MLB Player News

Brubaker (ribs) resumed a throwing program over the weekend, MLB.com reports.

Brubaker is working his way back from bruised ribs, which have kept him on the injured list since Aug. 24. He'll likely require a brief minor-league rehab assignment before making his return to the San Francisco bullpen.

Tong (2-1) earned the win against Miami on Monday, allowing four runs on four hits and one walk in five innings. He struck out seven.

Making his first big-league appearance since June and first start since September of last year, Tong was hammered for four runs in the second inning but lasted just long enough to qualify for the win. The seven punchouts were the right-hander's most this season, and he turned in a season-long outing as well. He's set to take a 4.80 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 14:8 K:BB over 15 major-league innings into his next appearance versus Baltimore.

Mautz struck out one batter and allowed three hits and one walk over two innings of relief in Saturday's 10-7 loss to the Rockies.

In his previous appearance Wednesday against the Dodgers, Mautz made his first MLB start, but he was chased from the game after yielding three earned runs on two hits and three walks over one inning. He was sharper in a relief appearance at Coors Field over the weekend, but Mautz's performance probably won't earn him another look in the rotation in the near future. Cooper Hjerpe struck out six over four shutout innings of relief during Sunday's 10-8 win and would probably be next in line to start if the Cardinals expand their rotation to six men at any point over the final three weeks.

The White Sox activated Murphy (forearm) from the 15-day injured list and optioned him to Triple-A Charlotte on Monday.

Chicago didn't have room in its bullpen for a healthy Murphy, so he'll end up sticking around in Charlotte for a little while longer after he struck out six over 4.2 scoreless innings across five rehab appearances for the affiliate. Murphy should rank near the top of the list for a call-up if the White Sox have a need for another lefty arm in the bullpen at any point over the final three weeks of the season.

The Nationals recalled Cruz from Triple-A Rochester on Monday.

In six appearances for the Nationals this season, Cruz has allowed five runs with a 4:5 K:BB across four innings of work. The hard-throwing reliever has the upside to work his way into high-leverage situations, but he'll need to earn those opportunities.

The Nationals placed Ribalta on the 15-day injured list Monday due to right forearm inflammation.

Ribalta hadn't appeared in a game since Tuesday before reporting forearm discomfort prior to Sunday's 7-5 loss to the Dodgers, per Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com. According to Zuckerman, the Nationals are still awaiting the results of Ribalta's MRI, but the club had already concluded that his forearm injury was enough of a concern to force him to the shelf. He'll be eligible to come off the IL later this month, but it's possible that his 2026 campaign is over.

The Padres optioned Brito to Triple-A El Paso on Monday.

A spot on the active roster needed to be cleared for the return of Nick Pivetta (forearm) from the injured list. Brito permitted one run over 3.2 innings covering a pair of relief outings during his most recent stint with the big club.

The Padres activated Pivetta (forearm) from the 60-day injured list Monday.

Pivetta will rejoin the Padres rotation with a start Monday against the Nationals after missing nearly five months of action due to a flexor strain. The veteran right-hander fanned seven over 4.1 shutout innings in his final rehab start with Triple-A El Paso on Aug. 30. Pivetta threw 64 pitches in that outing, so he won't be ready to handle a full workload Monday.

Manager John Schneider said that Ponce (knee) would be a candidate to return from the 60-day injured list only if the Blue Jays make the postseason and advanced deep into October, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Schneider's comments come as little surprise, as Ponce's 2026 campaign was already expected to be over after he tore the ACL in his right knee in his Blue Jays debut March 30 and required surgery a few weeks later. On a positive note, the fact that Ponce hasn't completely been ruled out from pitching if the Blue Jays make a deep playoff run suggests that his recovery has thus far gone smoothly, and he's on track to be 100 percent for spring training. Ponce is under contract through 2028 after signing a three-year, $30 million deal with the Blue Jays back in December following an outstanding 2025 season in the Korea Baseball Organization.

Lopez (knee) will return from the 15-day injured list to start Wednesday's game against the Rays in Atlanta, Chad Bishop of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Atlanta will keep a six-man rotation intact but will open up a spot for Lopez by shifting Bryce Elder to the bullpen, at least for the next week. Lopez will make his return to the big club after a strong showing in his three-start rehab assignment at Triple-A Gwinnett, during which he rung up a 2.57 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 11:3 K:BB in 14 innings. He tossed 93 pitches in his final rehab outing and shouldn't face any workload restrictions Wednesday, when he makes his 12th start of the season for Atlanta.