MLB Player News

Manager Dave Martinez said Tuesday that Call (foot) will embark on a rehab assignment soon in hopes of returning before the end of the regular season, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.

The 29-year-old landed on the injured list in late August due to a partial tear of the plantar fascia in his left foot, and he's now on the cusp of returning to game action. Call has been productive when up with the Nationals this season with a .343/.425/.525 slash line in 30 games, and a healthy finish to the campaign would set him up for a normal offseason heading into 2025.

The Giants officially placed Chapman (personal) on the paternity list Wednesday.

Chapman left the team prior to Tuesday's 10-0 win over the Orioles to observe the birth of his child, but the Giants waited until Wednesday before officially deactivating him. Casey Schmitt was recalled from Triple-A Sacramento to provide some infield depth in the short term. Per MLB rules, Chapman will be away from the Giants for at least one game and as many as three while on the paternity list, so expected him to rejoin the club no later than Saturday.

The Reds recalled Leibrandt from Triple-A Louisville on Wednesday.

He'll provide length in the bullpen after the Reds' relief corps needed to cover 7.2 innings in Tuesday's win over Atlanta upon Brandon Williamson's exit due to an elbow injury. Leibrandt had one scoreless relief appearance for the Reds last month.

The Reds placed Williamson on the 15-day injured list Wednesday with a left elbow strain.

Williamson exited his start Tuesday against Atlanta because of the injury, and it has now officially ended his season. The left-hander also missed much of the campaign with a Bennett lesion in his left shoulder, ultimately opting to treat that injury with injections rather than surgery. It's not clear at this point whether an offseason operation for either injury might be on the table.

Muncy went 3-for-5 with two doubles, five RBI and a stolen base in a loss to the Marlins on Tuesday.

Muncy plated over half of Los Angeles' runs in the high-scoring affair, knocking a two-run double in the third inning, a run-scoring single in the seventh and another two-run double in the ninth. The third baseman has driven in at least one run in six of his past nine contests and has a total of 10 RBI during that span. Since returning from the injured list Aug. 19, Muncy is slashing .250/.382/.583 with six home runs, 17 RBI, 16 runs, a stolen base and a 14:22 BB:K over 24 games.

Rojas went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Tuesday's loss to Miami.

Rojas slugged one of Los Angeles' two long balls in the contest, belting a solo shot to left field in the fourth inning. The blast was the shortstop's sixth of the season through 98 games, giving him one more than he hit in 125 contests last year. Though he's not a big power threat, Rojas has swung a steady bat in 2024, slashing .296/.341/.425 over 319 plate appearances.

Wesneski (forearm) began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Iowa on Sept. 6 and has given up three earned runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out seven across five innings over his four appearances.

After throwing two scoreless innings for Iowa on Tuesday, Wesneski could be on the cusp of activation from the 15-day injured list. According to Ryan Herrera of AllCHGO.com, Wesneski was spotted in the Cubs' clubhouse Wednesday, which suggests his rehab assignment has come to an end. Once he's formally reinstated, Wesneski will likely serve as a multi-inning option out of the bullpen.

The Cubs activated Lopez (groin) from the 15-day injured list Wednesday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Lopez spent the minimum 15 days on the IL with a strained right groin. The veteran reliever had been in the closer mix before getting hurt and should regain a high-leverage role, although Porter Hodge still looks like the better bet for saves in the Cubs' bullpen.

The Cubs optioned Palencia to Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Just one day after being called up from Triple-A, Palencia will return to Iowa with the Cubs needing to open up a spot on the 28-man active roster for lefty Justin Steele (elbow), who will return from the 15-day injured list to start Wednesday's game against the Athletics. Palencia struck out two over two perfect innings out of the bullpen in Tuesday's 4-3 loss to Oakland.

The Cubs optioned Neely to Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Neely will give up his spot in the Chicago bullpen to right-hander Jorge Lopez (groin), who was reinstated from the 15-day injured list in a corresponding move. Through six appearances at the big-league level this season, Neely has given up six earned runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out seven over six innings.