against the Cubs, Charlie Goldsmith of the Dayton Daily News reports.

Francona indicated earlier Monday that Greene was trending toward a return this weekend, and now the skipper has offered the specific day for the right-hander to be activated. Greene will not make a rehab start, but he has completed multiple bullpen sessions and thus far has had no problems recovering from the Grade 1 right groin strain that sent him to the 15-day injured list in early May. He could be on a somewhat limited pitch count Friday.

Cruz is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Reds.

Cruz was recently held out of the lineup for four straight games due to back soreness, but he rejoined the starting nine for the final two contests of the weekend series versus the Phillies, going 0-for-8 with seven strikeouts. With lefty Nick Lodolo on the bump for Cincinnati, the lefty-hitting Cruz was unlikely to get back on track Monday, so he'll get a day off. Alexander Canario will spell Cruz in center field, while third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes settles in as the Pirates' leadoff hitter.

Acuna is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Red Sox, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Acuna had started in three of the Mets' last four games, but all three starts came against southpaws. He finds himself on the bench for a third straight matchup with a righty (Hunter Dobbins) and looks like he'll be relegated to the short side of a platoon at second base with Jeff McNeil.

Cronin (hip) will resume a rehab assignment with Single-A Jupiter on Tuesday, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

Cronin made three rehab appearances with Triple-A Jacksonville in mid-April before being pulled off the rehab assignment, presumably after experiencing a setback. He looks to be back on track with recovery now, though. Cronin has been out all season with a left hip strain.

Perez (elbow) will make his next rehab start Thursday with Triple-A Jacksonville, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

The right-hander is moving up to the Marlins' highest minor-league affiliate after he yielded three runs (two earned) with a 12:3 K:BB over 10 innings covering five rehab starts with Single-A Jupiter. Perez went four frames and threw 49 pitches in his most recent outing Friday and will continue to increase his workload at Jacksonville, with eyes on returning from the 60-day injured list in early June.

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

Lazar will join the big club for the first time all season and will take the 26-man active roster spot of right-hander Mick Abel, who was optioned to Triple-A after making a spot start for the Phillies in Sunday's win over the Pirates. Though the back end of the Philadelphia bullpen lost a notable piece after lefty Jose Alvarado was handed an 80-game suspension Sunday, Lazar is unlikely to factor into the mix for saves. He'll presumably work in middle relief initially after he turned in a 3.12 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 20:6 K:BB in 17.1 innings with Lehigh Valley to earn the call to Philadelphia.

The Phillies optioned Abel to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Monday, Lochlahn March of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

The idea all along was for Abel's major-league debut Sunday against the Pirates to be a spot start, and the Phillies have stuck to the plan even after the rookie struck out nine over six scoreless innings. Taijuan Walker will now enter the rotation this week as the replacement for Aaron Nola (ankle). Abel will go back into Lehigh Valley's rotation but is sure to garner additional looks in the majors this season.

Hill will start in center field and bat eighth in Monday's game against the Cubs.

Dane Myers' (oblique) return from the injured list doesn't appear to be imminent, but Hill looks as though he won't be in store for a full-time role in the Miami outfield since being activated last Monday following an IL stint of his own. Though he'll be included in the lineup in the series opener versus Chicago, Hill made just one start over the last four games. Rather than clearing the way for Hill to get steady at-bats, the Marlins have been deploying Kyle Stowers in center more frequently to make room in the lineup for the hot-hitting Liam Hicks at either catcher or designated hitter, with Agustin Ramirez typically occupying the other spot.

The Cubs designated Lopez for assignment Monday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.

The club needed to free a spot on the active roster for Matt Shaw, and Lopez is the casualty. Lopez is just 1-for-24 at the plate this season and is likely to pass through waivers unclaimed, but his solid glovework and defensive versatility should help land him a minor-league contract somewhere.