MLB Player News

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.

The Pirates activated Falter (triceps) from the 15-day injured list Monday.

While the Pirates haven't yet announced their plans for Tuesday's game in Houston, Falter should be lined up to start if he isn't needed out of the bullpen in Monday's series opener. The left-hander has been out since early July with left triceps tendinitis, but he should be reasonably stretched out for starting duties after throwing 60 pitches during his lone rehab start with Triple-A Indianapolis last Wednesday.

The Pirates optioned Suwinski to Triple-A Indianapolis on Monday.

After being called up to the majors June 4, Suwinski slashed .193/.261/.358 with five home runs, 13 RBI and a 32.5 percent strikeout rate across 118 plate appearances. The 26-year-old will likely need to show an improve plate approach at Triple-A before he gets another look from the Pirates.

Tellez (back) is starting at first base and batting in the cleanup spot for Monday's series opener against the Astros.

Tellez was absent from the lineup in the Pirates' last two games after leaving Friday's contest against the Diamondbacks due to back spasms. He did pinch hit in Sunday's 6-5 win over Arizona, going 1-for-1 with a double. Since the beginning of July, Tellez has slashed .327/.359/.655 with five home runs and 14 RBI across 59 plate appearances.

The Pirates activated Reynolds (personal) off the bereavement list Monday. He'll start in left field and bat second in the series opener against the Astros.

Reynolds will return to the lineup after missing the Pirates' last four games. For the month of July, Reynolds has slashed .352/.410/.577 with five home runs, 15 RBI and 14 runs scored across 77 plate appearances.

Elder is expected to be called up from Triple-A Gwinnett to start Tuesday in Milwaukee, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

While Atlanta hasn't yet announced a starter for Tuesday's contest, Elder was spotted in the team's clubhouse prior to Monday's game. With Max Fried (forearm) not eligible to return from the injured list until next week and Reynaldo Lopez's (forearm) status up in the air, Elder could be needed for additional starts with the big club beyond Tuesday.

Reds manager David Bell said that De La Cruz will be out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Cubs in what amounts to a routine maintenance day, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.

Per Rosecrans, Bell previously informed De La Cruz that he would receive a day off shortly before and after the All-Star break in an effort to keep him fresh down the stretch. After sitting out July 11, De La Cruz will be out of the lineup Monday for just the third time through 106 games this season. De La Cruz will get a chance to rest his feet one day after stealing a career-high-tying four bases in Sunday's loss to the Rays, bringing his total up to an MLB-leading 55 on the season.

The Diamondbacks recalled Cecconi from Triple-A Reno on Monday, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.

After he was optioned to Reno in mid-July, Cecconi made all three of his appearances at Triple-A as a reliever before he got called up again. However, with a spot in the rotation sitting open for this weekend's series in Pittsburgh, it's possible Cecconi will be asked to make a start or at least absorb some innings in long relief. He's posted a 6.14 ERA in 14 appearances (13 starts) in the majors in 2024.