MLB Player News

Paredes isn't in the Cubs' lineup for Saturday's game against the Yankees.

After going 0-for-13 with six strikeouts over his last four games, Paredes will get a chance to regroup while Patrick Wisdom covers third base, batting eighth.

Amaya isn't in the Cubs' lineup Saturday against the Yankees.

Amaya will get a day to regroup after going 0-for-9 across his last three games. Christian Bethancourt will take over behind the dish and bat ninth.

Tellez isn't in the Pirates' lineup for Game 1 of Saturday's doubleheader against Washington.

Left-hander DJ Herz will start on the mound for the Nats to begin Saturday's twin bill, so the lefty-hitting Tellez will take a seat on the bench while Connor Joe covers first base.

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza confirmed that Blackburn (hand) will be activated from the 15-day injured list to start Monday in Toronto, Tyler Antonelle of MetsmerizedOnline.com reports.

Blackburn landed on the IL on Aug. 25 after taking a comebacker off his pitching hand in his start in San Diego two days prior, but he's been given the green light to rejoin the New York rotation after completing a rehab start Tuesday with Triple-A Syracuse. He struck out four while allowing one earned run on four hits and one walk across 6.2 innings in the outing with Syracuse, so Blackburn shouldn't face any workload restrictions when he takes the hill for the Mets on Monday.

Walker went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's 6-1 loss to the Mariners.

The 22-year-old accounted for the Cardinals' only offense when he took Troy Taylor deep in the seventh inning. Walker has two big-league homers this year, and both have come since he was called back up in late August. His 0:9 BB:K in six games since his promotion highlights how much work he needs to do to become a consistent fantasy asset, however.

Fedde (8-9) took the loss Friday, allowing one run on five hits and three walks over 4.2 innings as the Cardinals fell 6-1 to the Mariners. He struck out one.

The right-hander was locked in a scoreless pitchers' duel with Bryce Miller through four innings, but Fedde blinked first and loaded the bases in the fifth on a hit-by-pitch, a single and a walk before Randy Arozarena brought home the game's first run with a sacrifice fly. Matthew Liberatore relieved Fedde and prevented any further damage, but the Cards were never able to tie things back up. Over seven starts with St. Louis, Fedde has a 4.30 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 30:15 K:BB through 37.2 innings, a far cry from his numbers with the White Sox before being traded. He'll look to find his early-season form in his next trip to the mound, which lines up to come on the road next weekend in Toronto.

Ray (hamstring) is expected to throw a three-inning simulated game Saturday, MLB.com reports.

Ray already tossed a two-inning sim game Wednesday, so he'll be looking to get stretched out a bit more Saturday. The Giants placed Ray on the 15-day injured list Aug. 27 with a left hamstring strain, but provided he experiences no setbacks while building up, the southpaw should be able to return to the big club in a starting role down the stretch. The club hasn't indicated whether Ray will need to make a minor-league rehab start prior to being activated, but he'll likely require at least another sim game after Saturday before he's ready to handle a starter's workload for the Giants.

Vodnik (bicep) began a rehab assignment with Double-A Hartford on Friday and struck out two batters over one inning.

Vodnik has been on the injured list since Aug. 21 with right bicep inflammation, but he was cleared to embark on the rehab assignment after he completed a bullpen session earlier this week without issue. Prior to Vodnik joining up with Hartford, manager Bud Black told MLB.com that the right-hander "could return quickly" if his rehab assignment goes well. Considering how well Vodnik pitched Friday, it wouldn't be surprising if he was activated from the 15-day injured list ahead of Sunday's series finale in Milwaukee after getting a day of rest Saturday.

Rockies manager Bud Black said Friday that Freeland (finger) is fine and will make his regularly scheduled start Sunday versus the Brewers in Milwaukee, MLB.com reports.

During his previous start Tuesday in Atlanta, Freeland felt a blister pop up on his left middle finger during the third inning, but he remained in the game until exiting after five frames. Freeland didn't appear to be affected much by the issue, as he struck out five over his five innings while allowing just two runs (one earned) on six hits and zero walks. With Freeland checking out fine a few days after the start, he should take the hill Sunday without any restrictions.

Pfaadt (9-8) took the loss Friday, giving up four runs on eight hits and two walks over 4.2 innings as the Diamondbacks were downed 8-0 by the Astros. He struck out five.

Half the hits off the right-hander went for extra bases, including a three-run homer by Yordan Alvarez in the fifth inning. Pfaadt hasn't been able to complete six innings in any of his last four starts, stumbling to a 7.52 ERA, 1.97 WHIP over that stretch despite a 25:7 K:BB in 20.1 innings. He'll try to get back on track in his next outing, which lines up to come at home next weekend against the Brewers.