MLB Player News

Castro (3-2) allowed four runs on two hits and two walks Sunday. He recorded two outs (one strikeout) while blowing a save chance and taking the loss against Atlanta.

Castro entered the ninth inning with a one-run lead and coughed up a go-ahead grand slam. He was riding a 10.1-inning scoreless streak since May 7 when he gave up a homer and blew a save against Washington. The 28-year-old's ERA spiked to 3.46 with a 23:10 K:BB through 26 frames.

Alvarado (elbow) is expected to continue his minor-league rehab assignment Tuesday with Double-A Reading before potentially being activated from the 15-day injured list, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

The veteran left-hander made his first rehab outing Saturday with Triple-A Lehigh Valley and fired a scoreless inning. Alvarado will require at least one more appearance in the minors, and if all goes well Tuesday he could be back with the Phillies by the end of the week.

Bednar picked up the save in Sunday's 2-1 victory over St. Louis, tossing a scoreless ninth in which he allowed one hit and zero walks while striking out one.

Bednar locked down the ninth inning for a second consecutive night and is now 13-for-14 in save opportunities this season. He's given up runs in just two of his 24 appearances and sports a 1.13 ERA, 0.75 WHIP and 30:1 K:BB across 24 innings. The right-hander is just six saves away from tying his career-best mark, which he set last year during his first full season as a closer.

San Francisco recalled Beck from Triple-A Sacramento on Sunday, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.

Beck will rejoin the Giants as a replacement on the active roster for lefty Alex Wood, who was placed on the 15-day injured list with a back strain. The Giants haven't named formal replacements in the rotation for Wood or Ross Stripling (back), but Sean Manaea should be the top candidate to fill one of those starting roles, while Jakob Junis or Beck look like the top contenders for the other spot. Beck pitched well over three extended relief appearances with San Francisco prior to being sent down to Triple-A and pitched an inning for Sacramento on Saturday before being recalled.

The Brewers optioned Cousins to Triple-A Nashville on Sunday.

Cousins will cede his spot in the Milwaukee bullpen to lefty Bennett Sousa, who was recalled from Nashville in a corresponding move. The right-hander was sent back to the minors after he failed to record an out while allowing two earned runs on two hits and a walk in his relief appearance in Saturday's 10-8 win over the Reds.

The Brewers recalled Sousa from Triple-A Nashville on Sunday.

Milwaukee sent right-hander Jake Cousins to Nashville to open up a spot on the 26-man active roster and in the bullpen for Sousa, who rejoins the big club for the first time since early May. Since being demoted to Nashville, Sousa has pitched to a 3.12 ERA and 1.50 WHIP over 8.2 innings across eight appearances.

Kimbrel picked up the save during Saturday's win over the Nationals, tossing a perfect inning in which he struck out one.

Kimbrel retired the Nationals in order to secure his eighth save. Despite a robust 5.32 ERA, the veteran right-hander has yet to blow a save chance this season and sports an elite 33:11 K:BB over 24 appearances (22 innings). The 35-year-old continues to operate as Philadelphia's top closer, but he figures to share closing responsibilities when Jose Alvarado (elbow) returns from the injured list.

Strahm did not factor into the decision during Saturday's win over the Phillies, tossing two scoreless innings in which he didn't allow a hit or walk and struck out one.

Strahm operated as the opener behind Dylan Covey, and the former outperformed the latter. In his first season with Philadelphia, Strahm has made 16 appearances (eight starts) and sports a 3.05 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 53:11 K:BB across 41.1 innings. The left-hander has been elite since moving to the bullpen full time, allowing just four runs over his last nine games (14.2 innings) while boasting a 16:3 K:BB. He may continue handling the opener role, but Strahm shouldn't be considered a starter anymore, as he hasn't completed more than two innings since May 2.

The Pirates optioned De Los Santos to Triple-A Indianapolis on Sunday.

De Los Santos will return to the minors following a one-day stint with the big club. He was deployed in relief in Saturday's 4-3 win over St. Louis, retiring two of the three batters he faced on the day. The Pirates selected the contract of right-hander Chase De Jong from Triple-A in a corresponding move.

Williams picked up the save during Saturday's 10-8 win over Cincinnati, tossing a scoreless inning in which he allowed zero hits and two walks while striking out three.

Jake Cousins started the ninth with a four-run lead but allowed the first three batters to reach and failed to record an out, so Williams came on to finish the job. The closer's command was a bit shaky, but he still shut the door on Cincinnati's comeback by striking out the side. Williams is a perfect 10-for-10 in save opportunities this year and sports a 0.46 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and 26:9 K:BB across 19 appearances (19.2 innings).