MLB Player News

Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said Sale (ribcage) will likely be activated from the 60-day injured list to start Saturday's game in Philadelphia, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

With Sale checking out well physically following his third and final rehab start Saturday for Triple-A Gwinnett, he'll be on track to rejoin the Atlanta rotation one week later for what will be his first start with the big club since June 18. Before suffering a left ribcage fracture in his start against the Mets that day, Sale had delivered an impressive encore to his Cy Young-winning season in 2024, turning in a 2.52 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 114:26 K:BB in 89.1 innings with Atlanta. The veteran lefty tossed 77 pitches in his final outing with Gwinnett and could have his workload monitored carefully Saturday, but fantasy managers will likely still want to activate Sale this week as he rejoins the big club.

Estevez earned the save in Sunday's 10-8 win over the Tigers, striking out one in a perfect ninth inning.

Estevez has been perfect in five straight appearances while posting a 1.29 ERA in his last seven innings. He's up to 34 saves on the year, tied with Robert Suarez for the MLB lead, with a 2.67 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 48 strikeouts across 57.1 innings.

Flaherty (7-13) took the loss Sunday against the Royals, allowing eight runs on 10 hits over five innings. He struck out three.

Most of the damage against Flaherty came in the third inning, when Kansas City scored six runs after stringing together seven straight two-out hits. It was a disappointing outing overall for Flaherty after the right-hander held the Astros scoreless over seven frames his last time out. Flaherty's ERA sits at 4.87 through 26 starts (136.2 innings) this season with a 1.30 WHIP and 165:50 K:BB. He'll look to turn things around in his next outing, tentatively scheduled as a rematch with the Royals in Kansas City next week.

Goldschmidt is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Red Sox.

Goldschmidt will hit the bench for the second time in the series, with both of his absences coming against right-handed pitching. Though he's maintained a .795 OPS thus far in August, Goldschmidt is still slashing just .237/.279/.323 with a 21.7 percent strikeout rate in 322 plate appearances versus righties for the season.

Wells will start at catcher and bat ninth in Sunday's game against the Red Sox.

Wells' playing time had taken a hit recently with the Yankees beginning to hand Ben Rice more work behind the plate, but Wells will make his third straight start at catcher to close out the series with Boston. Rice will occupy first base Sunday while Paul Goldschmidt gets squeezed out of the lineup for a second straight matchup with a right-handed starting pitcher (Dustin May).

Lugo did not factor into the decision Sunday against the Tigers, allowing six runs on six hits and two walks over 4.1 innings. He struck out five.

It's been a tough month for Lugo, who's struggled to an 8.87 ERA while allowing eight homers across five starts (23.1 innings) since the beginning of August. Overall, the veteran right-hander's ERA sits at 3.99 this season with a 1.24 WHIP and 120:51 K:BB in 25 starts (142 innings). Lugo will look to get back on track in his next outing, tentatively scheduled as a rematch with the Tigers at home next week.

Judge threw from the outfield to the bases and a cut-off man prior to Sunday's game against the Red Sox, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.

According to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com, Judge confirmed following the pregame workout that he "checked a box" in his throwing progression by tossing a baseball to the bases for the first time since he was diagnosed with a flexor strain in his right elbow July 26. Per Brendan Kuty of The Athletic, manager Aaron Boone said that Judge looked good during the throwing session, but the Yankees aren't putting a timeline on when the two-time AL MVP might be ready to play the outfield in a game. Judge will remain in the lineup as the Yankees' designated hitter and No. 2 batter in Sunday's game against the Red Sox.

Manager Aaron Boone said Volpe is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Red Sox since the shortstop has recently been "scuffling" offensively, and the skipper wouldn't commit to the 24-year-old returning to the starting nine for Monday's game versus the Nationals, Max Goodman of NJ.com reports.

Since his four-hit game Aug. 1 in Miami, Volpe is batting .121 with a 26.8 percent strikeout rate in 19 games and has just one hit in his past 28 at-bats. Sunday marks Volpe's fifth absence from the lineup this season, but he could be headed to the bench more often down the stretch if the struggles persist. Jose Caballero has a 1.033 OPS in 31 plate appearances since being acquired by the Yankees and will start at shortstop Sunday.

The Angels recalled Lugo from Triple-A Salt Lake on Sunday.

The 24-year-old will take the roster spot of Nolan Schanuel (wrist), who was placed on the injured list Sunday. Lugo received his first taste of the majors earlier this season and had an .804 OPS in 17 games. He'll likely serve as the Angels' fourth outfielder behind Taylor Ward, Jo Adell and Bryce Teodosio.

Trevino is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Diamondbacks.

Will Banfield will handle the catching duties for Cincinnati on Sunday after Trevino started behind the plate in each of the previous seven games behind the plate while going 4-for-24 with three RBI and a run scored. Trevino should continue to see the bulk of the playing time at catcher while top backstop Tyler Stephenson (thumb) is on the injured list.