MLB Player News

Hernandez (hamstring) is expected to ramp up his baseball activities this week, and if all goes well, he could be sent out on a rehab assignment by the weekend, Jack Harris of the California Post reports.

Hernandez landed on the 10-day injured list at the end of May after being diagnosed with a Grade 1 left hamstring strain. He was initially expected to miss one month, but if all goes well during the week and he's cleared to embark on a rehab stint by the weekend, there's a chance he could beat that one-month timeline.

Conine (hamstring) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Jacksonville on Tuesday, Stephen Strom of Marlins Radio Network reports.

Conine required left hamstring surgery in late April but has progressed enough that he's ready to test things out in a game setting. Given how much time the 28-year-old has missed, Conine's rehab assignment will likely be fairly lengthy.

Johnston is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Cubs.

After going 2-for-5 with a home run, a double, a walk, four RBI and three runs in Sunday's 23-9 win while lefty Jeffrey Springs started for the Athletics, the left-handed-hitting Johnston will head to the bench for Monday's matchup with southpaw Shota Imanaga. Johnston will give up his spot in the lineup to Jake McCarthy (illness), who will return to the starting nine after sitting in the past five games.

Suzuki (knee) will start at designated hitter and bat cleanup Monday against the Rockies.

Suzuki was scratched from the starting nine ahead of Sunday's 5-1 loss to the Giants, but manager Craig Counsell suggested that Suzuki was held out as a precaution after he had been forced out of Saturday's win due to right knee discomfort. The 31-year-old's knee appears to have responded well enough to the day off for the Cubs to feel comfortable inserting him back into the lineup Monday, albeit in a non-defensive role. Suzuki will carry a season-best 10-game hitting streak into the contest.

Taylor is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Cardinals.

Taylor will retreat to the bench after he had started in left field in each of the Padres' last seven games while going 10-for-26 (.385 average) with a home run, three walks, two stolen bases, eight RBI and five runs during that stretch. Gavin Sheets will get the nod in left field Monday, but Taylor should have a fairly clear path to an everyday role so long as he remains productive at the plate.

The Diamondbacks optioned Waldschmidt to Triple-A Reno on Monday.

With Jordan Lawlar returning last week and Lourdes Gurriel (hamstring) being activated Monday, the Diamondbacks' outfield suddenly got crowded, pushing Waldschmidt back to the minors. The rookie has managed just a .180/.231/.262 batting line and 36.9 percent strikeout rate across his last 17 contests.

The Diamondbacks activated Gurriel (hamstring) from the 10-day injured list Monday.

Gurriel has been shelved since late May with a strained left hamstring, but he's been cleared to return to action after going 4-for-16 in five rehab games for the Diamondbacks' Arizona Complex League affiliate. The 32-year-old could see most of his playing time at designated hitter for the Diamondbacks, though left field is also an option.

McCarthy (illness) will start in left field and bat seventh in Monday's game versus the Cubs.

McCarthy didn't start any of the previous five contests as he battled back from an illness, though he appeared as a pinch runner in one of those tilts. The 28-year-old had made 23 consecutive starts prior to the aforementioned five-game absence from the lineup.

Young went 2-for-4 with two doubles, a run scored and an RBI in Sunday's win over the Mariners.

The 26-year-old center fielder continues to flash some new-found power. Over 12 games in June, Young is slashing .265/.265/.529 with five of his nine hits (two doubles, two triples and a homer) going for extra bases. Young's 37.1 percent hard-hit rate, 6.9 percent barrel rate and 89.3 mph average exit velocity on the year would all be career highs, and his 12.0 degree launch angle is a huge improvement on the 4.0 and 3.8 degree marks he produced the prior two seasons.

Lockridge received a platelet-rich plasma injection in his right knee Thursday, MLB.com reports.

Lockridge has been on the injured list since May 9 due to a right knee laceration, but he appeared to be close to heading out on a minor-league rehab assignment earlier this month. However, after experiencing recurring discomfort with his knee while upping the intensity of his running, Lockridge opted for the PRP treatment with the hope that it would accelerate his healing. He'll likely wait a couple more days for the shot to take full effect before he starts ramping back up, but a timeline for Lockridge's return from the IL won't become clear until he begins playing in minor-league games.