MLB Player News

Contreras (forearm) will take full batting practice in the indoor batting cage Thursday, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

Contreras is barely more than a month removed from surgery to repair a fractured left forearm. He was given a 10-week timetable to return following the operation but would appear to be ahead of schedule, given that he's already taking batting practice. Before being activated from the injured list, Contreras will surely need to head out on a minor-league rehab assignment, but it's uncertain when he might be cleared to join one of the Cardinals' affiliates for game action.

Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said Thursday that Nootbaar (oblique) continues to take part in "rotational work" and could resume swinging a bat this weekend, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

The Cardinals will presumably ease Nootbaar into swinging by having him hit off a tee or hit soft-toss throws before he eventually gains clearance to hit against higher-velocity pitching. In addition to being able to hit without discomfort, Nootbaar, who has been on the injured list since May 31 with a left oblique strain, will also need to prove that the injury doesn't compromise him when he runs the bases or plays the outfield. He still appears to be at least a couple weeks away from being a realistic option to rejoin the Cardinals, and Nootbaar will presumably need to go out on a minor-league rehab assignment prior to being activated.

Robertson (elbow) is scheduled to throw live batting practice Friday at Double-A Springfield, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

If all goes well in the live session, Robertson could stick around with Springfield and begin a rehab assignment in the coming days. Robertson turned in a 4.38 ERA and 1.38 WHIP over 12.1 innings across his eight relief appearances for the Cardinals before landing on the 15-day injured list May 26 due to right elbow inflammation.

O'Brien (forearm) will begin a rehab assignment Saturday at Double-A Springfield, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

O'Brien has been cleared for game action with Springfield after he threw live batting practice for the Cardinals' Double-A affiliate earlier this week. The right-hander has been on the shelf since March 31 with a forearm strain, so he'll presumably require multiple rehab outings in the minors before he's activated from the 60-day injured list.

Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said that Gallegos (shoulder) is scheduled to make a one-inning rehab appearance with Double-A Springfield on Friday, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

Gallegos has already made five appearances between Springfield and Triple-A Memphis since landing on the 15-day injured list May 6 with a right shoulder impingement, but he presumably needs to turn in better results before he's reinstated. While covering 5.1 innings during his rehab assignment, Gallegos has given up five earned runs on six hits -- including three home runs -- and four walks while striking out four. He's shown improvement lately with two straight clean appearances, and another strong showing Friday could be enough for him to get activated.

Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said Matz (back) will make the third start of his rehab assignment Sunday with Double-A Springfield, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

In his most recent outing Tuesday with Springfield, Matz surrendered five unearned runs on three hits and one walk while striking out three over 1.2 innings. After Matz tossed 35 pitches Tuesday, Marmol said that the veteran lefty is in line to throw approximately 50 pitches Sunday. The Cardinals are aiming for Matz to build up to the 75-to-80-pitch mark before he returns from the 15-day injured list, so he'll presumably need at least one more rehab start after Sunday to get fully stretched out.

Reds manager David Bell said Spiers will start Monday's game in Pittsburgh, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Spiers was called up from Triple-A Louisville last Sunday and was immediately put to work in long relief later that day in the Reds' series finale against the Cubs. With starter Frankie Montas getting chased from the game midway through the top of the second, Spiers stepped in and struck out seven batters over 5.2 shutout innings while allowing just six baserunners. Prior to the call-up, Spiers had already been stretched out as a starter at Louisville and compiled a 2.51 ERA and 1.06 WHIP across 46.2 innings, and on the heels of his impressive showing out of the bullpen, he'll now get a chance to fill the opening in the big-league rotation that was created by Graham Ashcraft's recent demotion. Nick Martinez had worked as a primary pitcher behind an opener the last time Ashcraft's turn came up Tuesday versus the Guardians, but he'll presumably move into a more traditional bullpen role now that Spiers has been awarded a start.

Joe is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Cardinals.

Joe will take a seat for the series finale along with two of the other Pirates' everyday players in Andrew McCutchen and Nick Gonzales. Though he's been one of the Pirates' better hitters for much of the season, Joe has fallen into a 2-for-27 skid at the plate over his last eight games.

Williams (wrist) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Indianapolis on Thursday.

Williams has been absent for most of this month with a right wrist sprain but is feeling well enough to test himself in a game setting. He's eligible for activation from the 10-day injured list at any time and shouldn't need a lengthy rehab assignment, given his brief absence.

The Pirates optioned Ryan to Triple-A Indianapolis on Thursday.

Ryan had just been called up Tuesday and didn't make an appearance during his most recent stint with the big club. He was removed from the 26-man active roster to make room in the bullpen for right-hander Dennis Santana, who will be available for Thursday's game agains the Cardinals after being claimed off waivers from the Yankees earlier this week.