MLB Player News

Puk (elbow) will throw a live batting practice session Tuesday, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.

It will be the first time he's faced hitters since he had an internal brace procedure on his left elbow last June. If things go well for Puk on Tuesday, he could appear in an Arizona Complex League game Saturday. Puk should be ready to rejoin the Diamondbacks' bullpen sometime in June as long as he doesn't encounter any setbacks.

Conforto will start at designated hitter and bat sixth in Monday's game against the Brewers.

The Cubs are including Conforto in the starting nine for a third consecutive game, with the struggling Moises Ballesteros having hit the bench for all of those contests. At this point, Conforto appears to have emerged as the Cubs' preferred option at DH while he's maintained a magnificent .345/.456/.655 slash line to go with three home runs, 11 RBI and 11 runs in 68 plate appearances on the season. The Cubs are still likely to shield the left-handed-hitting Conforto from lefty pitching, but that arrangement could help prop up his batting average.

Ballesteros is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Brewers.

On the bench for a third straight matchup versus a right-handed starting pitcher (Brandon Sproat), Ballesteros appears to ceded the Cubs' primary designated-hitter role to Michael Conforto. After piling up 10 extra-base hits (five home runs, five doubles) through his first 25 games of the season, Ballesteros is slashing just .065/.137/.130 over his subsequent 14 contests.

Woodruff (shoulder) is tentatively scheduled to face hitters Friday, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

Woodruff simulated two innings in a 30-pitch bullpen session Monday and came out of it well. If he is able to take another step forward when he faces hitters Friday, Woodruff could soon be cleared to make a rehab start. There's no timetable yet for the veteran hurler's return to the Brewers' rotation, but early June is plausible. Woodruff has been sidelined since late April with right shoulder inflammation.

Castano was optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque on Monday, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports.

Castano was brought up to the big leagues Sunday and allowed one run on two hits and one walk while striking out three over 2.1 frames against the Diamondbacks. He'll return to Triple-A where he'll serve as organizational bullpen depth.

Agnos was recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque on Monday, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports.

Agnos was optioned to Triple-A on Sunday, but he'll be eligible to come back to the big leagues after Jordan Beck (hamstring) was placed on 10-day injured list Monday. Agnos owns a 5.40 ERA and 1.11 WHIP with a 4:3 K:BB across 11.2 frames in May (four appearances).

Mitchell is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Cubs.

The Brewers will give the left-handed-hitting Mitchell a breather Monday while southpaw Shota Imanaga takes the hill for the Cubs. Jackson Chourio will slide over from his usual spot in left field to replace Mitchell in center.

Hamilton is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Cubs.

The left-handed-hitting Hamilton will hit the bench for the second time in three days while the Brewers face off against another lefty starter (Shota Imanaga). With Hamilton taking a seat, Luis Rengifo and Joey Ortiz will serve a Milwaukee's starters on the left side of the infield.

Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said Monday that Lawlar has resumed light baseball activities after a CT scan showed his fractured right wrist is healing well, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.

The activities included taking some dry swings, among other things. Lawlar still has plenty of boxes to check before he's cleared for a rehab assignment, but this was an important step in his rehab process. The 23-year-old is already more than six weeks into an initial 6-to-8 week timetable, and it's unlikely he'll be ready to return within that timeframe.

Beck was placed on the 10-day injured list Monday with a left hamstring injury, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports.

It's not clear as to when Beck picked up the hamstring injury, but he'll be forced to miss at least the next 10 days while on the mend. Braxton Fulford was recalled in a corresponding move.