MLB Player News

Pearson (lat) recently resumed a throwing program at the Blue Jays' spring training complex in Florida and is "somewhat close" to throwing bullpen sessions, Scott Mitchell of TSN.ca reports.

Pearson had been shut down for the past three weeks before he starting throwing again after he demonstrated enough healing from his strained right lat. Because Pearson has been on the injured list all season due to a prolonged bout with mononucleosis before suffering the lat strain in late June, the Blue Jays may not be inclined to have him build up for starting duty. If he ends up returning from the 60-day IL as a reliever, Pearson would still likely need a few weeks to complete his throwing progression and a minor-league rehab assignment prior to being activated.

The Orioles optioned Garcia to Triple-A Norfolk on Monday.

Garcia covered two innings and threw 41 pitches in Sunday's 6-0 loss to the Yankees, so he was unlikely to be available out of the bullpen for the next day or two. The Orioles opted to swap Garcia off the 26-man active roster for a fresh relief arm in lefty Nick Vespi, who was called up from Norfolk in a corresponding move.

Vespi was called up from Triple-A Norfolk on Monday, Nathan Ruiz of The Baltimore Sun reports.

Vespi will return to the big leagues after being sent down July 6. The left-hander owns a 5.40 ERA and 1.27 WHIP with 13 strikeouts over 13.1 innings in 12 appearances with the Orioles this season. Rico Garcia was optioned to Triple-A in a corresponding move.

Mayza (4-0) earned the win against the Red Sox on Sunday, allowing no runs on no hits while striking out none and walking none over two-thirds of an inning.

Despite only being in the game for two-thirds of an inning and throwing just seven pitches (four for strikes), Mayza was granted the win. This comes after picking up a win in his last appearance on July 17. Mayza has been used several times to close out games, but has blown each of his three save chances, so it appears he will continue to be used in lower leverage situations.

Winckowski (illness) is likely to return from the COVID-19-related injured list to start Tuesday's home game against the Guardians, Christopher Smith of The Springfield Republican reports.

Per MLB.com, manager Alex Cora said Saturday that Winckowski hadn't yet cleared the league's COVID-19 testing protocol, but the Red Sox are apparently banking on that happening by Tuesday, when the team will require a fifth starter for the first time since the All-Star break. Boston's willingness to use Winckowski coming off the IL stint without first sending him out on a rehab assignment suggests that any symptoms of the virus he's experienced aren't overly severe, but the rookie right-hander could be on a restricted pitch count Tuesday nonetheless. Winckowski tentatively lines up for a two-start week, with his second turn scheduled to come Sunday against the Brewers in Boston.

Oller is scheduled to start Monday's home game against the Astros.

Oakland inserted Oller into the rotation for its final game before the All-Star break July 17 in Houston, with the rookie allowing three earned runs across 4.1 innings in a no-decision. The right-hander enters Monday's contest with an 8.56 ERA and 1.98 WHIP across 27.1 innings on the season, so he may need a respectable showing in his rematch with the Astros to ensure he picks up additional turns in the rotation. Oakland has fellow pitching prospects Adrian Martinez, Jared Koenig and Zach Logue waiting in the wings at Triple-A Las Vegas as potential replacements in the rotation if Oller can't get the job done.

Clarke struck out one batter in a perfect inning and picked up a save against the Rays on Sunday.

Clarke tossed eight of 13 pitches for strikes and retired the Rays in order to finish off the 4-2 victory. He'd blown three straight save opportunities since his last successful conversion April 28. The 29-year-old lowered his ERA to 3.83 with a 38:6 K:BB through 40 appearances. Scott Barlow was likely unavailable Sunday after he tossed two innings during Saturday's victory.

Pressly pitched a perfect inning to earn the save in Sunday's 8-5 win over the Mariners.

Pressly was on the paternity list for the last three days to be with his family after the birth of his daughter. He immediately retook the closer role and locked down his 20th save of the season with a drama-free outing Sunday. Even more impressively, Pressly has now pitched 10 consecutive innings without allowing a baserunner, and he's struck out 17 while picking up six saves and two wins in that span. The closer's dominant run has shrunk his ERA to 2.79 with a 0.90 WHIP and 32:8 K:BB across 29 innings this year.

Mushinski was optioned to Triple-A Sugar Land on Sunday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

The 26-year-old was reinstated from the 15-day injured list Thursday after missing time with an elbow injury, and he'll head to the minors with Ryan Pressly returning from the paternity list. Mushinski delivered a scoreless inning Saturday and has given up three earned runs with an 8:3 K:BB across 7.1 innings for Houston this year.

Pressly (personal) was activated from the paternity list Sunday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

The 33-year-old moved to the paternity list Thursday but will rejoin the Astros after spending a few days with family following the birth of his daughter. Rafael Montero, Hector Neris and Bryan Abreu each picked up a save in Seattle, but Pressly is back to reclaim the closer role ahead of Sunday's series finale.