MLB Player News

Adams is absent from the lineup for the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader versus Atlanta.

It will be Jorge Alfaro doing the catching for the Nationals in the first game. Adams should be back behind the dish in the nightcap.

Bell is not in the lineup for the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader against Atlanta.

Bell will get some rest in the first game but should be back in there for the nightcap. Andres Chaparro will cover first base and bat third in the first game of the twin bill.

Alvarez is absent from the lineup for Tuesday's contest against the Nationals.

Alvarez will likely be back at third base for the nightcap, but he will begin the first game of the double dip on the bench. Vidal Brujan is at third base for Atlanta in the matinee.

Ozuna is not in the lineup for the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Nationals.

Atlanta will go with Ronald Acuna in the designated-hitter spot and Eli White in right field for the first game of the twin bill. Ozuna will likely be back in the lineup for the nightcap.

Soroka tossed two scoreless innings of relief in Monday's 4-0 win over the Pirates. He walked two batters and struck out two.

Soroka was activated from the injured list before the game after missing a little more than a month of action due to a right shoulder strain. The veteran righty made 16 starts for Washington earlier this year and one with Chicago after coming over at the trade deadline, but it appears that he'll now fit into the Cubs' bullpen in a long-relief role. It's a hit to Soroka's fantasy value, though he did excel as a long reliever for the crosstown White Sox last season, posting a 2.75 ERA with 60 strikeouts over 36 innings.

Hodge allowed a hit and two walks while retiring two batters in the ninth inning of Monday's win over the Pirates before getting lifted for Brad Keller, who recorded the final out of the game.

Hodge got the ninth inning staked to a 4-0 lead, so it wasn't a save opportunity, but he quickly made trouble for himself by loading the bases. The Cubs then turned to Keller for the final out, and he managed to earn his second save of the season by cleaning up Hodge's mess. Hodge continues to struggle with a 5.81 ERA and 1.52 WHIP across 31 innings this year, and Monday's poor effort won't help the righty earn any more high-leverage work in Chicago's bullpen.

Busch went 1-for-5 with a solo home run in Monday's 4-0 win over the Pirates.

Busch is now riding a five-game hitting streak, and he's gone deep twice during the stretch. The Chicago first baseman has already set a new career high with 28 long balls this season. Busch has also tallied a career-best 79 RBI, and he's established himself as a reliable leadoff hitter against righties, as he's sporting a .267/.346/.517 slash line in those matchups.

Atlanta transferred Murphy (hip) from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Tuesday.

The transaction frees up a 40-man roster spot for left-hander Jose Suarez, who was called up from Triple-A Gwinnett to start the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader with the Nationals. Murphy is done for the season following surgery last week to repair a right hip labral tear.

Atlanta optioned Diaz to Triple-A Gwinnett on Tuesday.

Diaz has made three relief appearances after being claimed off waivers by Atlanta on Sept. 7, yielding four runs (three earned) with a 5:5 K:BB. The former Reds closer holds an 8.18 ERA over 18 relief outings in the big leagues this season.

Seymour struck out a batter and allowed one earned run on three hits over one inning of relief in Sunday's 10-2 loss to the Dodgers.

Seymour had started in each of his previous three appearances, but after he turned in an 8.68 ERA and 1.71 WHIP across 9.1 innings in those outings, he was moved to the bullpen. The Giants called on Seymour to mop up in the ninth inning of Sunday's blowout loss, and most of the 26-year-old righty's appearances for the remainder of the season are likely to come in lower-leverage spots.