MLB Player News

Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Wednesday that Cruz (hand) has been cleared for all baseball activities, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.

Cruz is finally trending in the right direction as he continues rehabbing a fractured left hand. The Pirates anticipate the center fielder getting in some live at-bats later this week or early next week before heading out on a rehab assignment shortly thereafter. Cruz is eligible to return from the 60-day injured list Aug. 7, and he could be ready to go on or around that date if all goes well. Jake Mangum has been filling in as the Pirates' everyday center fielder since Cruz went down, but he will revert to fourth-outfielder duties once Cruz is back in the fold.

Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Wednesday that Hernandez is expected to be out for 6-to-8 weeks while recovering from a left oblique strain, Danny Demilio of PittsburghBaseballNow.com reports.

Given the recovery timeline laid out by Tomczyk, Hernandez's 2026 campaign is most likely over, as High-A Greensboro will wrap up its season Sept. 6. After the 20-year-old right-hander totaled 74 innings between his 18 starts at High-A and Single-A Bradenton, he may have been a shutdown candidate at some point in August if the injury hadn't intervened. The oblique strain shouldn't dramatically affect Hernandez's offseason training program nor his standing as one of the top pitching prospects in the minors heading into 2027. Hernandez overwhelmed Florida State League and South Atlantic League hitters with his power arsenal during his first season in the pro ranks, racking up 118 strikeouts while pitching to a 2.43 ERA and 1.05 WHIP.

Crews is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's contest versus the Blue Jays.

Crews homered in the Nationals' victory Tuesday, but he'll get some rest during Wednesday's afternoon tilt after starting the last six games. Daylen Lile, Jacob Young and James Wood will patrol the outfield for the Nats.

Ruiz is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game versus the Blue Jays.

Ruiz was behind the dish for the first two games of the series, so he'll get a break during Wednesday's matinee. The Nationals will go with Harry Ford at catcher in the rubber match.

Irvin (shoulder) struck out four and allowed one walk and no hits over 3.2 scoreless innings in a rehab start Friday with Double-A Harrisburg. He also hit a batter.

Irvin built up to 63 pitches (38 strikes) in the third start of his rehab assignment, during which he posted a stellar 12:0 K:BB while permitting just two hits in 11.1 scoreless frames between stops with Harrisburg and the Nationals' rookie-level Florida Complex League affiliate. Per MLB.com, Irvin returned to Washington to throw a bullpen session Monday, and while the club has yet to announce his next step, he appears likely to return from the 60-day injured list to start Thursday's series opener in Atlanta. Washington has already named its starters for the final three games of the series but is listing Thursday as "TBA," according to Chad Bishop of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Ribalta struck out two in a perfect inning of relief Tuesday to record his ninth hold of the season in a win over the Blue Jays.

The right-hander took the mound after Gus Varland failed to record an out to begin the eighth inning and allowed three runs, and Ribalta shut down Toronto's rally by retiring the visitors' 5-6-7 hitters. Ribalta has been tagged for earned runs in only one of his last eight appearances, posting a 2.45 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 12:2 K:BB over 7.1 innings during that stretch and providing a bit of stability to the league's worst bullpen.

Marsee was added to the Miami lineup for Wednesday's game against the Phillies and will start in center field and bat ninth, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

With southpaw Jesus Luzardo on the hill for the Phillies, the left-handed-hitting Marsee had been scheduled to receive the afternoon off. However, after third baseman Leo Jimenez was a late scratch due to a stomach ailment, Javier Sanoja will cover the hot corner, while Marsee will be needed to fill the open outfield spot. Marsee will be flanked in the outfield by Heriberto Hernandez in left and Esteury Ruiz in right.

Marlins manager Clayton McCullough said that Jimenez was scratched from the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Phillies due to a "stomach issue," Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

Jimenez had been slated to start at third base, but the Marlins will instead go with Javier Sanoja at that spot. The Marlins haven't revealed whether Jimenez will be available off the bench, though McCullough may look to stay away from using the 25-year-old while he's feeling less than 100 percent.

Holmes (lower leg) tossed four scoreless innings in a rehab start for Single-A St. Lucie on Tuesday, giving up two hits and two walks while striking out three over 59 pitches (37 strikes).

The veteran right-hander made his first rehab start July 23 for Triple-A Syracuse, but weather concerns caused the Mets to shift his second outing to the Florida State League. Per Anthony DiComo of MLB.com, scouts from multiple teams were in attendance for Holmes' start as he topped out at 94.1 mph with his sinker and deployed all five of his pitches. His current schedule might allow him to come off the IL and make one big-league start for the Mets before Monday's trade deadline, assuming he isn't moved before then. Holmes' current contract includes a $12 million player option for 2027 that he's almost certain to decline after posting a 2.39 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 45:18 K:BB through his first 52.2 innings this season before a comebacker in a May 15 start fractured his right fibula.

Rodriguez is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game versus the Diamondbacks.

The Pirates have eased Rodriguez back into action following his return from the injured list earlier this week, as this will be his second time on the bench in three contests. Rodriguez should eventually retake the primary catcher job, but it will be Henry Davis behind the dish in Wednesday's series finale.