MLB Player News

Atlanta transferred Yates' (elbow) rehab assignment from the rookie-level Florida Complex League to Double-A Mississippi on Thursday, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

While he was in the FCL last weekend, Yates made his first appearance at any level since August 2020, as he missed last season and the first half of the 2022 campaign while recovering from March 2021 Tommy John surgery. Though his appearance came mostly against teenaged prospects, Yates was sharp in his FCL outing, striking out two over a scoreless inning. He's expected to make one-inning appearances Friday and Sunday for Mississippi before potentially moving his rehab assignment to Triple-A Gwinnett next week.

Nance was recalled from Triple-A Jacksonville on Thursday, Andre Fernandez of Herald Sports reports.

Nance will return to the big leagues after he was optioned to Triple-A on July 8. The 31-year-old has produced a 6.14 ERA and 1.68 WHIP with 30 punchouts over 22 innings in 17 appearances with Miami this year. Nance will replace Elieser Hernandez (illness), who was placed on the COVID-19-related injured list Thursday.

Hernandez was placed on the COVID-19-related injured list Thursday, Andre Fernandez of Herald Sports reports.

Officially, the Marlins announced Hernandez was placed on the injured list with no designation, with the implication being that his absence is COVID-19 related. The right-hander will be replaced in the bullpen by Tommy Nance, who was called up from Triple-A Jacksonville in a corresponding move.

The Diamondbacks reinstated Bukauskas (shoulder) from the 60-day injured list Wednesday and reassigned him to the minors.

Arizona hasn't officially announced what affiliate Bukauskas will join, but he'll presumably be sticking around at Triple-A Reno, with whom he made his last rehab appearance Sunday. Though Bukauskas was added back to the Diamondbacks' 40-man roster while lefty Dallas Keuchel was designated for assignment in a corresponding move, the big club doesn't look as though it'll have a spot available in the bullpen for the right-hander for the time being. During his eight-appearance rehab assignment between the rookie-level Arizona Complex League and the Triple-A club, Bukaskas struck out nine over eight scoreless frames.

Martin could be an option to enter the Diamondbacks' rotation after the team designated Dallas Keuchel for assignment Wednesday, Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports. The right-hander has a 5.10 ERA over 12 starts (60 innings) at Triple-A Reno.

Martin had been a candidate a month ago for the rotation, but Arizona went with the veteran Keuchel, who eventually logged a 9.64 ERA with 27 hits and seven walks allowed over four starts (18.2 innings). With a decreasing strikeout rate and increasing barrel rate, the Diamondbacks pulled the plug on Keuchel and are expected to look at one of their young hurlers at Reno, including Martin, who was the key piece in the deal that sent Zack Greinke to Houston three years ago. The right-handed Martin has pitched well in back-to-back starts, most recently firing eight shutout innings for the Aces one week ago. The organization may also consider lefty Tommy Henry, who has a 3.55 ERA over 18 starts (96.1 innings) at Reno.

The Reds reinstated Moreta (illness) from the COVID-19-related injured list Wednesday, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.

Ryan Hendrix, who was summoned from the minors as a replacement player when Moreta went on the IL last weekend, was returned to Triple-A Louisville to open up a spot on the 26-man active roster. Before he hit the shelf after apparently testing positive for the virus, Moreta had compiled a 7.09 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 29:9 K:BB across 26.2 innings out of the Cincinnati bullpen this season.

The Giants acquired Young from the Guardians on Monday in exchange for cash considerations, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

After he was designated for assignment Thursday, Young will head to a new home after he was dealt to the Giants on Monday. He will report to Triple-A Sacramento when he joins the organization. The reliever has a 3.77 ERA this season while pitching in Triple-A and could find himself with the Giants in the coming months.

Finnegan struck out one in a perfect ninth inning Sunday in a win over Atlanta.

The right-hander was warming up in the bottom of the eighth inning to get ready for his first save chance since moving into the closer role, but a Juan Soto solo shot bumped the Nationals' lead to four runs and erased the opportunity. Finnegan doesn't have elite numbers by any means -- 3.93 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and a 28.3 percent strikeout rate through 36.2 innings on the year -- but he is manager Dave Martinez's first choice to close with Tanner Rainey (elbow) out for the year, even if a Nats squad on pace for almost 110 losses doesn't wind up providing him with many save chances the rest of the way.

Junis tossed two innings out of the bullpen in Sunday's 9-5 win over the Brewers, giving up three earned runs on five hits and no walks while striking out two.

Before landing on the injured list in mid-June with a Grade 2 hamstring strain, Junis had been working as a starter, but the Giants chose to ease him back in a relief role after he was activated Saturday. Though Junis struggled in his appearance out of the bullpen, he should be the leading candidate to jump back into the rotation when the Giants first require a fifth starter coming out of the All-Star break. Through 10 appearances (seven starts) for the big club in 2022, Junis has posted a 3.06 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 42:10 K:BB in 50 innings.

Robertson pitched a scoreless ninth inning, giving up only a hit while striking out none, to earn the save in a 3-2 win over the Mets on Sunday.

Robertson continues to perform well for the Cubs this season and the scoreless appearance lowered his ERA to 1.93. The 37-year-old veteran reliever now has 13 saves on the year. Unless his closer role with the Cubs is affected by a trade to another team before the deadline, his fantasy value should remain relatively consistent over the second half of the season.