Chicago Cubs infielder Nico Hoerner (oblique) has been activated from the injured list and will start at shortstop Sunday, batting fifth against Eric Lauer and the Milwaukee Brewers. Hoerner has not played since July 28, when he had reached in seven of his last 11 plate appearances. Hoerner has slashed .313/.388/.388 this season with no homers and three steals in five attempts. He'll need to add some power to his profile to become relevant in shallow fantasy leagues.

Chicago Cubs' second baseman Nico Hoerner (oblique) is expected to be activated from the 10-day injured list ahead of Sunday's game against the Milwaukee Brewers. He has been sidelined since July with a right oblique strain after slashing .319/.388/.388 with three steals, 14 RBI, and 13 runs scored over 39 games this season. The 24-year-old is a speculative add in the final two weeks of the regular season as Hoerner will have an everyday second base role. Fantasy managers should check back on Sunday to ensure Hoerner is in the starting lineup before activating him.

Chicago Cubs infielder Nico Hoerner (oblique) will be reassessed when he resumes baseball activities later this week, according to Patrick Mooney of The Athletic. Hoerner exited a rehab game on Sunday with High-A South Bend as a precaution after he experienced tension in his oblique during an at-bat. He's been out since the end of July with a right oblique strain after slashing .319/.388/.388 with three steals, 14 RBI and 13 runs scored over 39 games this season. Managers should keep an eye out for updates on his condition later on in the week.

Chicago Cubs infielder Nico Hoerner (oblique) exited his rehab game on Sunday due to increased tension in his right oblique, according to Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune. Hoerner has been on a rehab assignment while recovering from an oblique strain that has kept him out of action since the end of July. Montemurro reports that Hoerner felt the tension mid at-bat on Sunday, and decided not to risk pushing the issue and play it safe. The team will reassess his condition on Monday. Hoerner has looked solid at the plate in 39 games this year, slashing .319/.388/.388 with three steals, 14 RBI and 13 runs scored. Managers should keep an eye out for further updates on his condition tomorrow.

Chicago Cubs infielder Nico Hoerner (oblique) is expected to get into some rehab games at the beginning of next week, according to Jordan Bastian of MLB.com. The Cubs hope that he will return by the end of August, and he should have a spot in the starting lineup given their depleted roster. Hoerner, who has been on the injured list since July 29, has slashed .313/.388/.388 with no home runs and three stolen bases in 39 games this season. Even with his high average, he's no more than a deep league option who can some provide steals, with his batting average likely to normalize towards his career .275 mark.

Chicago Cubs infielder Nico Hoerner (oblique) was able to play catch again on Wednesday. He has been sidelined since late July, but is slowly making his way back to the Cubs roster. The hope is that Hoerner is ready to return to the MLB roster by the end of August. He'll likely slide into a starting spot right away in Chicago. Hoerner is hitting .313/.388/.388 with 14 RBI in 152 plate appearances this season. It's unlikely that Hoerner has any value outside of NL-only formats.

Chicago Cubs infielder Nico Hoerner (oblique) participated in baseball activities on Thursday. He's been sidelined since last Wednesday with a right oblique strain. The 24-year-old is "still ways off from a return" but is trending in the right direction. Hoerner came off the bench and slashed .313/.388/.388 with three steals, 14 RBI, and 13 runs scored before landing on the injured list. David Bote will continue to handle second-base duties while Hoerner is sidelined. Bote is hitting .201 with six homers and 28 RBI this season and is mainly an option in NL-Only league formats.

Chicago Cubs shortstop Nico Hoerner (oblique) was placed on the 10-day injured list on Thursday with a right oblique strain, according to MLB.com's injury tracker. Hoerner exited Wednesday's game after he was seen grabbing at his side following a swing in the seventh inning. He becomes the latest in a series of oblique strains that have been seen across the league this year, and as we've seen with other players, it's hard to predict just how much time he will miss from this issue. Over 39 games this year, Hoerner is slashing .313/.388/.388 with three steals, 14 RBI and 13 runs scored. Hoerner was primarily a bench bat for the Cubs, and while he's out, the Cubs have recalled Sergio Alcantara to fill his spot on the bench.

Chicago Cubs shortstop Nico Hoerner (oblique) left Wednesday's game versus the Cincinnati Reds with right oblique tightness, according to Cubs' manager David Ross. Hoerner grabbed his right side after a check swing during the seventh inning. Outfielder Kris Bryant moved to shortstop while outfielder Ian Happ took over left field to begin the eighth inning during the Reds' 8-2 victory. Hoerner replaced Javy Baez (heel) at shortstop in the lineup on Wednesday and appears doubtful to play in the series finale on Thursday. Infielder Matt Duffy would be a candidate to fill in at short should both Baez and Hoerner be unavailable.

