MLB Player News

Manager Craig Albernaz said Monday that Helsley (elbow) will throw live batting practice Tuesday or Wednesday, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

Helsley last pitched for Baltimore on June 27 due to elbow inflammation. He's been throwing since early August but will finally face hitters this week, giving him a chance to pitch again this regular season. Helsley has been limited to 17 appearances this season, registering eight saves with a 4.11 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 21:9 K:BB across 15.1 innings.

Hernandez went 2-for-4 with a walk, a home run, two runs scored, two RBI and a stolen base in Sunday's win over the Cubs.

The 26-year-old outfielder launched a solo shot off Clay Holmes in the fourth inning, Hernandez's sixth long ball in his last 15 games and 24th of the season. He was hitting below the Mendoza Line as late as May 26, but he's pulled his slash line up to .230/.315/.471 on the season through 112 contests with 45 runs, 63 RBI and a surprising 11 steals.

Edwards (thumb) fielded grounders at LoanDepot Park on Monday, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

It appears to be the first time Edwards has been allowed to catch a ball with his glove since he suffered a left thumb sprain in late August. The infielder could be ready for activation from the 10-day injured list later this week, though the Marlins have not revealed a specific timeline for Edwards.

The Rockies optioned Ritter to Triple-A Albuquerque on Monday.

He's been jettisoned back to Albuquerque to make space on the active roster for the return of Kyle Karros (concussion). Ritter was with the big club for the past two-plus weeks, going 2-for-12 at the plate in limited action.

Smith went 1-for-2 with a solo home run in Sunday's loss to the Royals.

Getting the start at second base and batting seventh, Smith provided the Blue Jays with their only offense when he got hold of a Randy Dobnak sweeper in the sixth inning and hooked it down the right-field line. The 29-year-old utility player has been making an impact at the plate since being picked up from Texas at the trade deadline, slashing .257/.381/.600 in 44 plate appearances with four homers, five RBI and 11 runs despite missing 11 games with a hamstring strain. Smith has mainly played second base and third base with Toronto, but he has experience in left field and could get more time there down the stretch with neither Jesus Sanchez nor Myles Straw looking like adequate options for a team still in the playoff race.

The Rockies activated Karros (concussion) from the 7-day injured list Monday.

Karros has been on the 7-day concussion IL twice in the last few weeks, but he cleared protocols last week and went 6-for-15 with a home run in four rehab games with Double-A Hartford. The 24-year-old will regain his role as the Rockies' primary third baseman down the stretch.

Fairbanks (hand) will throw another bullpen session Monday and is expected to be reinstated from the 15-day injured list Wednesday, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

Fairbanks has been shelved for nearly two weeks of action with medial nerve irritation in his right hand. He was administered multiple injections to combat the issue, and the shots appear to have achieved the desired goal. Fairbanks should be thrown right back into the Marlins' closer role upon activation.

Happ (knee) is out of the lineup for Monday's game in Milwaukee.

Happ is dealing with left knee discomfort and is considered day-to-day, but even if he was fully healthy, he might have sat anyway since the Brewers are sending a lefty (Robert Gasser) to the hill. Tyrone Taylor will get another start in left field in place of the switch-hitting Happ, who has produced a 43 wRC+ over 138 plate appearances versus left-handed pitching this season.

Atlanta manager Walt Weiss said Monday that Elder will temporarily move to the bullpen, Chad Bishop of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

With Reynaldo Lopez (knee) returning from the 15-day injured list to start Wednesday against the Rays, Atlanta will shift Elder to the bullpen to keep its six-man rotation intact. While Elder has turned in a serviceable 4.11 ERA over 26 starts on the season, he's been tagged for 16 runs on 30 hits -- including five home runs -- and seven walks over his last four outings. Per Mark Bowman of MLB.com, Weiss noted that Elder has been managing a knee issue of late, so the short-term move to the bullpen will lighten his workload and limit the strain on his body. The skipper added that Elder could make a start during Atlanta's three-game road series versus the Cubs next week, though it's unclear who would come out of the rotation to open up a spot for the right-hander.

Ritchie allowed two runs on four hits and a walk over 6.2 innings for Triple-A Gwinnett on Sunday while striking out a career-high 15 batters.

The 23-year-old right-hander set a new franchise Ks record for Gwinnett, breaking the mark of 13 previously set by Bryse Wilson in 2018 and tied by Spencer Strider in a 2025 rehab start. Ritchie was demoted in early August, but he's making a case to rejoin Atlanta's big-league roster for the stretch run. Over five starts since getting sent down, he's produced a 2.28 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 35:13 K:BB over 27.2 innings while lasting at least five innings in each outing.