MLB Player News

Ramirez will serve as the Pirates' opening pitcher for Thursday's game against the Reds, Danny Demilio of PittsburghBaseballNow.com reports.

Thursday will mark the first start of Ramirez's seven-year MLB career. He'll likely pitch one or two innings before turning the game over to Hunter Barco, who is expected to work in bulk relief, per Demilio. Ramirez has submitted a 3.21 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 62:33 K:BB across 56 innings this season.

Lowe is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Guardians.

After going 5-for-12 with a double, two RBI and a run scored while starting in the Reds' last three games, the left-handed-hitting Lowe will head to the bench while the Guardians send southpaw Joey Cantillo to the bump. Sal Stewart will move across the diamond to replace Lowe at first base while Ke'Bryan Hayes picks up a start at third base.

Kelly is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Cardinals.

Kelly had been in the Cubs' starting nine for each of the previous three contests, but he'll get a breather Wednesday. Miguel Amaya will draw the start at catcher, and he will occupy the No. 9 slot in the North Siders' lineup.

Hoerner is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's contest in St. Louis.

Hoerner has reached base six times in the first two games of the series, but he will be given his first day off since June 14. Pedro Ramirez will pick up a start at second base in Hoerner's stead.

Nationals manager Blake Butera said Wednesday that Irvin (shoulder) will be activated from the 60-day injured list to start Thursday's game in Atlanta, Kyle Williams of TheBanner.com reports.

Irvin has been shelved since late May while working his way back from a right shoulder strain. He pitched well in three rehab starts, covering 11.1 shutout frames with a 12:1 K:BB and just two hits allowed. Irvin authored a 5.23 ERA in 11 starts before getting hurt, however, so his leash on a rotation spot with Washington may not be long.

Nootbaar is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's contest against the Cubs.

The left-handed-hitting Nootbaar starts fairly often versus lefty pitchers, but he will begin Wednesday's festivities on the bench as the Cubs deploy southpaw Matthew Boyd as their starting pitcher. Jose Fermin will patrol left field and bat sixth for St. Louis.

Imanaga is no longer listed as the Cubs' starting pitcher for Thursday's game in St. Louis and will instead take the hill Friday versus the Yankees at Wrigley Field, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Imanaga isn't dealing with any known injury, so the Cubs' decision to push him back a day simply appears to be a measure to give him and the other members of the Cubs rotation some extra rest. Javier Assad will move from the bullpen to make a start Thursday, sliding into the rotation spot that previously belonged to Jameson Taillon.

The Reds optioned Franco (elbow) to Triple-A Louisville on Wednesday.

Franco will report back to Triple-A after he served as the Reds' 27th man for Wednesady's doubleheader with the Guardians. He was active for Game 2 of the twin bill and worked in bulk relief in the Reds' 2-0 victory, earning his first big-league win while striking out two and allowing one hit and two walks over 3.2 scoreless frames before exiting in the seventh inning due to right elbow discomfort. He'll likely undergo further testing before the Reds have a better idea regarding the extent of his injury, but Franco could be at risk of landing on the injured list if he isn't ready to go for his next turn through the rotation.

Assad will start Thursday's game in St. Louis, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Shota Imanaga had been listed as the starter for Thursday's series finale, but he and the other Cubs starters will be pushed back in order to bake in some extra rest. Assad went three shutout innings out of the bullpen in his last appearance Saturday in Pittsburgh, so he'll be taking the ball on four days' rest. The righty hasn't made a start in nearly three weeks, so he won't have a full workload at his disposal.

Julien is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Padres.

Julien was included in the lineup for the first two games of the series and went 1-for-6 with a double and a run scored, but he'll take a seat to begin Wednesday's contest while southpaw Kyle Hart opens the game for the Padres. The Rockies could summon the left-handed-hitting Julien from the bench at some point during the contest once Hart exits and right-hander Griffin Canning takes over in bulk relief.