MLB Player News

Brubaker (ribs) resumed a throwing program over the weekend, MLB.com reports.

Brubaker is working his way back from bruised ribs, which have kept him on the injured list since Aug. 24. He'll likely require a brief minor-league rehab assignment before making his return to the San Francisco bullpen.

Perez (7-11) took the loss against the Mets on Monday, allowing seven runs (five earned) on 10 hits and three walks in four innings. He struck out five.

Perez wasn't sharp during a rare Monday afternoon first-pitch time, surrendering a season-high 10 knocks in another short start. The right-hander is showing real signs of fatigue amid the campaign's final stages, working fewer than five innings while yielding at least five runs in three straight outings. Things won't get any easier with the Dodgers looming for his next scheduled appearance, with Perez now carrying a 3.94 ERA, 1.24 WHIP 150:62 K:BB over a career-high 139.1 innings.

Tong (2-1) earned the win against Miami on Monday, allowing four runs on four hits and one walk in five innings. He struck out seven.

Making his first big-league appearance since June and first start since September of last year, Tong was hammered for four runs in the second inning but lasted just long enough to qualify for the win. The seven punchouts were the right-hander's most this season, and he turned in a season-long outing as well. He's set to take a 4.80 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 14:8 K:BB over 15 major-league innings into his next appearance versus Baltimore.

Mautz struck out one batter and allowed three hits and one walk over two innings of relief in Saturday's 10-7 loss to the Rockies.

In his previous appearance Wednesday against the Dodgers, Mautz made his first MLB start, but he was chased from the game after yielding three earned runs on two hits and three walks over one inning. He was sharper in a relief appearance at Coors Field over the weekend, but Mautz's performance probably won't earn him another look in the rotation in the near future. Cooper Hjerpe struck out six over four shutout innings of relief during Sunday's 10-8 win and would probably be next in line to start if the Cardinals expand their rotation to six men at any point over the final three weeks.

Chaparro is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Padres.

Chaparro still appears to be locked into a regular spot in the lineup versus left-handed pitching, but his playing time against righties is trending down following the recent return of James Wood from the injured list. The Nationals will keep Chaparro on the bench Monday for the third time in their last four games matchups against a right-handed starter (Nick Pivetta).

Nunez is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Padres.

Since the start of August, Nunez has produced a lowly .112/.171/.122 slash line over 31 games, and his playing time has begun to take a hit as a result. He'll take a seat for the third time in six contests while the Nationals go with Jorbit Vivas and CJ Abrams as their starters in the middle infield. Though Nunez continues to lead the majors with 45 stolen bases, fantasy managers could have difficulty extracting much value from him if he fades into more of a part-time role down the stretch.

Early (elbow) will make an appearance in a bridge game Tuesday at the Nationals' spring training complex in Florida, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports.

Though it will not go down as an official appearance, Early will be pitching in a game for the first time since he went down with left elbow inflammation in early July. It's unclear how many pitches Early is scheduled to throw Tuesday, but he will likely require at least one additional rehab start before joining the big-league rotation. Early was acquired from the Red Sox at the trade deadline and will be making his Nationals debut when he gets into a game.

The Nationals recalled Cruz from Triple-A Rochester on Monday.

In six appearances for the Nationals this season, Cruz has allowed five runs with a 4:5 K:BB across four innings of work. The hard-throwing reliever has the upside to work his way into high-leverage situations, but he'll need to earn those opportunities.

The Nationals placed Ribalta on the 15-day injured list Monday due to right forearm inflammation.

Ribalta hadn't appeared in a game since Tuesday before reporting forearm discomfort prior to Sunday's 7-5 loss to the Dodgers, per Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com. According to Zuckerman, the Nationals are still awaiting the results of Ribalta's MRI, but the club had already concluded that his forearm injury was enough of a concern to force him to the shelf. He'll be eligible to come off the IL later this month, but it's possible that his 2026 campaign is over.

Millas will return to Washington, D.C. this week to receive a second opinion on his fractured left index finger and is likely to require surgery, Spencer Nusbaum of The Athletic reports.

Millas fractured the same finger last August and needed surgery, and though he was hopeful to avoid a procedure after breaking the digit back on July 11, he hasn't healed as anticipated and will likely need to go under the knife again. Before a decision is made on his next steps, Millas will meet with a specialist. Prior to landing on the injured list, Millas had been serving as the Nationals' No. 2 catcher behind Keibert Ruiz and produced a .185/.277/.262 batting line with two home runs, 11 RBI and 18 runs in 50 games.