MLB Player News

Giles (elbow) said he's good to go for Wednesday's game against the Red Sox, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.

As expected, Giles will be available out of the bullpen Wednesday after experiencing no issues during a 20-pitch bullpen session Tuesday. Manager Charlie Montoyo said he's open to using Giles on back-to-back days, as long as the closer feels good about it. Through 31 appearances this season, Giles owns a stellar 1.45 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 53:9 K:BB to go along with 13 saves.

Heller (elbow) has been pulled off his rehab assignment with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Coley Harvey of ESPN.com reports.

Heller has apparently been feeling something in his elbow/forearm, so the right-hander is headed back to New York to undergo further evaluation. The 27-year-old was nearing a return from 2018 Tommy John surgery before suffering the setback.

Shafer (1-1) picked up the win in Tuesday's victory over the Red Sox, giving up a hit and a walk in a scoreless inning of relief while striking out one.

The Jays took the lead for good in the top of the sixth inning, making the rookie right-hander the pitcher of record after he replaced Jacob Waguespack to close out the fifth. Shafer's 2.13 ERA through 12.2 innings looks pretty, but his 12:9 K:BB isn't making a strong case for higher-leverage work.

Swanson will work as the opener Wednesday against the A's.

Tommy Milone will pitch the bulk of the innings for Seattle in this contest, per Greg Johns of MLB.com. After failing as a big-league starter earlier in the season, Swanson has pitched three or fewer innings in each of his last nine appearances at Triple-A, but he has not had much success in that role either (6.98 ERA, 1.76 WHIP, 20 strikeouts in 19.1 innings).

Covey, who is scheduled to start Thursday, pitched an inning of relief in Tuesday's 11-0 loss to the Royals. He allowed one run on three hits.

Covey was torched in his last start, failing to get out of the first inning after giving up six runs to the Athletics, so the arm is fresh. The decision to use him Tuesday will not preclude him from making Thursday's start, per Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times.

Mengden (5-1) earned the win against the Mariners on Tuesday, pitching seven innings and allowing one run on four hits and no walks while striking out three.

In typical Mengden fashion, he did not blow many batters away -- in addition to notching only three whiffs, he induced a mere four swinging strikes -- but was nonetheless effective, limiting Seattle to four baserunners. The lone blemish against him on the scoreboard was a second-inning home run off the bat of Omar Narvaez, only the fifth homer Mengden has served up in 47 innings. After losing his first start of the season, the 26-year-old has now won his last five decisions to run his record to 5-1. He'll carry a 4.21 ERA and 1.30 WHIP into his next scheduled start in Minnesota on Sunday.

Beeks allowed one run on two hits and one walk over 3.1 innings during Tuesday's 8-3 loss to the Yankees. He struck out five and did not factor in the decision.

Beeks kept the Yankees scoreless through his first three innings as the bulk reliever, but he was pulled during the sixth after allowing a solo homer and a single with one out. The 26-year-old has a 2.78 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 56:23 K:BB over 64.2 innings this season and lines up to pitch Sunday versus the White Sox, likely behind an opener.

Manaea (shoulder) is scheduled for another rehab start Thursday with High-A Stockton, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Manaea has made two starts with Stockton thus far and threw 43 and 53 pitches in those outings. The 27-year-old will have a pitch count around 65 on Thursday and is then expected to move his rehab assignment to Triple-A Las Vegas for two or three additional appearances.

Giles (elbow) won't be available to throw Tuesday against the Red Sox, but he will be ready to pitch Wednesday, Hazel Mae of Sportsnet reports.

Giles felt great following Tuesday's 20-pitch bullpen session, though the Blue Jays will hold him out of one more contest before allowing him to pitch in a game. He's posted a stellar 1.45 ERA and 1.00 WHIP with 53 punchouts over 31 innings this season.

Giles (elbow) threw a 20-pitch bullpen session Tuesday and "felt great," Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports. He may be available to pitch Tuesday night against the Red Sox.

Giles has been held out so far in the second half due to nerve inflammation in his elbow, but he appears to be ready to return after Tuesday's side session went off without a hitch. The Blue Jays have yet to confirm Giles' availability, however.