MLB Player News

Speier (illness) will begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Northwest Arkansas on Tuesday.

Speier has spent the past two weeks on the COVID-19 injured list. Given the relatively brief length of his absence, he may only need one or two rehab appearances before he's cleared to return.

Hendriks (forearm) has been given a preliminary timeline of three weeks, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Hendriks hasn't pitched since Friday, but while his placement on the injured list can be backdated, he'll need a bit more than a minimum-length absence as he recovers from a forearm strain. The given timeline would see him return sometime in the early part of July. Kendall Graveman appears to be the best choice to replace him in the ninth inning, though he's pitched in two straight games, so any save chance Tuesday would likely to go Joe Kelly instead.

Neris will begin serving a three-game suspension starting with Tuesday's contest against the Rangers after the ban was reduced from four games following an appeal, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

The reliever's suspension stems from MLB having deemed that he intentionally threw at the Mariners' Eugenio Suarez during the Astros' 7-4 loss to Seattle on June 7. Neris will miss the final two games of the Astros' series in Texas along with Friday's series opener against the White Sox before he's eligible to return Saturday.

Merryweather was placed on the 15-day injured list Tuesday with a left abdominal strain.

He exited Monday's game with the injury. Merryweather has a 6.38 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 17 strikeouts in 18.1 innings. Jeremy Beasley was recalled from Triple-A to take his place in the bullpen.

The White Sox optioned Sousa to Triple-A Charlotte on Tuesday.

With holds in both of his last two appearances, Sousa appeared to be gaining traction in the late innings for Chicago, but he'll end up being swapped out of the bullpen for Joe Kelly (hamstring), who returns from a stint on the 15-day injured list. Through his 25 appearances with the White Sox this season, Sousa has largely been unreliable, as he's turned in an 8.41 ERA and 1.72 WHIP across 20.1 innings.

Graveman could be in line for work in the ninth inning with Liam Hendriks (forearm strain) out indefinitely.

The injury to Hendriks is one that could sideline him for weeks or months, so it's unclear how long the closer role will be up for grabs, but Graveman seems like the best bet to get save opportunities in the interim. He saved 10 games in 2021 and has two saves this year to go along with a 2.51 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 27:10 K:BB in 28.2 innings.

Kelly (hamstring) was activated from the 15-day injured list ahead of Tuesday's game against the Tigers.

He probably wouldn't be the first option, but with Liam Hendriks (forearm strain) out indefinitely, there could be saves available in the Chicago bullpen. Kendall Graveman seems like the most likely option to get the first chance to fill in for Hendriks. Kelly had a rough start to the season but logged four scoreless appearances prior to landing on the shelf.

The White Sox placed Hendriks on the 15-day injured list Tuesday with a right forearm strain.

Hendriks hadn't made an appearance since Friday before manager Tony La Russa revealed Monday that the closer was battling arm stiffness. The right-hander was scheduled to play catch Monday, but after he apparently didn't respond well to the workout, the White Sox sent him in for an MRI that confirmed the forearm strain. Given the nature of his injury, Hendriks seems likely to miss more than the minimum 15 days, but the White Sox have yet to provide a precise timeline for his recovery. Kendall Graveman is likely first in line to pick up saves while Hendriks is on the shelf.

Vizcaino allowed two runs on a hit and two walks in one inning during Monday's loss to the Giants.

This was the first time Vizcaino's allowed multiple runs in his seven outings this year. He hasn't shown much in the way of command since joining the Royals on May 30 -- he's posted an ugly 3:7 K:BB across 5.2 innings. The 31-year-old reliever has added a 6.35 ERA, 1.94 WHIP and two holds, and there's little to suggest he'll maintain a spot in the big-league bullpen once the Royals get some relievers back from the injured list.

Chapman (Achilles) is expected to throw from a bullpen mound Tuesday, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

Chapman pitched from a bullpen mound Saturday and is slated to do so again Tuesday. He is reportedly pain-free and hopeful that he can return to the Yankees without a minor-league rehab assignment. It's unclear how the club will deploy him after his activation given the dominance of current closer Clay Holmes (nine saves, 0.31 ERA, 29:3 K:BB) this season.