MLB Player News

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

After starting consecutive games over the weekend and going 1-for-8 at the dish, Winker will get the day off Monday, despite right-hander Andre Pallante being on the mound for St. Louis. Tyrone Taylor will bat second and cover right field in Winker's stead.

Kiner-Falefa went 2-for-5 with a double, a triple, two RBI and a run scored Sunday against the Diamondbacks.

Kiner-Falefa made his team debut Saturday and went hitless, though he turned things around as a key contributor out of the leadoff spot Sunday. He replaced Andrew McCutchen (quadriceps) atop the order, though Kiner-Falefa looks more likely to settle into the middle of the order as he hit sixth in his team debut and McCutchen does not look likely to miss extended time.

Atlanta recalled Elder from Triple-A Gwinnett on Monday.

He'll join Atlanta's 26-man active roster as a replacement for right-hander Reynaldo Lopez (forearm), who was placed on the 10-day injured list in a corresponding move. According to Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Elder will also take over Lopez's spot in the rotation, as he's scheduled to start Tuesday in the first game of Atlanta's home series versus Milwaukee. Elder has previously made nine starts for the big club this season, delivering a 5.67 ERA, 1.54 WHIP and 40:15 K:BB across 46 innings.

Atlanta placed Lopez on the 15-day injured list Monday with right forearm inflammation.

Atlanta had been hoping that Lopez would miss just one turn through the rotation after an MRI revealed no structural damage to his forearm, but the right-hander wasn't progressing as quickly as expected, as he hadn't thrown off a mound since exiting his last start July 28. The club will now give Lopez some extra time to heal up, and since his placement on the IL is backdated to this past Friday, he'll be eligible for activation as soon as Aug. 17. Atlanta called up Bryce Elder from Triple-A Gwinnett in a corresponding move, and he'll step into Lopez's spot in the rotation and start Tuesday's game against the Brewers.

Wood went 2-for-4 with a triple and three RBI in Sunday's win over the Brewers.

The rookie produced the game-winning hit when he dropped a bases-loaded triple down the left-field line in the sixth inning off southpaw Hoby Milner. Wood has hit safely in seven of the last eight games, batting .414 (12-for-29) over that stretch with six walks, two doubles, two triples, a steal, six runs and seven RBI.

Rivera went 2-for-4 with a run scored and a stolen base in Sunday's win over Atlanta.

The 28-year-old has started five of the last six games for the Marlins as he gets a chance to lock down the starting job at third base. Rivera has gone 5-for-20 with his first homer and second steal of the season during that stretch, and while his career .662 OPS in the majors over 947 plate appearances doesn't suggest he has much fantasy upside, he is at least a defensive upgrade at the hot corner on Jake Burger

Pache went 1-for-4 with a run scored, an RBI and a stolen base in Sunday's win over Atlanta.

Getting his first start for Miami in center field and batting seventh against southpaw Max Fried, Pache picked up his first steal of the season. The 25-year-old appears to be on the short side of a platoon with Nick Gordon in center for the Marlins, but Pache's elite defense could allow him to claim more playing time if he can make any kind of contribution with his bat. While Pache's .209/.296/.273 slash line in 125 plate appearances between the Phillies, Orioles and Marlins is poor, Gordon hasn't been much better with a .227/.258/.369 line.

Nationals manager Dave Martinez said Friday that Williams (elbow) remains limited to throwing off flat ground, adding that it will "be a while" before the right-hander gets back on the mound, MLB.com reports. "He is feeling better, it's just been a slow process," Martinez said.

Despite not heading into spring training with a guaranteed rotation spot, Williams was one of the Nationals' top pitchers over the first two months of the season, accruing a 2.22 ERA and 1.08 WHIP across his 11 starts. He was then diagnosed with a right flexor muscle strain in early June and has struggled to shake off the injury, as he's still not progressed to mound work two months later. Even if Williams is given the green light to throw bullpen sessions within the next few days, he'll still need several weeks to get fully stretched back out for starting duty. Williams doesn't look like he'll be a realistic option for the Washington rotation until September, and he might be brought back as a reliever if his rehab process remains slow over the next few weeks.

Nationals manager Dave Martinez said Friday that Gallo (hamstring) could be cleared to head out on a minor-league rehab assignment later this week, MLB.com reports.

Washington had planned for Gallo to take reps at first base and in right field over the weekend, and if his left hamstring responded well to the defensive work, he'll likely get the green light to report to a minor-league affiliate. Gallo has been on the shelf since June 12 with the hamstring strain, so he'll likely need multiple games in the minors to regain his timing at the plate before making his return from the 10-day injured list. Juan Yepez and Alex Call are currently serving as the Nationals' primary options at first base and right field, respectively, but both have fared well during their latest stints in the big leagues. If Washington wants to keep carving out regular playing time Yepez and Call once Gallo returns, the Nationals could look to use Gallo at designated hitter, where the lefty-hitting Travis Blankenhorn has been filling the strong side of a platoon lately.

Vesia (2-3) earned the win over Oakland on Sunday, striking out two batters in a perfect inning of work.

Vesia entered in the seventh inning and struck out two of the three batters he faced, tossing a total of 15 pitches. The impressive frame earned him credit for the win in a contest during which starter River Ryan completed 4.2 innings. Vesia notched five saves between May 6 and July 6, but he hasn't been used in a save situation since. He remains one of the Dodgers' top high-leverage options though, and he's recorded nine holds along with the five saves while posting a 1.88 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 65:22 K:BB over 48 innings on the season.