MLB Player News

Herz (elbow) was diagnosed Monday with a left flexor strain, Kyle Williams of TheBanner.com reports.

It's a significant setback for Herz, who has been working his way back from April 2025 Tommy John surgery. The left-hander posted a 1.17 ERA, 0.52 WHIP and 11:0 K:BB in 7.2 innings covering his first three rehab starts, potentially setting him up for activation around the All-Star break. After suffering the flexor strain, however, Herz will be out indefinitely.

Milwaukee reinstated Woodruff (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list ahead of his scheduled start Monday in Cincinnati.

Woodruff will be making his first start for Milwaukee since April 30, after a bout with right shoulder inflammation kept him on the shelf for nearly two months. The 33-year-old righty made two rehab appearances in the minors prior to being activated, building up to 5.1 innings and 82 pitches in his most recent outing with High-A Wisconsin on Tuesday. While Woodruff shouldn't be operating with a major workload restriction in his return from the IL, he'll carry some performance risk following a lengthy layoff from major-league action. Woodruff tentatively lines up for a two-start week, with a second appearance likely to come Sunday at home versus the Cubs if he bounces back well from Monday's start.

Mayza will serve as the Phillies' opening pitcher for Monday's contest versus the Nationals, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

Mayza will handle an inning or two before bulk reliever Alan Rangel takes over. The left-handed Mayza has been excellent out of the Philadelphia bullpen, putting up a 2.97 ERA and 33:7 K:BB across 33.1 frames.

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

The Reds will go with Spencer Steer and Matt McLain as their starters in the middle infield while Arroyo retreats to the bench for the series opener. Since being promoted from Triple-A Louisville on June 1, Arroyo has struggled to produce in a near-everyday role, slashing .240/.304/.280 with zero home runs or stolen bases across 56 plate appearances. With Elly De La Cruz (hamstring) expected to return from the 10-day injured list Tuesday, Arroyo could wind up heading back to Louisville in a corresponding move.

The Phillies activated Backhus (elbow) from the 15-day injured list Monday.

Backhus was shelved for almost two months while dealing with left elbow inflammation but has been cleared to return after striking out seven over 4.2 innings of one-run ball on a rehab assignment. He will operate in a middle relief role.

The Phillies recalled Rangel from Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Monday.

Rangel is expected to work in bulk relief behind opening pitcher Tim Mayza during Monday's road game against the Nationals, per Matt Gelb of The Athletic. The 28-year-old fanned five over three innings of one-run ball out of the bullpen in an appearance for the Phillies earlier this season, and he holds a 3.99 ERA and 73:27 K:BB across 70 frames with Lehigh Valley. With Andrew Painter back in the minors, Rangel could get a chance to stick around in Philadelphia as the fifth member of the rotation.

The Reds optioned Maxwell to Triple-A Louisville on Monday.

Maxwell will cede his spot on the active roster and in the Cincinnati bullpen to right-hander Pierce Johnson (elbow), who was reinstated from the 15-day injured list in a corresponding move. During his latest stint in the majors, Maxwell made nine appearances and submitted a 7.00 ERA, 2.11 WHIP and 8:8 K:BB in nine innings while gathering one save and one hold.

The Reds selected Garcia's contract from Triple-A Louisville on Monday.

Cincinnati designated Chris Paddack for assignment to open up room on the roster and in the bullpen for Garcia, who had been one of Louisville's more dominant relief arms this season. The 31-year-old right-hander received his first big-league call-up after submitting a 3.03 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 54:12 K:BB in 35.2 innings. He'll likely begin his time in the majors as a lower-leverage arm, but Garcia could work his way up the bullpen depth chart quickly if he's able to maintain the impressive form he displayed at Triple-A.

The Reds reinstated Johnson (elbow) from the 15-day injured list Monday.

Johnson gave up one run in a one-inning, 17-pitch rehab appearance with Triple-A Louisville on Friday, and that was apparently all the Reds needed to see from the right-hander on the farm before adding him back to their bullpen. Before hitting the shelf May 30 due to right elbow inflammation, Johnson had been working in a setup role for the Reds and posted a 3.27 ERA and 1.23 WHIP while collecting four holds, one save and two wins in 24 appearances.

The Reds designated Paddack for assignment Monday.

The 30-year-old righty has now been booted off a 40-man roster for the second time this season, after the Marlins previously released him May 11. Paddack didn't perform any better during his five-week stint in Cincinnati and now owns a 0-7 record, 6.96 ERA, 1.66 WHIP and 39:19 K:BB in 53 innings over 13 appearances (nine starts) between his two stops. Given the poor form he's displayed thus far, Paddack is unlikely to get claimed off waivers and could be headed for another release in the coming days.