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.

Beavers is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game in Detroit.

The lefty-swinging Beavers will grab a seat as the Tigers send southpaw Tarik Skubal to the bump. Leody Taveras will patrol center field for the Orioles.

Holliday is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's contest in Detroit.

It's lefty ace Tarik Skubal on the bump for the Tigers, so the left-handed-hitting Holliday will grab a seat even after picking up six hits over the first two games of the series. Jeremiah Jackson will handle second base for the Orioles.

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.

Guerrero (hamstring) is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game versus the Nationals.

Guerrero exited Tuesday's 8-6 loss in the fourth inning due to right hamstring tightness, and with the Blue Jays wrapping up their series in Washington with a day game after a night game, it's no surprise he'll be on the bench. On a positive note, manager John Schneider told Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca that Guerrero is "feeling better" compared to Tuesday and is "probably available to pinch hit," if needed. With a team off day looming Thursday, the Blue Jays may prefer to stay away from Guerrero on Wednesday with the hope that he's ready to return to the lineup in Friday's series opener against the Cardinals.

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.

Bradley did not factor into the decision Tuesday, striking out 10 and giving up two runs on three hits and three walks across six innings during a 3-2 victory over the Royals.

The right-hander was one out away from taking the loss, but Royce Lewis instead walked off Kansas City with a two-run triple in the ninth inning. Bradley surrendered five runs against the Cubs during his first start coming out of the All-Star break, but he's been dominant in his past two outings with just three runs allowed on six hits with a 15:6 K:BB over 13 frames. Through 21 starts this year, the 25-year-old has already recorded a career-high nine wins with a 3.65 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 139:49 K:BB in 120.2 innings.

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.