MLB Player News

Tarnok (shoulder) will throw a bullpen session Monday before reporting to Triple-A Las Vegas on Thursday for his second rehab start, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

Tarnok will jump from the Arizona Complex League to the Pacific Coast League for his upcoming rehab outing after he struck out two while holding the Cubs' rookie-level squad scoreless over two innings in his 2023 debut Friday. Because he's been on the mend from a right shoulder strain since early March, Tarnok will likely require multiple starts at Las Vegas to get fully stretched out for starting duty. Once he's activated from the 60-day injured list, the Athletics may choose to keep Tarnok at Las Vegas if a spot in the big-league rotation isn't available.

General manager Rick Hahn said that Hendricks (elbow), whom the White Sox placed on the 15-day injured list Sunday, will undergo further evaluation before the team provides an update on his status Tuesday, Rob Schaefer of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

The White Sox attributed Hendriks' placement on the IL to right elbow inflammation, but Hahn suggested that the closer is dealing with symptoms similar to the flexor strain that cost him approximately three weeks of action during the 2022 season. Hendriks' upcoming tests should help the White Sox pinpoint a more precise diagnosis, which will provide a clearer timeline for his recovery. Given Hendriks' recent history with forearm/elbow issues, fantasy managers should probably expect him to miss beyond the minimum 15 days, potentially opening the door for Kendall Graveman or Joe Kelly to see some save opportunities.

The Angels optioned Reyes to Triple-A Salt Lake prior to Sunday's 9-4 win over the Mariners.

Reyes' stay with the big club lasted just one day after he was called up from Salt Lake and went on to give up an earned run over his lone inning of work out of the bullpen in Saturday's 6-2 loss before being sent back to the minors. The Angels recalled Jimmy Herget from Triple-A to take Reyes' spot in the bullpen.

Murfee exited Sunday's game against the Angels in the bottom of the seventh inning with an apparent arm injury, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.

Murfee allowed no hits and a walk while striking out one in a scoreless sixth inning before being removed in the bottom of the seventh. He appeared to be shaking his right arm as the trainer came out to meet him, which is somewhat concerning since the 29-year-old was just activated from the 15-day injured list Friday after missing a month with right elbow inflammation. However, the exact nature and severity of his current injury aren't yet clear.

Romano picked up the save in Sunday's 7-6 win over Minnesota, allowing zero hits and one walk while striking out one over a scoreless inning.

Romano allowed the game-tying run to reach base by walking Donovan Solano to start the ninth, but he retired the next three batters, including a strikeout of Trevor Larnach to end the game. The right-hander has allowed just one earned run over his past seven appearances, which all ended in a save, and has eight strikeouts during that stretch. He's currently second in MLB with 18 saves behind Emmanuel Clase (20).

Astros general manager Dana Brown said Sunday that Blanco will be available out of the bullpen as a long reliever moving forward with Houston transitioning back to a five-man rotation, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

The Astros are completing a string of 17 games in 17 days Sunday, and Blanco had been called up from Triple-A Sugar Land early in that stretch to help give Houston's other five starting pitchers an extra day of rest amid the busy schedule. Though Blanco acquitted himself well in his first two big-league starts -- he turned in a 3.18 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 10:7 K:BB in 11.1 innings -- his results weren't spectacular enough to supplant either J.P. France or Brandon Bielak as a back-end option in the rotation.

Angels manager Phil Nevin said Saturday that an MRI on Joyce's right elbow revealed no ligament damage, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.

Joyce was placed on the 15-day IL earlier Saturday with what the Angels labeled as right ulnar neuritis, and that initial diagnosis looks as though it'll hold after the MRI turned up nothing concerning. The power right-hander had pitched to a 4.50 ERA, 2.25 WHIP and 5:4 K:BB in four innings over his first five appearances out of the Los Angeles bullpen prior to suffering the injury.

Moore (oblique) said he played catch from 60 feet Sunday, Sarah Valenzuela of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Moore is gradually increasing his throwing distance off flat ground while he's in the early stages of a throwing program following a roughly two-week shutdown due to a right oblique strain. The veteran southpaw will need to advance to throwing off a mound and then facing hitters in live batting practice before the Angels map out a rehab assignment for him.

The Angels recalled Herget from Triple-A Salt Lake on Sunday, Sarah Valenzuela of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Herget has made the trip from Salt Lake to Anaheim a few times already this season and owns a 4.38 ERA and 1.46 WHIP in 12.1 innings with the big club. He'll likely work mostly in low-leverage spots out of the bullpen while he's up with the Angels.

Snead (shoulder) fired 1.2 scoreless innings for the Athletics' Arizona Complex League team Saturday against the AZL Reds, allowing no hits and one walk while recording a strikeout.

The left-hander redeemed himself after surrendering three runs over two-thirds of an inning during his first rehab appearance Tuesday. Snead may be set to move up affiliates following Saturday's encouraging outing, but he still looks to be trending toward a late-June regular-season debut at the earliest.