MLB Player News

Perez (4-0) allowed a hit and struck out one over 1.1 scoreless innings, earning the win Wednesday over the Mariners.

Starter Kyle Bradish couldn't complete five innings, so Perez entered the game and got credit for the win. The 26-year-old reliever has earned all four of his wins and two of his four holds in his last 10 outings, and he hasn't allowed any runs in his last seven games. Overall, the southpaw has a 0.55 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 17:7 K:BB across 16.1 innings.

Pilkington (1-0) earned the win Wednesday over the Royals, allowing five hits and two walks with eight strikeouts in five shutout innings.

Pilkington hadn't shown much through his first two starts with the Guardians, but he turned in a good outing Wednesday. All of the Royals' hits in the contest were singles. Pilkington now has a 2.65 ERA with a 1.59 WHIP and 23:10 K:BB across 17 innings this season. While the walks are a little concerning, he's likely done enough to warrant staying in the rotation for another turn with Aaron Civale (glute) set to undergo a non-surgical procedure. Pilkington lines up for his next start versus the Rangers next week.

Strahm (illness) was activated from the COVID-19 injured list Wednesday.

The 30-year-old landed on the shelf Monday, but his placement on the COVID-19 IL was simply a precaution, allowing him to quickly rejoin the active roster. Strahm is coming off his worst outing of the season, and he was charged with a blown save and a loss Friday after giving up four runs (three earned) over one-third of an inning. That performance doubled the number of runs he's allowed this season, as he's otherwise been a reliable bullpen piece with a 1.88 ERA and 0.70 WHIP to go along with four holds and one save. Matt Barnes (shoulder) and Hansel Robles (back) have both landed on the injured list within the last week, which could put Strahm in a position to receive more save opportunities.

Barnes was placed on the 15-day injured list Wednesday with right shoulder inflammation, retroactive to May 31.

Barnes surrendered three runs over one inning during Monday's loss to Baltimore, and he'll now be sidelined for at least the next couple weeks with the shoulder issue. The right-hander had a 7.94 ERA, 1.71 WHIP and 14:12 K:BB across 17 innings this season, as he struggles from the second half of last year have carried over into 2022. The Red Sox figure to utilize a minor-league rehab assignment once Barnes is nearing his return in order to get him some re-acclimation time before being activated.

Mayza (forearm) is scheduled to throw a second bullpen session Friday, Kaitlyn McGrath of The Athletic reports.

For the first time since he was shelved May 16 with left forearm inflammation, Mayza stepped back on the mound Tuesday. He relayed that he felt good following that side session, but the Blue Jays want Mayza to get in another bullpen workout before deciding on the next steps in his throwing program. If all goes well during Friday's bullpen session, Mayza could be sent out on a rehab assignment, though manager Charlie Montoyo has acknowledged that the lefty reliever may not require one.

The Angels optioned Rosenberg to Triple-A Salt Lake on Wednesday.

Rosenberg's demotion doesn't come as a major surprise after he was pressed into long-relief duty behind Noah Syndergaard in Tuesday's 9-1 loss to the Yankees. After Syndergaard exited midway through the third inning, Rosenberg proceeded to work five innings, giving up four earned runs on five hits and two walks along the way. The Angels called up Andrew Wantz from Triple-A to join the bullpen as a replacement for Rosenberg, who wasn't going to be available for a few days following the 99-pitch outing.

The Angels recalled Wantz from Triple-A Salt Lake on Wednesday.

Anaheim swapped Wantz into its bullpen for Kenny Rosenberg, who was optioned to Triple-A since he wasn't going to be available for at least the next four days after covering five innings and tossing 99 pitches in long relief during Tuesday's loss to the Yankees. Like Rosenberg before him, Wantz is expected to handle lower-leverage work out of the bullpen.

The Orioles optioned Lowther to Triple-A Norfolk on Wednesday.

Lowther will return to the minors one day after he served as the primary pitcher out of the bullpen in Baltimore's 10-0 loss to Seattle. Since he was unlikely to be available for at least a few days after covering 5.1 innings (and giving up six runs) in relief, the Orioles opted to swap Lowther off the active roster for a fresh bullpen arm in Denyi Reyes, who was called up from Norfolk in a corresponding move. Lowther should slot back into the rotation once he rejoins the Triple-A club.

Reyes was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk on Wednesday.

Reyes was sent to the minors last Thursday, but he'll rejoin Baltimore's bullpen after spending just under a week in the minors. The right-hander has posted a 1.59 ERA and 0.88 WHIP in 5.2 innings over two appearances (one start) in the majors. While he's capable of serving as a starter, he should take on a multi-inning relief role after Zac Lowther was sent down Wednesday.

High-A Bowling Green placed Johnson on the 7-day injured list Wednesday with right forearm inflammation, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

The Rays will send Johnson in for further imaging to determine the extent of the forearm injury, but initial X-rays apparently revealed no structural damage to his pitching arm. The 23-year-old has made seven starts for Bowling Green this season, logging a 3.00 ERA while striking out 41 over 27 innings.