MLB Player News

Amaya went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and an additional run scored in Sunday's 6-2 win over the Cardinals.

This was Amaya's first home run since July 13 and just his fourth of the year. The young catcher has yet to deliver a true offensive breakout at the MLB level with a career .215 average and .626 OPS across his first two seasons along with just nine total long balls. Working in Amaya's favor is a clear grip on the starting job at the moment, with light-hitting journeyman Christian Bethancourt as the only other backstop currently on the active roster.

Tauchman went 2-for-4 with a double, a solo home run and an additional run scored in Sunday's 6-2 win over the Cardinals.

Tauchman made his first start since Monday and saw his first action of any kind since Thursday, when he received one at-bat off the bench. The Cubs seem to be giving youngster Pete Crow-Armstrong more run in center field due to his speed and defensive abilities. With Crow-Armstrong gaining a foothold in the outfield, Cody Bellinger has been logging more time at designated hitter while relegating Tauchman to a reserve role. The 33-year-old's fantasy value takes a hit due to the reduction in playing time.

The Cubs promoted Alcantara from Double-A Tennessee to Triple-A Iowa on Sunday, Tommy Birch of The Des Moines Register reports.

Alcantara batted .271 with nine home runs, 39 RBI, 38 runs scored and seven stolen bases over 76 games with Tennessee. Along with Alcantara, infielders Matt Shaw and James Triantos were also bumped up from Tennessee to Iowa.

Musgrove (elbow) struck out two batters over 3.1 innings while allowing two earned runs on four hits and zero walks in his rehab start Sunday with Single-A Lake Elsinore.

The Padres initially planned to have Musgrove make his first rehab start with Double-A San Antonio, but after his flight to Texas on Saturday was canceled, the organization ultimately had him stick around in California to begin his minor-league assignment. Though he was facing off against lower-caliber competition, Musgrove's results in his first start at any level since late May were generally encouraging. He spotted 35 of his 43 pitches for strikes in the outing, and his fastball sat around the 94-to-96 mile-per-hour range. Musgrove is expected to require one more start in the minors before he makes his return from the 60-day injured list.

The Giants will promote Birdsong from Single-A San Jose to start Tuesday's game against the Nationals in Washington.

Though the Giants sent him to San Jose following his most recent start July 27, the big club had always intended to bring him back when a fifth starter was needed. The Giants' recent trade of Alex Cobb (hip/shoulder) further cements the rookie into the rotation, a distinction Birdsong earned after turning in a 2.97 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 38:15 K:BB in 30.1 innings through his first six big-league starts. Birdsong projects as a strong source of strikeouts while he's holding down a rotation spot, but a high walk rate could make him less of an asset in the WHIP category while also limiting his ability to work deep into his outings.

Muncy (oblique) is scheduled to face live pitching Thursday in a simulated game at Dodger Stadium, MLB.com reports.

Muncy will take part in the sim game along with three of the Dodgers' other rehabbing hitters in Mookie Betts (hand), Tommy Edman (wrist) and Miguel Rojas (forearm). Rojas appears to be the closest of the three to returning from the injured list, while Edman and Betts could be cleared for rehab assignments following Thursday's sim game. Muncy, meanwhile, looks to be further away, given that he's been on the shelf since May 17 with a right oblique strain and had made limited progress in his recovery until recently having a breakthrough when a chiropractor performed a procedure on his body. The Dodgers will wait and see how Muncy comes out of Thursday's sim game before determining his next steps.

Manager Dave Roberts said that Edman (wrist) will play in a simulated game Thursday at Dodger Stadium before resuming his minor-league rehab assignment, MLB.com reports.

Before the Dodgers acquired him Monday, Edman had two separate rehab stints with the Cardinals while working his way back from offseason right wrist surgery. He played in four games from July 9 through 14 at Double-A Springfield before being pulled off the assignment due to a sprained ankle, but he was cleared to resume game action with Springfield on July 24. He had served exclusively as a designated hitter for Springfield in his four games with the club before being traded to the Dodgers, but Roberts said that Edman will begin playing the field during his minor-league assignment if he checks out fine following Thursday's simulated game. Before the Dodgers activate Edman from the 60-day injured list, he'll likely need several games in the minors to regain his timing at the plate and get his feet wet at multiple positions. He's projected to serve as a super-utility player when the Dodgers are at full strength, though Edman could find a regular home at third base initially while Max Muncy's (oblique) return from the IL looks to be further away.

Manager Dave Roberts said that Rojas (forearm) is scheduled to play in a simulated game Thursday at Dodger Stadium, MLB.com reports.

On the shelf since July 24 with right forearm tightness, Rojas has already started ramping up his swinging and is set to face live pitching during the upcoming week. Roberts said that Rojas won't require a minor-league rehab assignment before being activated from the 10-day injured list, leaving the door open for the 35-year-old to rejoin the big club as soon as this weekend. Whenever Rojas is reinstated, he'll likely displace Nick Ahmed as the team's primary shortstop.

Bride went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run and a walk in Sunday's win against Atlanta.

Bride has started the last eight games for Miami since being called up in late July, batting 7-for-29 (.241) with three home runs, seven RBI and three runs scored. Even with the hot streak, the 28-year-old has managed only a .241 average and an ugly 3:12 BB:K, making him hard to trust in a middling Marlins lineup.

King (calf) played catch Friday and Saturday and is expected to be available to make a start in the Padres' series in Pittsburgh that runs Tuesday through Thursday, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

King wasn't able to make his scheduled start Sunday against the Rockies due to lingering soreness in his left calf, but the right-hander looks as though he'll avoid missing a full turn through the rotation. San Diego has yet to name any of its starters for the three-game series with the Pirates, so King could be cleared to take the hill as soon as Tuesday, which would put him in line for a two-start week.