MLB Player News

Nardi picked up his seventh hold of the season Sunday, giving up a hit and striking out a batter to record the final out of the seventh inning.

The southpaw has overcome some early season struggles and hasn't walked a batter in 12 straight appearances, posting a 3.72 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 10:0 K:BB through 9.2 innings over that stretch. Nardi's seven holds ties him with Anthony Bender for the team lead, and if closer Tanner Scott gets dealt before the trade deadline, the duo would still represent the top options to step into ninth-inning duty for the Marlins.

Duvall went 0-for-4 with a strikeout in Sunday's 3-1 win over the Yankees.

Duvall has taken on a near-everyday role in the Atlanta outfield since Ronald Acuna (knee) suffered a season-ending ACL tear May 26, but the 35-year-old hasn't been able to capitalize on the opportunity. In Atlanta's ensuing 25 games without Acuna, Duvall has slashed a lowly .135/.189/.225 with a 32.6 percent strikeout rate. Manager Brian Snitker already excluded Duvall from the lineup in Saturday's 8-3 loss to the Yankees while right-hander Marcus Stroman took the hill for New York, perhaps signaling that Duvall's time as a regular in the Atlanta lineup could be nearing its end. Ramon Laureano picked up a start in the corner outfield Saturday and would likely be the main beneficiary if Snitker elects to phase Duvall out of the lineup on a more consistent basis.

Nootbaar (oblique) is tracking toward beginning a rehab assignment soon, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

Nootbaar has been shelved since late May with a left oblique strain but appears close to being ready to play in games. The outfielder shouldn't need too many rehab games in the minors since he's been on the injured list for just over three weeks. A return before the All-Star break is likely.

Kelenic went 1-for-3 with a home run and two RBI in Sunday's win over the Yankees.

He took Nestor Cortes deep for a solo shot in the third inning before adding a sacrifice fly in the fifth. Kelenic extended his hitting streak to 10 games with the blast, and over that stretch he's slashing .317/.356/.585 with three of his seven homers on the season.

Johnson gave up a hit and struck out one in a scoreless seventh inning Sunday to record his eighth hold of the season in a win over the Yankees.

The right-hander has been sharp in June, getting scored upon only once in eight appearances with a 3.12 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 10:2 K:BB in 8.2 innings. Johnson is quickly closing in on the career-high 12 holds he collected in 2023 as part of Atlanta's high-leverage bridge to closer Raisel Iglesias.

Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said Monday that Edman (wrist) could begin a rehab assignment soon, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

Edman has taken live at-bats from both sides of the plate in recent days and his surgically repaired right wrist has responded well. Since he's resided on the injured list all season, the 29-year-old would presumably require an extended minor-league rehab assignment before being activated, but he's tracking toward a return to the Cardinals before the All-Star break.

Contreras (forearm) is expected to be activated from the 10-day injured list ahead of Monday's game versus Atlanta, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

Contreras has played six rehab games with Triple-A Memphis, catching three games and serving as the designated hitter in three others. He's gone just 3-for-21 at the plate in those contests, but the Cardinals are more concerned with how he's feeling and reports on that are favorable. Contreras was initially supposed to be out until around the All-Star break when he fractured his left forearm in early May but will beat that timetable by a few weeks.

Holderman (1-3) allowed two earned runs on three hits and a walk while striking out one across one inning to take the loss Sunday against the Rays.

Holderman entered the game in the eighth inning with the score knotted at 1-1 and allowed four of the first five batters he faced to reach base to account for the damage. This was the first time he has allowed an earned run in 10 appearances for the month, and he still has a 1.30 ERA and 1.05 WHIP across 27.2 innings on the season. Aroldis Chapman figures to be the primary closer while David Bednar (oblique) is sidelined, but Holderman could also pick up some save chances as arguably Pittsburgh's best remaining high-leverage reliever.

Cruz went 0-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base Sunday against the Rays.

Cruz made plenty of highlights Saturday by blasting a home run into the Allegheny River, but he's slumped with only two hits across 19 at-bats during Pittsburgh's current homestand. He did manage to tally his sixth stolen base of the season Sunday, his first since returning from ankle soreness that caused him to miss games on June 14th and 15th.

Stephenson started at catcher and went 1-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a run scored in Sunday's 7-4 loss to the Red Sox.

Stephenson was back in the starting lineup after being held out for two games with an undisclosed injury, although he did pinch hit Saturday. The Reds had called up catcher Austin Wynns on Friday, but Stephenson's injury was not serious, and Wynns was sent back to Triple-A Louisville on Sunday.