MLB Player News

Cincinnati optioned Busenitz to Triple-A Louisville on Tuesday.

This is the corresponding move for the promotion of left-hander Brandon Williamson, who is making his MLB debut in a start Tuesday night at Coors Field. Busenitz struggled in his lone appearance with the Reds over the weekend, allowing an earned run on three hits and a walk over two-thirds of an inning to the Marlins on Sunday.

Bickford (1-1) nabbed the win against the Twins on Monday, allowing one unearned run on one hit and four walks while striking out four batters over three innings in a 12-inning Dodgers victory.

Los Angeles ran through six pitchers during the first nine frames, and with manager Dave Roberts preferring to avoid calling upon Brusdar Graterol (who pitched each of the previous two days) and Victor Gonzalez (who tossed 1.2 innings Sunday), Bickford was tasked with covering three frames. He ended up tossing a career-high 48 pitches, allowing just an unearned run when the automatic runner crossed the plate in the 10th. Though Bickford walked four (one intentionally) and tossed just 27 of 48 pitches for strikes, he constantly worked his way out of trouble to pick up the win. The right-hander has a 4.58 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 25:9 K:BB across 19.2 innings on the campaign.

Phillips was charged with a blown save against Minnesota on Monday, allowing one run on one hit and one walk while striking out two batters over one inning.

Phillips got the call with Los Angeles up by a run in the top of the ninth frame, but he walked Carlos Correa with one out before allowing a game-tying double to Byron Buxton. He managed to strike out the next two batters to get out of the inning, but the damage resulted in his first blown save of the campaign. Phillips has converted his other seven opportunities and has a 2.25 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and 21:4 K:BB over 16 innings overall.

Puk (elbow) played catch from 60 feet Tuesday, Daniel Alvarez-Montes of ElExtraBase.com reports.

Puk landed on the 15-day injured list Sunday with irritation in his left elbow but is already back to throwing without any issues. He still has another two weeks or so before he can return from the IL, but it's a positive sign for the Marlins' closer.

The Brewers recalled Bukauskas from Triple-A Nashville on Tuesday, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Bukauskas will fill the place of Gus Varland, who was DFA'd by the Crew on Tuesday. Bukauskas pitched just one major-league inning this season before being waived by Seattle and claimed by Milwaukee in April. Since then, he's been rather unimpressive in Nashville to the tune of a 6.35 ERA and 1.54 WHIP through 5.2 frames. Given his shaky history, the 26-year-old reliever likely won't see many high-leverage situations.

Varland was designated for assignment by the Brewers on Tuesday, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Varland has lost his 40-man roster spot after getting torched in a mop-up situation Monday night against the Cardinals. The 26-year-old righty heads into DFA limbo with a career 11.42 ERA in 8.2 major-league frames.

Chargois (oblique) was activated from the 15-day injured list Tuesday, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

Chargois will return to the Marlins' bullpen Tuesday night against the Nationals after missing five weeks with a strained oblique. He had thrown 4.1 scoreless innings of relief prior to the injury.

Varland retired just two batters and was charged with nine earned runs on six hits and three walks while striking out one in Monday's 18-1 loss to the Cardinals.

The rookie right-hander maintained a tidy 2.25 ERA through his first seven big-league relief appearances, but a 0.0 K-BB% and a 5.93 FIP suggested that Varland's run prevention was due for a correction. Regression hit Varland in a major way Monday, as he allowed nine of the 11 batters he faced to reach base and surrendered a pair of home runs while placing only 18 of his 33 pitches for strikes. Though this sort of outing would normally put an unestablished player like Varland at risk of a demotion to the minors, his status as a Rule 5 pick means he'll have to remain on the Brewers' active roster all season when healthy.

The Nationals optioned Abbott to Triple-A Rochester on Monday.

Abbott will return to the minors after he served as the Nationals' 27th man for Sunday's doubleheader with the Mets. He appeared out of the bullpen in the Nationals' 8-2 loss in the second game, striking out a batter over two scoreless innings while allowing one hit and one walk.

The Mets optioned Muckenhirn to Triple-A Syracuse on Monday.

Muckenhirn was up with the Mets for just one day, as he served as the team's 27th man for Sunday's doubleheader with the Nationals. The left-hander appeared out of the bullpen in the Mets' 8-2 win in Game 2, working two innings while giving up one run on four hits and one walk.