MLB Player News

Atlanta optioned Tarnok to Triple-A Gwinnett on Thursday.

One of the organization's top pitching prospects, Tarnok was summoned from Triple-A earlier this week despite having made only five starts for Gwinnett following his mid-July promotion from Double-A Mississippi. Atlanta was likely just keeping Tarnok on hand as an insurance option in case neither Max Fried (concussion) or Kyle Wright (arm) was able to start this week, but Fried will take the hill for Thursday's series finale with the Mets, while Wright will go Friday against Houston. Tarnok at least received the chance to make his MLB debut out of the bullpen Wednesday, working two-thirds of an inning and striking out a batter in Atlanta's 9-7 loss.

Abbott did not factor into the decision against the Cubs on Wednesday, allowing two runs on three hits while striking out five and walking one over six innings.

Abbott threw 57 of 83 pitches for strikes across six frames for his first quality start of the year. Abbott has been a mixed bag since becoming a starter for the Nationals. He shined in his starting debut earlier this month, lasting five innings and not allowing a run, but is next two starts resulted in 10 earned runs over 7.2 innings, so turning in a quality start is a good sign that the young righty may be figuring things out. He will take a 5.16 ERA into his next outing.

Melancon earned a save against the Giants on Wednesday, striking out one batter in a perfect inning.

Melancon came on in the ninth inning to protect a one-run lead, and he was able to retire the side on just nine pitches. A wild pitch on a strikeout allowed the first batter he faced to reach base, but that was quickly wiped out by a double-play grounder. Since blowing a save Aug. 1 against Cleveland, Melancon has converted three straight save opportunities while giving up only one run over five innings. He and Ian Kennedy have alternated the past six successful saves for Arizona and appear to be locked into the top spots in a closer committee.

Kimbrel earned a save against the Brewers on Wednesday, allowing one hit and one walk in a perfect inning.

As has been the case often this season, Kimbrel didn't slide by easily. After retiring the first two batters he faced, the right-hander allowed a single and a walk to put the tying and winning runs on base. However, he was able to get Luis Urias to ground into a fielder's choice to end the contest. This was an important outing for Kimbrel after he allowed an earned run in each of his previous three appearances and blew a save his last time on the mound. Despite the recent hiccups, manager Dave Roberts has expressed a commitment to stick to Kimbrel as the team's closer, and it's worth nothing the veteran pitcher has converted an acceptable 84 percent of his save chances on the campaign.

Rodriguez (elbow) gave up an earned run on two hits while striking out two in an inning of relief Wednesday in his rehab appearance for Triple-A Iowa.

Rodriguez has been sidelined nearly all season with a right elbow strain, which he developed in mid-April during his second appearance of the 2022 campaign with Iowa. In a procedural move, the Cubs called Rodriguez up June 1 and placed him on the 60-day injured list the same day, so he'll need to be added back to the 40-man roster once his 30-day rehab window ends. Rodriguez started the rehab assignment Aug. 9 and made two appearances in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League before he was transferred to Iowa, so he could remain on the IL until the second week of September.

Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Wednesday that Peters (back) should be ready to start a throwing program soon, Alex Stumpf of DKPittsburghSports.com reports.

Peters has already resumed plyometric work since landing on the 15-day injured list Aug. 4 with left elbow inflammation, and he looks on the cusp of moving on to the next phase of his recovery program. The Pirates view Peters as a multi-inning option out of the bullpen, so once he starts throwing again, he could need around two weeks to complete his progression before he's deemed ready to return from the IL.

Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Wednesday that Bednar (back) should be ready to begin a throwing program later this week or early next week, Justice delos Santos of MLB.com reports.

Bednar was recently cleared to begin plyometric work, and if his back continues to respond well over the next couple of days, he should be ready to start playing catch. He'll then gradually ramp up the intensity and distance of his throwing before eventually graduating to bullpen sessions and then live batting practice. As a reliever, Bednar won't require an extensive buildup program, but Pittsburgh's closer is still probably at least a week away from making his return from the 15-day injured list.

Graterol (shoulder) is scheduled to pitch Wednesday and Thursday with Triple-A Oklahoma City and could be activated from the 15-day injured list during the Dodgers' three-game series against the Marlins this weekend, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Graterol began the rehab assignment with Oklahoma City last week, and pitching on back-to-back days may be the final hurdle before he rejoins the big-league roster. The 24-year-old has three saves and nine holds with a 3.35 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 35:10 K:BB across 40.1 innings this season, and he could factor into the ninth-inning mix down the stretch if closer Craig Kimbrel continues to struggle.

Littell (oblique) was reinstated from the 15-day injured list Wednesday.

Littell sustained a left oblique strain in early July and spent just over a month on the injured list, but he was in the minors on a rehab assignment for two and a half weeks. The right-hander posted a 4.05 ERA and 1.20 WHIP in 6.2 innings over seven rehab appearances and will rejoin the Giants' bullpen ahead of Wednesday's game against the Diamondbacks.

Kelley was recalled from Triple-A Nashville on Wednesday.

Kelley was sent to Nashville in early July, and he posted a 3.21 ERA, 19:4 K:BB and 1.07 WHIP in 14 innings over 14 appearances following his demotion. However, he'll rejoin the major-league bullpen and should serve mainly as a middle reliever after Jason Alexander was sent down Wednesday.