BOSTON (AP) — Rafael Devers hit two home runs, including a go-ahead blast in the fifth inning, to help the Boston Red Sox best New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole for the second straight time at Fenway Park in a 6-2 victory Friday night. Devers followed his two-run with a three-run homer in the seventh — the 100th of his career — to help Boston improve to 9-2 against New York this season. The Red Sox maintained their one-game AL East lead over Tampa Bay and increased their lead to nine games over the third-place Yankees. Yacksel Rios (3-0) got the victory, pitching two scoreless innings to cap a strong night from the bullpen after starter Eduardo Rodriguez left in the second inning after experiencing migraine symptoms. Cole (10-5) started strong for New York, but was pulled after fiving innings, giving up three runs off six hits, striking out eight and walking two. METS 3, BLUE JAYS 0 NEW YORK (AP) — Tylor Megill threw six scoreless innings for his first big league victory and got his first... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — Rafael Devers hit two home runs, including a go-ahead blast in the fifth inning, to help the Boston Red Sox best New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole for the second straight time at Fenway Park in a 6-2 victory Friday night. Devers followed his two-run with a three-run homer in the seventh — the 100th of his career — to help Boston improve to 9-2 against New York this season. The Red Sox maintained their one-game AL East lead over Tampa Bay and increased their lead to nine games over the third-place Yankees. Yacksel Rios (3-0) got the victory, pitching two scoreless innings to cap a strong night from the bullpen after starter Eduardo Rodriguez left in the second inning after experiencing migraine symptoms. Cole (10-5) started strong for New York, but was pulled after fiving innings, giving up three runs off six hits, striking out eight and walking two. METS 3, BLUE JAYS 0 NEW YORK (AP) — Tylor Megill threw six scoreless innings for his first big league victory and got his first... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — Rafael Devers hit two home runs, including a go-ahead blast in the fifth inning, to help the Boston Red Sox best New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole for the second straight time at Fenway Park in a 6-2 victory Friday night. Devers followed his two-run with a three-run homer in the seventh — the 100th of his career — to help Boston improve to 9-2 against New York this season. The Red Sox maintained their one-game AL East lead over Tampa Bay and increased their lead to nine games over the third-place Yankees. Yacksel Rios (3-0) got the victory, pitching two scoreless innings to cap a strong night from the bullpen after starter Eduardo Rodriguez left in the second inning after experiencing migraine symptoms. Cole (10-5) started strong for New York, but was pulled after fiving innings, giving up three runs off six hits, striking out eight and walking two. METS 3, BLUE JAYS 0 NEW YORK (AP) — Tylor Megill threw six scoreless innings for his first big league victory and got his first... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Tylor Megill threw six scoreless innings for his first big league victory and got his first career hit, Pete Alonso homered twice and the New York Mets beat the Toronto Blue Jays 3-0 on Friday night. Megill (1-0) allowed two hits, walked one and struck out five as the rookie right-hander lowered his ERA to 2.10 a few hours after the Mets bolstered their injury-plagued rotation by acquiring Rich Hill from Tampa Bay. New York has eight starters on the injured list, including ace Jacob deGrom. Alonso continued his post-Home Run Derby surge, hitting a two-run shot off former teammate Steven Matz (8-5) in the first inning and adding a solo blast off Ryan Borucki in the eighth. Alonso has four homers in his last four games. Seth Lugo tossed a one-hit seventh, Trevor May threw a perfect eighth and Edwin Diaz snapped a streak of three straight blown saves by striking out one in a perfect ninth for his 20th save. CUBS 8, DIAMONDBACKS 3 CHICAGO (AP) — Javier Báez homered, Robinson... [More]

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Shohei Ohtani hit his major league-leading 32nd homer, a season high by a Japanese player in the major leagues, helping the Los Angeles Angels beat the Boston Red Sox 5-4 on Wednesday. Fellow All-Star Jared Walsh homered twice for the Angels, who won for the sixth time in seven games and took two of three from the AL-leading Red Sox. Ohtani topped Hideki Matsui’s total with the 2004 Yankees by hitting a 433-foot shot to right off Eduardo Rodríguez (6-5), putting the Angels ahead to stay in the fifth inning. The two-way star has 15 homers in his past 20 games. Andrew Heaney (5-6) pitched six-hit ball into the sixth, and Raisel Iglesias struck out the side in the ninth for his 18th save. RAYS 4, INDIANS 0 RAYS 8, INDIANS 1 ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Five Tampa Bay pitchers combined for seven hitless innings to finish a doubleheader sweep. Collin McHugh (two perfect innings), Josh Fleming (7-4 after allowing one walk in 2 2/3 innings), Diego Castillo (one out), Matt... [More]

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Shohei Ohtani hit his major league-leading 32nd homer, a season high by a Japanese player in the major leagues, helping the Los Angeles Angels beat the Boston Red Sox 5-4 on Wednesday. Fellow All-Star Jared Walsh homered twice for the Angels, who won for the sixth time in seven games and took two of three from the AL-leading Red Sox. Ohtani topped Hideki Matsui’s total with the 2004 Yankees by hitting a 433-foot shot to right off Eduardo Rodríguez (6-5), putting the Angels ahead to stay in the fifth inning. The two-way star has 15 homers in his past 20 games. Andrew Heaney (5-6) pitched six-hit ball into the sixth, and Raisel Iglesias struck out the side in the ninth for his 18th save. RAYS 4, INDIANS 0 RAYS 8, INDIANS 1 ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Five Tampa Bay pitchers combined for seven hitless innings to finish a doubleheader sweep. Collin McHugh (two perfect innings), Josh Fleming (7-4 after allowing one walk in 2 2/3 innings), Diego Castillo (one out), Matt... [More]

