MLB Player News

The Brewers activated Mears (forearm) from the 15-day injured list Thursday.

Mears was sidelined for the past month with right forearm inflammation but has been cleared to return after throwing a successful simulated game earlier this week. He's collected a 6.75 ERA and 1.41 WHIP across 10.2 innings for Milwaukee since being acquired at the trade deadline.

The Brewers optioned Herget to Triple-A Nashville on Thursday.

Herget made two scoreless appearances during his most recent stint with the Brewers. He's clearing out to make room on the roster for the return of Nick Mears (forearm) from the 15-day injured list.

Hoskins is not in the lineup for Thursday's contest in Pittsburgh.

Hoskins will get a routine day off for the afternoon contest after he had started each of the previous five games. Jake Bauers will cover first base and William Contreras will get a start at designated hitter for the Brewers.

Chourio is absent from the lineup for Thursday's game in Pittsburgh.

Chourio will get his second day off in the past week as Brewers manager Pat Murphy gives some key regulars a little rest before the postseason. Sal Frelick will slide over to left field and Garrett Mitchell will play right in the series finale.

Kopech picked up the save over the Padres on Wednesday, allowing one walk over a scoreless ninth inning while striking out one.

Kopech relieved Blake Treinen to open the ninth and retired the first two batters on five pitches before surrendering a walk to Jake Cronenworth. The right-hander was then able to strike out Donovan Solano for the final out to lock down his 15th save of the campaign and his third in the month of September. Kopech has now allowed at least one baserunner in five-consecutive appearances and at least one free pass in four of his last five. However, he's also converted each of his last seven save opportunities, with his last blown save coming back on July 7 against the Marlins.

Espinal started at second base and went 1-for-3 in Wednesday's 5-2 loss to Cleveland.

Espinal filled in at second base for Jonathan India, who was held out of the starting lineup after clearing concussion protocol. Espinal's in a skid to end the season, going 4-for-37 (.108) over the 11 games, but he's been productive overall during the second half.

Flaherty did not factor into the decision in a win over the Padres on Wednesday, allowing three runs on four hits and three walks over five innings while striking out five.

Flaherty allowed four of the first six batters to reach between the first and second inning, leading to two runs coming home for San Diego over that stretch. He then went on to retire 10 of the next 12 batters he faced before coughing up a solo homer to Fernando Tatis in the fifth. It marked the third-consecutive start in which the right-hander has given up at least three runs and multiple free passes. However, he's also managed to get through at least five innings in nine of 10 outings since joining the Dodgers.

Cease did not factor into the decision in a loss to the Dodgers on Wednesday, allowing three runs on five hits and three walks over five innings. He struck out four.

Cease got off to a bit of a rocky start, issuing a walk to Shohei Ohtani to lead off the bottom of the first before then allowing the slugger to reach second on a wild pitch. The right-hander saw one run come home in the frame and was later tagged for another two runs in the fourth after allowing four-consecutive batters to reach. Cease did generate 20 whiffs in the contest, but that led to only four strikeouts over his five innings of work. It marked the fourth time in his last six starts that he failed to strike out at least five batters and the fifth time over that stretch in which he issued multiple walks. On a positive note, he still carries a 2.97 ERA in September and hasn't allowed a home run in three straight outings.

The Marlins outrighted Pache to Triple-A Jacksonville on Wednesday.

Pache passed through waivers unclaimed after being removed from the 40-man roster and will remain in the organization for the time being. The 25-year-old is a career .181/.243/.275 hitter over parts of five major-league seasons.

Friedl batted leadoff and went 1-for-3 with a walk and a run scored in Wednesday's 5-2 loss to the Guardians.

Friedl broke up a no-hitter with a bunt to lead off the seventh inning and scored Cincinnati's first run. He was moved back to leadoff -- his first time since June 23 -- as Jonathan India was held out after clearing concussion protocol. He's struggled of late, going 4-for-24 (.167) over the last eight games. It's assumed Friedl will drop back to the middle of the order once India's ready to return.