MLB Player News

Jax was optioned to Triple-A St. Paul on Wednesday, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.

Jax spent a week and a half in the major-league bullpen as a long reliever, and he posted an 8.64 ERA and 1.68 WHIP in 8.1 innings across three relief appearances. He'll now return to the minors after Caleb Thielbar (groin) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list.

Thielbar (groin) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list Wednesday, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.

Thielbar had been on the injured list since June 3 due to a left groin strain, but he'll return after an absence of just under two weeks. The southpaw posted a 4.29 ERA and 1.48 WHIP with five holds in 21 innings across 20 relief appearances earlier in the year, and he'll likely reclaim his setup role going forward.

Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo said Edwards (abdomen) is "for sure out" and will be placed on the 10-day injured list prior to Wednesday's game against the Yankees, Mitch Bannon of SI.com reports.

Toronto will officially place Edwards on the IL and announce a corresponding call-up shortly before Wednesday's 7:07 p.m. ET opening pitch. Montoyo indicated that Edwards will undergo an MRI after he exited Tuesday's game with left abdominal discomfort, so Toronto may not have a clear timeline for his return from the IL until the results of his tests are available.

The Rangers optioned Yang to Triple-A Round Rock on Wednesday.

Texas dropped Yang from the bullpen and the 26-man active roster to clear room for closer Ian Kennedy (hamstring), who was reinstated from the 10-day injured list in a corresponding move. Since shifting from the rotation to a relief role earlier this month, Yang made only one appearance and gave up two earned runs over 1.1 innings. Texas will likely have Yang get stretched back out for starting duty at Triple-A.

The Rays placed McHugh on the COVID-19-related injured list Wednesday, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

McHugh will face an uncertain timeline to return from the IL; his absence could last just one or two days if he's merely experience side effects of a vaccine shot, or he could be sidelined for more than a week if he's tested positive for the virus. The Rays recalled Chris Mazza from Triple-A Durham to provide a fresh arm out of the bullpen while McHugh is deactivated. After a rough April, McHugh has been one of the Rays' top relievers over the past month and a half, submitting a 0.50 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 31:6 K:BB in 18 innings over his last 11 appearances.

Pressly (3-1) picked up the win in Tuesday's 6-3 extra-inning victory over the Rangers, giving up one hit and one unearned run in the 10th inning. He struck out two.

The Houston closer did allow Texas' designated runner to score, but his team rallied for four runs of their own in the bottom of the frame. Pressly has only been tagged for earned runs once in his last 13 appearances, and on the season he boasts a tidy 2.00 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 29:5 K:BB through 27 innings with 10 saves in 11 chances.

Soto struck out one in a perfect ninth inning Tuesday to record his sixth save of the season in a 4-3 win over the Royals.

It's his first save since May 26, with Jose Cisnero notching both of Detroit's other saves during that stretch. With Michael Fulmer also back in action, it's hard to predict who manager A.J. Hinch might turn to in the ninth inning in any given game, but Soto is at least locked into a high-leverage role, having posted a 0.77 ERA, 0.77 WHIP and 13:5 K:BB over his last 11.2 innings.

Chapman had a strikeout and didn't allow a baserunner during the ninth inning to record the save in Tuesday's victory versus the Blue Jays.

Chapman surrendered five runs (four earned) on five hits while recording only one out in his past two appearances, though he rebounded Tuesday with a perfect frame. The veteran southpaw has otherwise been fantastic in 2021 with a 1.85 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 44:11 K:BB while going 13-for-15 in save chances.

Sborz allowed one run on one hit and struck out two over one inning in Tuesday's 6-3 extra-inning loss to the Astros.

With closer Ian Kennedy (hamstring) on the shelf, manager Chris Woodward turned to Sborz for the save. After dispatching Yordan Alvarez (strikeout) and Yuli Gurriel (pop up), Sborz caught too much of the zone with a slider that Carlos Correa made him pay for with a game-tying home run that sent the game into extras. An inning later, Demarcus Evans served up a grand slam to Jose Altuve. Sborz and Evans are expected to share the late-inning chores while Kennedy is on the injured list.

Maton allowed two hits and struck out three during a scoreless inning in Tuesday's 7-2 win over Baltimore.

Maton has posted an odd stat line over the last month or so, as he's given up 12 runs on 17 hits in his last 13.2 innings despite notching an excellent 23:4 K:BB in that span. With a 6.20 ERA on the year, he's not likely to find his way into a higher-leverage role anytime soon, but Maton's 3.57 FIP and 2.94 xFIP do offer some hope for a turnaround.