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Shohei Ohtani hit his major league-leading 32nd homer, a season high by a Japanese player in the major leagues, helping the Los Angeles Angels beat the Boston Red Sox 5-4 on Wednesday. Fellow All-Star Jared Walsh homered twice for the Angels, who won for the sixth time in seven games and took two of three from the AL-leading Red Sox. Ohtani topped Hideki Matsui’s total with the 2004 Yankees by hitting a 433-foot shot to right off Eduardo Rodríguez (6-5), putting the Angels ahead to stay in the fifth inning. The two-way star has 15 homers in his past 20 games. Andrew Heaney (5-6) pitched six-hit ball into the sixth, and Raisel Iglesias struck out the side in the ninth for his 18th save. RAYS 4, INDIANS 0 RAYS 8, INDIANS 1 ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Five Tampa Bay pitchers combined for seven hitless innings to finish a doubleheader sweep. Collin McHugh (two perfect innings), Josh Fleming (7-4 after allowing one walk in 2 2/3 innings), Diego Castillo (one out), Matt... [More]

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Shohei Ohtani hit his major league-leading 32nd homer, a season high by a Japanese player in the major leagues, helping the Los Angeles Angels beat the Boston Red Sox 5-4 on Wednesday. Fellow All-Star Jared Walsh homered twice for the Angels, who won for the sixth time in seven games and took two of three from the AL-leading Red Sox. Ohtani topped Hideki Matsui’s total with the 2004 Yankees by hitting a 433-foot shot to right off Eduardo Rodríguez (6-5), putting the Angels ahead to stay in the fifth inning. The two-way star has 15 homers in his past 20 games. Andrew Heaney (5-6) pitched six-hit ball into the sixth, and Raisel Iglesias struck out the side in the ninth for his 18th save. RAYS 4, INDIANS 0 RAYS 8, INDIANS 1 ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Five Tampa Bay pitchers combined for seven hitless innings to finish a doubleheader sweep. Collin McHugh (two perfect innings), Josh Fleming (7-4 after allowing one walk in 2 2/3 innings), Diego Castillo (one out), Matt... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Cubs placed right-hander Trevor Williams on the 10-day injured list Monday, adding another name to their long list of injured players. Williams was scheduled to start Monday against San Diego, but he had an appendectomy Sunday. Kohl Stewart was recalled from Triple-A Iowa to take Williams' turn against the Padres. Despite a rash of injuries, the Cubs won 12 of 16 heading into the series with San Diego. Williams, Jason Heyward, Jake Marisnick, Nico Hoerner, Matt Duffy, Alec Mills and Justin Steele have gone on the IL since May 10. “You want to cry uncle sometimes,” manager David Ross said with a chuckle. “But it is what we're dealing with and guys have done a nice job of coming up and helping us win ballgames.” There is no timetable for Williams' return. Ross said the pitcher has a follow-up appointment on Thursday. While Williams went on the IL, it looked as if a couple of key players for Chicago were moving closer to playing again. First baseman Anthony Rizzo was out of the starting lineup for the sixth consecutive game because of back tightness. But Rizzo took some swings and fielded grounders before the matchup with the Padres. Heyward (left hamstring strain) and Marisnick (right hamstring strain) also worked out on the field. “We're on the verge of getting some guys healthy, which is the good news on the back end of some bad news,” Ross said. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

CHICAGO (AP) — Cubs infielder David Bote left the game against Cincinnati on Saturday after hurting his left shoulder on a slide. Bote grabbed his shoulder after the play at second base in the fourth inning. He was helped off and replaced by Patrick Wisdom at third before the Reds batted in the top of the fifth. The team said Bote is undergoing further evaluation. The Cubs have been hit hard by injuries this month, especially among their position players. Infielders Matt Duffy and Nico Hoerner and outfielders Jake Marisnick and Jason Heyward have been placed on the 10-day injured list since May 10. First baseman Anthony Rizzo also has been sidelined by back trouble. The 28-year-old Bote was batting .196 with five homers and 23 RBIs in 48 games going into the day. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Chicago Cubs placed infielder Nico Hoerner on the 10-day injured list with a strained left hamstring and selected outfielder Rafael Ortega from Triple-A Iowa prior to Wednesday night’s game against Pittsburgh. Hoerner was injured while trying to beat out a bunt in the sixth inning of Tuesday night’s 4-3 victory over the Pirates. He is hitting .338 in 21 games. Ortega had a .250 batting average with four home runs for Iowa in 16 games. The 30-year-old has played in 143 major league games with four teams. Right-hander Shelby Miller was designated for assignment to open a spot on the 40-man roster. Miller was an All-Star in 2015 but his career has since been derailed by injuries. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/mlb and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports