MLB Player News

Kepler (illness) is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Twins.

Kepler had to be pulled from Thursday's contest versus the Marlins due to illness and will miss at least one start. Nick Castellanos will patrol right field and bat seventh in Friday's series opener.

Young is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the White Sox.

Young isn't part of the starting nine for a second straight game after making three consecutive starts in center field. Robert Hassell will patrol center field instead.

The Cubs activated Tucker (calf) from the 10-day injured list Friday.

Tucker has finally been cleared to return to action after missing most of September with a strained left calf. He will start in the designated hitter spot and bat cleanup during Friday's series opener against the Cardinals. Tucker could see regular starts at DH this weekend and during next week's National League Wild Card Series as the Cubs look to protect his calf.

Tucker (calf) will be activated from the 10-day injured list and included in the lineup for Friday's game against the Cardinals, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.

Tucker has been cleared to return after missing the last three-plus weeks with a left calf strain. It's not clear whether he will play the outfield or be used at designated hitter, but either way the Cubs will be happy to get Tucker's bat back into their lineup.

Marte went 1-for-4 with a single and a run scored in Thursday's 2-1 win over the Pirates.

Marte, who homered in a 4-3 extra-innings win Wednesday, helped keep the Reds' postseason hopes alive for a second consecutive day. He singled in Cincinnati's first run and scored what eventually was the game-deciding run in the fifth inning. He wasn't done. In the ninth inning, the converted infielder robbed Bryan Reynolds of a game-tying home run over the right-field wall and preserved the win. With Austin Hays (back) still unavailable, Marte should continue to play daily.

Hays (back) was feeling better Thursday but not available to play, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

Hays, who didn't respond well to running earlier in the week, has missed the last four games. It's unclear when, or if, Hays will be able to rejoin the club, which is still in the hunt for a playoff spot. Reds manager Terry Francona indicated Thursday that placement on the injured list is unlikely, as that would force Hays to miss postseason action, should Cincinnati qualify. "I think we're much better off trying to see if we can nurse him through this and have him be available," the manager said. Will Benson has started in left field all four games without Hays.

Nimmo went 3-for-4 with one RBI and two runs scored in Thursday's 8-5 win over the Cubs.

This was Nimmo's fifth multi-hit effort over his last 11 games, a span in which he has hit .319 (15-for-47). He has added three homers and 11 RBI in that span despite racking up 13 strikeouts. The outfielder is up to a .264/.326/.442 slash line with 25 homers, 92 RBI, 81 runs scored, 27 doubles and 12 stolen bases through 152 games this season. He'll set a career high in games played when he next takes the field.

Kepler was removed from Thursday's game against the Marlins due to illness, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

Kepler went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts before his exit, which came after a lengthy rain delay. Nick Castellanos took over in right field.

Freeman (back) isn't in the lineup for Thursday's game versus the Mariners.

Freeman will miss a third straight game Thursday since being scratched from the lineup Tuesday with lower-back tightness. While he continues to recover, the Rockies will move Hunter Goodman into the DH spot and start Braxton Fulford at catcher.

Hernandez is not in the lineup for Thursday's game in Philadelphia.

It's a routine day off for Hernandez, who had started each of the previous five contests. Agustin Ramirez will serve as the Marlins' designated hitter and Liam Hicks will do the catching Thursday.