MLB Player News

Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said Sunday that Cruz (hand) has had "good days of late" and could be ready to start up a rehab assignment in early August, Dominic Campbell of SI.com reports.

Cruz has been on the shelf since sustaining a fractured left hand June 8 and will be eligible to return from the 60-day injured list Aug. 7. He would appear to have decent odds of being ready to rejoin the Pirates on or around that date, as he's been swinging a bat for a few weeks and seems to have moved past the lingering soreness in his hand that he had experienced early on during the recovery process. Cruz will continue to ramping up over the next few days before the Pirates potentially map out a rehab assignment for him.

Sisk (elbow) began a throwing progression July 18, MLB.com reports.

The Pirates haven't provided word on when Sisk will be ready to begin a rehab assignment, but that could happen soon if he's experienced no setbacks while ramping up his throwing. Before hitting the shelf July 4 due to left elbow inflammation, Sisk turned in a 2.23 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 43:13 K:BB in 36.1 innings out of the Pittsburgh bullpen.

The Nationals recalled Varland from Triple-A Rochester on Tuesday, Grant Paulsen of 106.7 The Fan reports.

Varland has collected six saves while posting a 6.25 ERA, 1.77 WHIP and 30:15 K:BB over 31.2 innings during his time with the Nationals this season. He's absorbing the roster spot vacated by Andrew Alvarez, who was optioned following Monday's contest versus the Blue Jays.

Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly said that Wheeler "felt physically fine" after covering just three innings during his start in Monday's 8-7 loss to the Marlins, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

The NL Cy Young Award candidate struck out six but surrendered a season-high five runs on six hits and one walk in the start, which was his shortest outing in more than four years. Though Wheeler and Mattingly both indicated that no injury was behind the poor outing, the veteran right-hander's velocity on all six of his offerings was down at least one tick from his season-long averages, per Statcast. Wheeler wrote the performance off as "just one of those days," and despite not having his best stuff, he was still able to generate 13 whiffs on his 68 pitches. Assuming Wheeler reports no issues coming out of his next bullpen session, fantasy managers can include him in lineups with a fair amount of confidence heading into his next start, which is expected to come Sunday versus the Orioles at Camden Yards.

Abrams went 0-for-2 with two walks and two stolen bases in Monday's loss to the Blue Jays.

The star shortstop has swiped four bags in the last five games, leaving Abrams one steal away from becoming the second player this season to reach the 20-20 plateau after the Cubs' Pete Crow-Armstrong (23 HR, 26 SB). Trade rumors have been swirling around Abrams, but it hasn't been a distraction -- over 19 games in July, he's delivered a .387/.424/.813 slash line with nine homers, six stolen bases, 14 runs and 22 RBI.

Bichette went 3-for-5 with an RBI in Monday's win over Atlanta.

All three knocks were singles, but it was still Bichette's third straight multi-hit performance. The 28-year-old infielder has hit safely in seven of the last eight contests, batting .382 (13-for-34) over that stretch, but he has just one double, two RBI and four runs to show for it.

Brazoban struck out one in a scoreless two-thirds of an inning to record his eighth hold of the season in a 14-3 rout of Atlanta on Monday.

The game was still close when Brazoban took over from Zac Thornton with one out in the seventh inning, and the 36-year-old reliever had little trouble finishing the frame. Brazoban has been scored upon in only one of his last eight appearances, posting a 1.04 ERA, 0.81 WHIP and 8:3 K:BB over 8.2 innings during that span and potentially making himself a more valuable trade asset for a Mets team looking to sell at the deadline.

Faucher (5-5) picked up the win Monday against the Phillies, walking one and striking out two in a scoreless ninth inning.

Miami was down 7-5 heading into the ninth, but after Faucher kept the game close in the top of the frame, his offense erupted for three runs off Philly closer Jhoan Duran to walk it off. Faucher has held the opposition off the board in seven of his 10 July appearances, but he's been tagged for a combined 10 runs in the other three, leaving him with a brutal 9.31 ERA, 1.76 WHIP and 11:6 K:BB in 9.2 innings on the month.

Gibson recorded his fourth hold of the season in Monday's win over the Phillies, coughing up three runs on two hits and a walk in one-third of an inning.

The southpaw entered the game in the top of the sixth inning with the Marlins holding a 5-2 lead, and while Gibson immediately made a mess the rest of the bullpen needed to clean up, he technically exited the game with his team still ahead -- Tyler Zuber allowed two of Gibson's inherited runners to score after taking over. Over 10 appearances in July, Gibson has stumbled to a 5.40 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 8:6 K:BB through 11.2 innings, but he's collected all four of his holds along with one win.

Lopez went 3-for-5 with a triple, two runs scored, an RBI and two stolen bases in Monday's win over the Phillies.

The All-Star shortstop was a terror on the basepaths as he continues a breakout campaign. While he's gone 14 games without a home run, he's still been making an impact, batting .290 (9-for-31) in eight games since the All-Star break with three runs, three RBI and five of his career-high 22 steals.