MLB Player News

Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Wednesday that Bellinger (finger) could be activated from the 10-day injured list during the team's upcoming six-game road trip that begins Friday in Kansas City, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Bellinger will do some hitting and throwing on the field Wednesday, and depending on how he checks out following those activities, he might not require a rehab assignment before returning. He's been shelved since mid-July with a fractured left middle finger. Bellinger could wind up being a trade chip next week if the Cubs view themselves as sellers, and he looks he'll have a good shot to play in some games prior to Tuesday's deadline.

Blackmon is out of the lineup for Wednesday's contest versus the Red Sox.

Right-hander Nick Pivetta is on the bump for Boston, but the left-handed-hitting Blackmon nonetheless finds himself on the bench for a day game after a night game. Kris Bryant will occupy the designated hitter spot and Jake Cave will patrol right field Wednesday while Blackmon sits.

Diaz is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's contest against the Red Sox.

Diaz returned to action for Tuesday's 6-0 loss after missing a couple games with a calf issue, but he'll be back on the bench for the Wednesday afternoon contest. Jacob Stallings will start at catcher for the Rockies.

McMahon (finger) will start at third base and bat fourth in Wednesday's game versus the Red Sox.

He jammed a finger in Monday's game and didn't play Tuesday, but he's feeling well enough to give it a go in Wednesday's series finale. McMahon has reached base 11 times over his last five contests but will bring a 23-game homerless streak into action Wednesday.

Yelich (back) will see a spine specialist Thursday to discuss the next steps in his recovery, with season-ending surgery representing one possibility, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

Yelich's on-again, off-again back injury flared up Tuesday, and he was placed on the 10-day injured list Wednesday. Season-ending surgery would be a worst-case scenario, and it's unclear at this point what the likelihood of an operation would be, but the fact that it's even on the table is concerning. At the very least, Yelich should be expected to spend more than the minimum 10 days on the shelf.

The Brewers sent Bukauskas (triceps) to their Arizona Complex League affiliate Wednesday so he can resume a rehab assignment.

Bukauskas had to be pulled off his initial rehab assignment last month following a setback with his triceps/shoulder injury, but he's feeling well enough now to give it a go again. The reliever has been sidelined since mid-April, so he figures to require several rehab appearances before being an option for the Brewers' bullpen.

Amaya is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Brewers.

Amaya will hit the bench after he had started at catcher in three of the past four games while going 5-for-8 with two walks and a run during that stretch. Tomas Nido will spell Amaya behind the dish Wednesday.

Crow-Armstrong is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Brewers.

He'll hit the bench for the first time since July 9, breaking a streak of 11 consecutive starts. Crow-Armstrong brings elite defense in center field and has been a menace on the basepaths (18 steals in 18 attempts), but he continues to struggle against big-league pitching. After going 0-for-17 over his last five starts, Crow-Armstrong is now holding down a .183/.234/.297 slash line over 192 plate appearances on the season.

Frelick is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Cubs.

With the exception of right fielder Garrett Mitchell, the Brewers will send out an all-right-handed-hitting lineup against Cubs southpaw Justin Steele, with Frelick and fellow lefty-hitting regular Brice Turang heading to the bench. Blake Perkins will take Frelick's spot in the outfield, covering center field while batting ninth.

Turang is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Cubs.

The lefty-hitting Turang will hit the bench for the Brewers' second straight matchup with a left-hander, as he previously sat against Nationals southpaw Mitchell Parker on July 13. Andruw Monasterio will get the nod at the keystone and could continue to occupy the short side of a platoon with Turang moving forward.