MLB Player News

The Reds optioned Zulueta to Triple-A Louisville on Monday.

Zulueta has made a nice impression during his brief time with the Reds, yielding just one run with a 4:2 K:BB across five relief innings. He has minor-league options remaining, however, and the team is taking advantage. Zulueta should be back with the big club sooner rather than later.

The Reds activated Spiers (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list ahead of his scheduled start Monday versus the Cubs.

Spiers will rejoin the rotation after missing the last two weeks of action with a right shoulder impingement. The right-hander didn't make a rehab start, so it's possible his workload will be a bit limited Monday. Spiers holds a 3.86 ERA and 41:9 K:BB over 47 innings with the Reds this season.

Paredes is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Reds.

According to Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune, Paredes is en route to Cincinnati but has yet to officially join the Cubs after he was acquired from the Rays in a trade Sunday. Once he settles in with his new club, Paredes should serve as the Cubs' everyday third baseman and will likely occupy a prominent spot in the lineup.

The Cubs activated Bellinger (finger) from the 10-day injured list Monday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Manager Craig Counsell had indicated Bellinger was likely to be activated in the coming days, but the 29-year-old came out of a lengthy hitting session so well Monday that the team opted to immediately add him back to the roster. Bellinger isn't included in Monday's lineup against the Reds, but he'll be available off the bench.

Lopez is considered day-to-day after an MRI on his right forearm Sunday came back negative, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

Lopez exited Sunday's start versus the Mets with right forearm tightness, but Atlanta is hopeful that it won't need to place him on the 15-day injured list. Additionally, the club hasn't even ruled out the right-hander making his next scheduled start, which would fall this weekend against the Marlins. It's some much-needed good news for a team that's dealt with more than its share of bad news lately.

Brewers manager Pat Murphy said Monday that he will not use Williams in back-to-back days for the time being, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Williams made his season debut with the Brewers on Sunday against the Marlins after recovering from multiple stress fractures in his back, working around one hit and one walk to toss a scoreless frame. That means Williams will unavailable Monday against Atlanta should a save chance arise. With Trevor Megill (back) landing on the injured list Monday, Joel Payamps, Hoby Milner and Elvis Peguero could be in the mix for some opportunities on days Williams is unavailable.

McCutchen isn't in the starting lineup for the Pirates' series opener against the Astros on Monday.

McCutchen will retreat to the bench Monday while Joey Bart serves as the designated hitter and bats fifth against Houston right-hander Jake Bloss. McCutchen has been in the midst of quiet July, having slashed .197/.307/.355 with two home runs and four RBI across 80 plate appearances on the month.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Monday that he expects Bellinger (finger) to be activated from the 10-day injured list within the next few days, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Bellinger went through a long hitting program Monday and did some additional hitting during batting practice before the team's game in Cincinnati. That he's on the road trip would suggest Bellinger has a chance to return before the Cubs' series with the Reds ends Wednesday, although it's possible they'll wait for the start of a homestand Thursday. Bellinger has been shelved since mid-July with a fractured left middle finger.

Alzolay (forearm) has been pulled off his rehab assignment at Triple-A Iowa and sent to Chicago to be examined following a setback, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Alzolay didn't recover well from his last rehab appearance at Iowa on Saturday, prompting the move. The reliever went more than two months between game appearances due to a flexor strain and lasted just three outings before a setback, which isn't a great sign. More should be known about Alzolay's status later this week.

The Brewers placed Megill on the 15-day injured list Monday with a lower-back injury, Sophia Minnaert of Bally Sports Wisconsin reports.

Megill will undergo an MRI to determine the extent of the damage, but the team has already deemed it bad enough to require a stint on the IL. Between this injury and Devin Williams' return to the closer role, fantasy managers can no longer rely on Megill as a source of saves.