Philadelphia Phillies pitching prospect Andrew Painter (elbow) threw to live hitters for the first time on Wednesday against minor-leagues for the first time since having Tommy John surgery on July 24 of 2023. Painter sat at 97-98 mph with his fastball and hit 99 mph while throwing 15 pitches, according to the team. "They said it went very well," said manager Rob Thomson. "It was 15 pitches. If all goes well, he'll throw that 15 pitch-BP every three days, for the time being." Painter is scheduled to throw another live bullpen session on Saturday. The No. 2 prospect in the system, per MLB Pipeline, hasn't pitched in a game since March 1 of last year in spring training. The Phillies have said they aren't going to rush him, and the expectation is that Painter will not pitch in a big-league game until 2025. But when Painter does return, he has a legitimate chance to win a spot in the team's starting rotation.

New York Yankees catcher Austin Wells (hand) is back behind the plate and is batting cleanup for Friday's series opener at Wrigley Field against the Chicago Cubs and left-hander Jordan Wicks. Wells was hit on the right hand by a pitch on Monday and avoided any structural damage, but he was forced to sit out the next two games as a result. The 25-year-old backstop is feeling better after Thursday's off day, though, and will return to the heart of the Bombers' order in a friendly matchup at the friendly confines. Wells will be looking to get back on track after a scorching month at the plate in August, but he's gone hitless in his last nine at-bats with three strikeouts since the calendar flipped to September. It's not the best matchup for Wells, as he's hit just .196 (10-for-51) with none of his 12 home runs on the year against lefties.

Oakland Athletics first baseman Tyler Soderstrom (wrist) played in his first minor-league rehab game on Thursday with Triple-A Las Vegas as the designated hitter and went 1-for-3 with a home run, two RBI, a run scored and a strikeout. Soderstrom's homer was a two-run shot and came on his final plate appearance of the contest in the sixth inning. Expect the A's to give him at least a few more rehab games and a chance to play first base with Vegas before they activate him from the injured list to close out the 2024 season in the big leagues in the last few weeks of the year. The 22-year-old hasn't played with the A's since July 9 due to a wrist injury, but the left-handed slugger should see regular playing time once he's back in Oakland. Soderstrom has improved slightly from his 45-game debut in 2023, batting .219 (32-for-146) this year with seven home runs and 20 RBI in 49 games played.

The Philadelphia Phillies placed third baseman Alec Bohm (hand) on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to Sept. 3) with a left-hand strain on Friday and recalled infielder Buddy Kennedy from Triple-A Lehigh Valley in a corresponding move. Bohm injured his left hand on a swing late last week and hasn't played since, but the Phillies were initially hoping he'd avoid a stint on the IL and could return to action this weekend in Miami. The 28-year-old All-Star has missed the last six games and will now miss more time. He will be eligible to rejoin the Phillies on Sept. 13. With Bohm sidelined, expect some kind of platoon at third with Edmundo Sosa and Kody Clemens. The Phillies will surely miss Bohm's bat for however long he's out, as he has slashed .290/.343/.462 with an .804 OPS, 13 home runs, 89 RBI and five stolen bases in his 507 at-bats in 2024. Keep him stashed in an IL spot.

The Pittsburgh Pirates reinstated catcher Joey Bart (hamstring) from the 10-day injured list on Friday and designated outfielder Billy McKinney for assignment in a corresponding move. The Pirates have yet to release their starting lineup for Friday's contest at PNC Park against the visiting Washington Nationals and rookie left-hander DJ Herz, but Bart is likely to be in it, either behind the plate or at designated hitter. The 27-year-old former San Francisco Giants catcher returns quickly from a mild left-hamstring strain and should split playing time behind the dish in Pittsburgh the rest of the way with veteran Yasmani Grandal. Bart has been much more valuable in fantasy than Grandal and has enjoyed a change of scenery in the Steel City, hitting .272 (53-for-195) with a career-high 12 home runs and 39 RBI in 63 games since joining the Bucs.