MLB Player News

Lopez underwent an MRI on Sunday that showed no structural damage to his left knee, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

Lopez was placed on the 15-day injured list earlier in the day due to knee inflammation, and more thorough testing hasn't turned up anything beyond that. Manager Walt Weiss noted that he's hopeful Lopez will be able to return from the IL when first eligible Aug. 14.

Chapman will undergo another MRI on Monday since his abdominal strain remains bothersome when running, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

The 33-year-old isn't believed to have suffered a setback, but he can't quite get over the hump in his recovery. Though manager Tony Vitello said Wednesday that Chapman was expected to come off the injured list during this weekend's series in San Diego, the veteran third baseman will instead be out a bit longer. Christian Koss and Oslevis Basabe have been sharing time at third base lately, and waiver pickup Buddy Kennedy could also factor into the mix for reps at the position while Chapman remains shelved.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Sunday that Ohtani (knee/biceps) is expected to play catch in Chicago this week, Jack Harris of the California Post reports.

Ohtani continues to serve as the Dodgers' everyday designated hitter, but he hasn't made a start as a pitcher since July 3 as a result of left knee inflammation and right biceps soreness. Despite having his throwing program halted on a couple of occasions, the Dodgers remain confident that Ohtani will be able to rejoin the rotation before the end of the regular season. The Dodgers will see how Ohtani's knee and biceps respond to playing catch before deciding if he's fit to get back on the mound to throw a bullpen session.

Rojas said that he'll be available off the bench Sunday against the Red Sox after exiting Saturday's 3-2 loss after seven innings due to a left ankle injury, Jack Harris of the California Post reports.

Rojas went 1-for-3 with a double before leaving Saturday's game on account of the injury, which he appeared to have suffered when he fouled a ball off of himself. Fortunately for Rojas, X-rays on the ankle came back negative, and he's feeling much better heading into Sunday's contest. Rojas had made starts against left-handed pitchers in the first two games of the series, but the Dodgers will go with a starting infield of Freddie Freeman, Tommy Edman, Mookie Betts and Max Muncy in the finale.

The Mets designated Gerber for assignment Sunday.

New York previously optioned the right-handed reliever to Triple-A Syracuse back on July 5 after he had posted a 4.32 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 8:4 K:BB in 8.1 innings over seven appearances across four stints in the majors on the season. Gerber will give up his spot on the 40-man roster to catcher Shawn Ross, who was claimed off waivers from the Pirates.

Lodolo (finger) is scheduled to throw 60-to-65 pitches during a rehab start with Triple-A Louisville on Wednesday, Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati reports.

The left-hander threw 50 pitches during live batting practice Friday and will now shift his rehab to a game setting. Lodolo is utilizing a new grip on his breaking ball in an attempt to prevent the recurring blister issues on his left index finger. It's possible he needs only one start in the minors before coming off the injured list, which would allow him to re-enter Cincinnati's rotation as early as Aug. 11 against the White Sox.

Liberatore didn't factor into the decision Sunday against the Blue Jays, allowing just one hit and a walk across six scoreless innings. He struck out seven.

After giving up eight runs over nine innings in his last two starts, Liberatore responded with his best outing of the season Sunday, as he held Toronto to a lone single across six scoreless frames. Liberatore lowered his ERA to 4.97 with a 1.49 WHIP and 107:41 K:BB across 22 starts (108.2 innings) this season. The southpaw is currently slated to face the Rockies at home his next time out.

Nationals manager Blake Butera said after Sunday's 4-2 loss to Atlanta that Chaparro (head) passed a concussion test, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports.

A late addition to the starting nine after Luis Garcia was scratched, Chaparro grounded out in his first plate appearance of the day, then was struck in the helmet by a pitch in the top of the fourth with the bases loaded. Chaparro was able to take his base and was credited with an RBI, but the Nationals removed him from the contest in the top of the fifth, seemingly as a precaution. Assuming Chaparro doesn't experience any symptoms leading up to Monday's series opener in Philadelphia, he could soon find himself back in the starting nine. Per Zuckerman, Butera said after the game that Garcia didn't play Sunday because "something was really close" on a trade, and the Nationals could finalize a deal prior to Monday's deadline.

Olson went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's 4-2 win over the Nationals.

Olson tied the game at 2-2 in the fourth inning with a 401-foot blast off Cade Cavalli, his 31st homer this season and his third in his last three games. Since the All-Star break, Olson has gone 17-for-65 (.262) with six homers, putting his slash line at .266/.342/.541 with 69 RBI and 78 runs scored across 491 plate appearances this season.

Ritchie didn't factor into the decision Sunday against the Nationals, allowing two runs on four hits and three walks over four innings. He struck out four.

Making his first major-league start since June 23, Ritchie held the Nats scoreless through three innings before allowing two runs in the fourth. Overall, Ritchie sports a 4.50 ERA across 58 innings in the majors this season with a 1.43 WHIP and 53:36 K:BB. The 23-year-old rookie figures to get another look in Atlanta's rotation with Reynaldo Lopez (knee) on the IL. Ritchie currently lines up to face the Yankees on the road in his next outing.