MLB Player News

Banda (hand) has started to play catch at the Dodgers' spring training complex in Arizona, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Banda is less than a week removed from going on the 15-day injured list with a fractured left hand, so it's a good sign that he's already throwing. The club remains hopeful that he can make it back before the end of the regular season. Banda has been a nice find for the Dodgers this season, although he had struggled lately before going on the IL, allowing seven runs over his last four appearances.

Kelly (shoulder) has joined the Dodgers in Atlanta and will likely be activated from the 15-day injured list during this week's series in Miami, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Kelly made two rehab appearances with Triple-A Oklahoma City, most recently striking out two in a scoreless inning Sunday. He'll rest Monday before likely returning from the IL on Tuesday. Kelly holds a 5.20 ERA and 1.59 WHIP through 27.2 innings this season.

Contreras has been ruled out for the remainder of the regular season after having his fractured right middle finger evaluated Monday, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

Contreras still needs two more weeks of rest before beginning baseball activities, so he will run out of time. On the bright side, he should be healed up in time to have a relatively normal offseason. Contreras will finish the 2024 season having been limited to just 84 games due to injury, although he was productive when on the field with an .848 OPS and 15 home runs. Pedro Pages and Ivan Herrera will continue to share catching duties for the Cardinals in the final two weeks.

Walker will draw the start for the Phillies' series opener against the Mets on Thursday, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

Walker was relegated to the bullpen following his last start against the Astros on Aug. 28, when he allowed six runs on 13 hits and one walk over six innings. He allowed five runs (four earned) across his first two relief outings, but after Walker tossed three scoreless innings against the Mets on Saturday, manager Rob Thompson has decided to give the 32-year-old right-hander another look as the club's No. 5 starter. Overall, Walker holds a 6.29 ERA, 1.63 WHIP and 55:31 K:BB across 78.2 innings this season.

Gonzales is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Cardinals.

Gonzales will head to the bench as the Pirates make room in the lineup at second base for prospect Nick Yorke, who was called up from Triple-A Indianapolis. Though the Pirates will likely give Yorke a look in a near-everyday role over the final two weeks of the season, he has experience at shortstop, third base and all three outfield spots, so he won't necessarily bump Gonzales out of the everyday lineup. Gonzales had started in all but two of the Pirates' previous 19 games following his return from the injured list Aug. 26, slashing .300/.347/.343 during that stretch.

The Dodgers placed Barnes on the 10-day injured list Monday due to a fractured left big toe.

The fracture is to the same toe that Barnes previously fractured in August. While he spent the minimum 10 days on the IL in his first stint, the expectation this time around is that Barnes will be sidelined until the postseason, per Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register. Hunter Feduccia was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City to fill in for Barnes as the Dodgers' backup catcher behind Will Smith.

Tellez is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Cardinals.

Tellez is typically absent from the lineup against left-handed starting pitchers, but he'll take a seat Monday for the second time in the Pirates' past three matchups with righties. Connor Joe will step in at first base in place of Tellez, who may be starting to lose some job security after producing a .485 OPS thus far in September.

The Dodgers recalled Feduccia from Triple-A Oklahoma City on Monday.

Feduccia is expected to serve as the Dodgers' backup catcher behind Will Smith for the rest of the regular season after Austin Barnes was placed on the 10-day injured list due to a fractured left big toe. Feduccia has appeared in two major-league games this season, with his last outing taking place Aug. 25 against the Rays. The 27-year-old is slashing .284/.409/.428 with six home runs and 50 RBI across 350 plate appearances in Triple-A this season.

The Pirates selected Yorke's contract from Triple-A Indianapolis ahead of Monday's game against the Cardinals. He'll start at second base and bat seventh in the series opener.

Pittsburgh optioned infielder Alika Williams to Triple-A to clear a spot on the active roster for Yorke, who could be in store for a near-everyday role while getting his first taste of the big leagues over the final two weeks of the season. After being acquired from the Red Sox at the trade deadline, Yorke slashed .359/.438/.516 with two home runs and eight stolen bases in 176 plate appearances at Indianapolis to earn his way to the majors. Yorke has spent most of his minor-league career at second base, but he also picked up starts at shortstop and third base along with all three outfield spots this season and could end up filling a super-utility role for the Pirates.

Arizona optioned Del Castillo to Triple-A Reno on Monday.

With top catcher Gabriel Moreno returning from the 10-day injured list Sunday, the Diamondbacks will roll with Jose Herrera as the No. 2 backstop. Del Castillo is slashing .313/.368/.525 over 87 major-league plate appearances this season, but he'll have an everyday role in Reno for the tail end of the Triple-A season. The move makes room on the Diamondbacks' 28-man roster for right-hander Scott McGough.