MLB Player News

Murphy went 4-for-4 with a pair of two-run homers and three total runs scored in Wednesday's 7-0 win over the Tigers.

Murphy extended Atlanta's lead to 3-0 in the third inning with a two-run blast off Tarik Skubal before cranking a second two-run homer in the fifth off Mason Englert. It's the first multi-hit game of the year for Murphy, who was batting just .135 with a lone homer through his first 15 games this season. Perhaps Wednesday's outburst is a sign of things to come for the 29-year-old backstop -- Murphy posted an .843 OPS with 21 homers across 438 plate appearances last year.

The Cardinals announced that Arenado was removed in the top of the eighth inning of Wednesday's game against the Marlins due to a right elbow contusion.

Initial X-rays on Arenado's elbow appear to have returned negative, but he'll undergo further medical evaluation as the Cardinals look to ascertain that he's not dealing with anything more than a bruise. Before he was lifted from the game for a pitch runner after being hit in the elbow by a 94 mile-per-hour sinker during his fourth plate appearance of the day, Arenado went 2-for-3 with his first stolen base of the season and a run scored.

Arenado was removed from Wednesday's game in Miami after being hit by a pitch on the right elbow, Lynn Worthy of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. He went 2-for-3 with his first stolen base of the season and a run scored prior to exiting the game.

A Huascar Brazoban offering in the top of the eighth inning caught Arenado, who went down in a heap. He looked to be in considerable pain and eventually exited the field with a trainer. The Cardinals should have more on his condition shortly.

Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said Wednesday that Rodriguez will likely begin throwing off a mound within the next week after the latest imaging on his left shoulder showed "almost 100 percent healing," Theo Mackie of The Arizona Republic reports.

Rodriguez has been out all season with a left shoulder strain, having hit a roadblock in April when he experienced renewed tightness. He's trending in a positive direction now, although he'll require a lengthy ramp-up period upon resuming mound work.

Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said Wednesday that Thomas' (hamstring) rehab assignment has been paused due to "general soreness," Theo Mackie of The Arizona Republic reports.

Lovullo added that he's "very" optimistic Thomas will be able to resume the rehab assignment later this week, so it would appear this isn't a significant setback. Thomas had a bigger setback back in early May with his left hamstring, an injury which has kept him on the shelf all season. The goal has been for Thomas to be activated June 25 at the start of a homestand, but that date might be pushed back a bit now even if he's able to resume playing rehab games this weekend.

Petersen (1-0) earned the win over Colorado on Tuesday, allowing one run on one hit and one walk while striking out two batters over two innings.

After being called up from Triple-A Oklahoma City on Sunday, Petersen saw his first big-league action Tuesday at Coors Field. He entered in the seventh inning with Los Angeles down four runs and allowed the Rockies to increase their lead on a walk, single and sacrifice fly. Petersen returned for the eighth and retired the side in order, then found himself in the win column after the Dodgers pulled ahead with a seven-run ninth frame. Petersen will likely be used mainly in low-leverage spots during his time with the big club.

Ortiz (shoulder/ankle) was removed from his rehab appearance Tuesday with Triple-A Lehigh Valley due to forearm soreness, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

Ortiz was placed on the 15-day injured list March 31 with a sprained left ankle, but he's now picked up new injuries on both of his rehab assignments. He began his initial assignment in late April, only to get shut down after two appearances with Single-A Clearwater due to right shoulder inflammation. He restarted the assignment June 11 and made three appearances before the forearm issue flared up. The severity of the forearm issue isn't yet fully known, but expect Ortiz to get shut down again for some time before he's cleared to start pitching in rehab games.

Clemens (back) will begin a rehab assignment later this week, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

Gelb notes that Clemens is set to receive regular reps in left field while on his rehab assignment. It's a position he's played a little bit both in the majors and minors, and it now looks like his best path to playing time in the majors with Brandon Marsh slated to see most of his starts in center field following Johan Rojas' demotion to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Clemens has been out since early June with lower-back spasms.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell said that Brown (neck) resumed throwing Tuesday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Brown landed on the 15-day injured list June 11 with what the Cubs labeled as a stress reaction to the left side of his neck. Counsell said that the pain in Brown's neck is already subsiding, and the fact that the right-hander is throwing again bodes well for his chances of avoiding an extended absence. Jordan Wicks (oblique) was placed on the IL just four days after Brown, so the Cubs have turned back to Kyle Hendricks as their No. 5 starter in the meantime.

Senzel is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Diamondbacks.

Senzel is hitless over his last five games, so he will be given a day off to regroup. Trey Lipscomb will start at third base in Senzel's stead.