MLB Player News

The Cubs selected Kay's contract from Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Kay was showing a 4.50 ERA and 32:15 K:BB through 28 innings this season at the Triple-A level. The 28-year-old left-hander is presumably going to work in a low-leverage relief role for Chicago.

Estrada was optioned Tuesday to Triple-A Iowa, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Estrada had allowed eight earned runs over his last five appearances (2.2 innings) out of the Cubs' bullpen. Anthony Kay is getting the call to fill his roster spot.

Boxberger (forearm) threw live batting practice Monday, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Boxberger is currently working out at the Cubs' spring training complex in Arizona and could soon be cleared to embark on a minor-league rehab assignment. The reliever has been sidelined since mid-May due to a right forearm strain.

Hughes was placed on the 15-day injured list Tuesday, retroactive to June 12, with left knee inflammation, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

This is already the third IL stint of the year for Hughes, and they have all been related to left knee issues. He's struggled to a 7.24 ERA in 17 appearances for the Cubs when healthy.

Helsley (forearm) underwent a second round of imaging scans Tuesday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Jones notes that "concern is minimal" for Helsley's right forearm, but the Cardinals want to check all of the boxes with their hard-throwing closer to be sure there's nothing structurally wrong. He was placed on the 15-day injured list Monday and is in the midst of a 10-day shutdown period that will extend into next week. Giovanny Gallegos is expected to function as the primary closer in St. Louis while Helsley is sidelined.

Covey dropped to 1-2 after giving up two runs on two hits and one walk while striking out two in 1.1 innings of relief in Monday's 9-8 loss to the Diamondbacks.

With Matt Strahm working as the Phillies' opening pitcher on the night, Covey looked like a candidate to serve as a bulk reliever. However, manager Rob Thomson instead treated the series opener as more of a bullpen day, as five pitchers were used to cover eight innings. Since limiting this same Diamondbacks squad to one run over five innings in a starting role May 23, Covey has been used in relief in each of his last four appearances and hasn't covered more than two innings on any occasion. The Phillies are still running out a four-man rotation at the moment, but Covey doesn't look as though he'll be the clear-cut choice to pitch on days that a fifth starter is needed.

Karcher picked up the save in Monday's 5-4 victory over Kansas City, tossing a scoreless inning in which he allowed zero hits and one walk. He didn't record a strikeout.

Alexis Diaz worked the previous two days, and Buck Farmer pitched 1.2 innings to send the game into the 10th inning, so the freshly recalled Karcher got the save opportunity Monday in his first MLB appearance. The 25-year-old walked the first batter he faced but retired three straight to end the game. Karcher has electric stuff, but he's had trouble commanding it at Triple-A Louisville, posting a 9.27 ERA and 31:34 K:BB over 22.1 innings.

The Brewers reinstated Bukauskas (neck) from the 15-day injured list Monday and optioned him to Triple-A Nashville.

Bukauskas made two rehab appearances for Nashville last week to prove that he's no longer bothered by the strained neck, but the Brewers simply don't have room on the 26-man active roster at the moment for another low-leverage reliever. He'll continue to work out of the Nashville bullpen and could be an option to rejoin the big club the next time Milwaukee needs a fresh arm.

Castro picked up the save in Monday's 9-8 win over the Phillies. He allowed one run on two hits and no walks while striking out one over one inning.

Castro's seventh save of the season wasn't particularly smooth, but the Diamondbacks' two-run lead heading into the ninth inning provided him just enough cushion. The right-hander has had a shaky start to June, giving up six runs across three innings. With the Diamondbacks still taking a closer-by-committee approach at the back end of their bullpen, fantasy managers can't count on Castro continuing to get consistent save opportunities if he keeps giving up runs.

Strahm didn't factor into the decision in Monday's 9-8 loss to the Diamondbacks after striking out one and allowing three runs on four hits and one walk over 2.2 innings.

Strahm has had a rough last couple of appearances, as he's given up six runs over his last 3.2 innings. The Phillies have used the southpaw as both a starter and reliever this year, yielding mixed results. On a positive note, his 1.09 WHIP is his lowest mark since 2020.