MLB Player News

Pressly (3-2) threw two scoreless innings and struck out three to earn the win in Thursday's extra-inning victory over the Angels.

Pressly kept the game tied at 2-2 in the ninth inning and then protected a one-run lead in the 10th. A passed ball in the extra frame put the tying run 90 feet from scoring, but Pressly was able to get the job done. He's thrown eight innings without permitting a baserunner (outside of extra-inning ghost runners) in his last seven appearances. The Astros' closer trimmed his ERA to 3.00 with a 0.96 WHIP and 29:8 K:BB across 27 innings this year. He's 19-for-22 in save chances and continues to have a strong grip on ninth-inning duties.

Hearn will be called up from Triple-A Round Rock to serve as the Rangers' bulk-relief pitcher Friday against the Mariners, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Hearn joined the Rangers taxi squad Thursday and will likely be able to handle a heavy workload after completing five innings in each of his last two starts with Round Rock. Hearn has struggled to a 5.86 ERA, 1.67 WHIP and 55:30 K:BB across 63 innings with the Rangers this season. Matt Bush will serve as the opener ahead of Hearn.

Barlow earned the save Thursday in Toronto, striking out one and allowing a hit in the ninth inning of a 3-1 victory. He also didn't walk a batter.

After giving up a single to begin the ninth, Barlow recorded a strikeout and got Cavan Biggio to ground into a game-ending double play. The righty is now 16-for-18 in save opportunities and has converted his last eight chances. Over his last 12 appearances, the 29-year-old has a 1.55 ERA, 0.77 WHIP and 14:2 K:BB in 11.2 innings.

Zerpa (2-0) earned the win Thursday in Toronto, striking out two in five innings while allowing a run on four hits and two walks.

Zerpa pitched two innings Monday as the 27th man for the Royals' doubleheader and was recalled to start Thursday. With the short turnaround, it was a bit of a surprise that the lefty tossed five innings, but he managed to pitch long enough to pick up his second MLB victory. He held Toronto scoreless until Matt Chapman led off the fifth with a solo blast. The lefty stayed in the game and finished off the frame by retiring George Springer and Vladimir Guerrero. The 22-year-old will likely be back in the minors for his next appearance. Whether that's a return to Double-A Northwest Arkansas or his season debut for Triple-A Omaha remains to be seen.

Cisnero (shoulder) is expected to be activated from the 60-day injured list Friday, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.

The Tigers optioned Thursday's starter Elvin Rodriguez to Triple-A Toledo following the game, and the team will also make a move to clear a spot on the 40-man roster so Cisnero can rejoin the bullpen. The righty has yet to appear in a game this season after suffering a right shoulder strain in early April. He posted a 3.65 ERA and 1.33 WHIP across 67 games in 2021, while also recording four saves.

Patino (oblique) will start Friday's game against the Orioles, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Patino landed on the 60-day injured list in mid-April and more recently dealt with a blister. However, he'll be set to rejoin the rotation Friday, stepping in as a replacement for the injured Shane Baz (elbow). Though Patino covered 78 pitches in his most recent rehab outing with Triple-A Durham, it came back on July 2, as the blister issue had kept him out of action for the past two weeks. As a result, the Rays may not count him to work much longer than four or five innings in his return from the IL.

Hearn was added to the Rangers' taxi squad Thursday and will likely start Friday's game against the Mariners, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

Hearn was scratched from his scheduled start at Triple-A Round Rock on Thursday to join the taxi squad, so he'll be fully rested if he ultimately gets the starting nod for Friday's matchup. Although the team expected him to work as a long reliever in the minors, he made two starts and posted a 4.50 ERA, 16:5 K:BB and 1.10 WHIP in 10 innings. The southpaw has a 5.86 ERA and 1.67 WHIP in 63 innings over 14 appearances (13 starts) with the Rangers this year.

Weber had his contract selected by the Yankees on Thursday.

Weber was removed from New York's 40-man roster in early July but will now receive another chance with the big-league club. The veteran right-hander has appeared in two games this season, and he allowed one earned run on two hits with one strikeout and zero walks over 4.2 innings.

Patino (oblique) will likely be reinstated from the 60-day injured list to start Friday's game against the Orioles, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Patino made six rehab starts in June and early July but faced a setback early this month due to a blister. However, he's faced hitters again recently and should return to game action with the major-league club Friday. He'll be facing a tough opponent in the Orioles, who have won 10 consecutive games, and manager Kevin Cash said that the right-hander won't be fully stretched out in his first start back from the IL.

Loaisiga (shoulder) was activated from the 15-day injured list Thursday, Max Goodman of SI.com reports.

Loaisiga has been sidelined by shoulder inflammation since late May, but he'll rejoin the Yankees just ahead of the All-Star break after a two-game rehab stint in the minors. The 27-year-old has struggled to a 7.02 ERA, 1.56 WHIP and 18:10 K:BB across 16.2 innings this year, so he may need to prove he's back in good form before the team returns him to the high-leverage role he filled last season.