MLB Player News

Knehr was optioned to Triple-A El Paso on Sunday.

He tossed 4.2 scoreless innings during mop-up duty Saturday against the Rockies, and he will head back down until the Padres have need of another fresh bullpen arm. Kyle Tyler takes Knehr's spot in the bullpen.

Thompson will make his first career start Monday against the Pirates, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

Thompson made his big-league debut in early June against the Cubs, allowing one run across four innings of relief work. The extent to which Monday's opportunity is an audition for a permanent rotation role isn't entirely clear, as the Cardinals needed an extra starter ahead of Tuesday's doubleheader and will be getting Jack Flaherty back from his shoulder injury fairly soon. That said, the 2019 first-round pick comes with a fair amount of prospect pedigree and struck out 30.1 percent of the batters he faced across 10 starts for Triple-A Memphis this season, so it's very possible he makes his case to remain in the rotation.

Doval (2-2) was credited with the win Saturday versus the Dodgers. He walked one and struck out two in two-thirds of a scoreless inning.

Sam Long started the game with three scoreless innings before turning the ball over to the bullpen. While Tyler Rogers was effective in two scoreless innings, Doval was rewarded with the win for escaping a two-on, one-out jam in the eighth inning before Jose Alvarez converted the save. Through 25.1 innings, Doval owns a 2.84 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 29:10 K:BB, eight saves and a hold. He remains the Giants' top high-leverage arm, though games like Saturday's serve as a reminder that manager Gabe Kapler doesn't adhere strictly to defined roles for his relievers.

McGowan had Tommy John surgery in April and is on the 60-day injured list at High-A Jersey Shore, Kyle Glaser of Baseball America reports.

Given the timing of the surgery, McGowan will miss the rest of this season and at least a month or two of the 2023 season.

Garcia is on the 7-day injured list at High-A Jersey Shore with a hamate injury, Kyle Glaser of Baseball America reports.

He hasn't played since April 19 and had 13 strikeouts in his first nine games of the season. It doesn't sound like Garcia's season is in jeopardy, but he probably sustained a fracture given how much time he has missed.

Wittgren (1-0) allowed a hit in a scoreless inning to earn the win Saturday over the Reds.

Wittgren kept the deficit to one run in the top of the ninth inning, and Tommy Edman walked it off for the Cardinals in the bottom of the frame. Despite allowing nine runs, 14 hits and five walks in his last nine innings, Wittgren has picked up a save and a win in his two scoreless outings in that span without taking any losses or blown saves. The right-hander has a 5.79 ERA, 1.67 WHIP and 11:10 K:BB in 23.1 innings overall, so he'll likely be limited to middle relief -- he hasn't picked up a hold since May 2.

Uceta was optioned to Triple-A Reno on Sunday.

Uceta's latest stint with the big-league roster lasted just four days. His lone appearance saw him cruise through 4.1 innings of scoreless relief work Friday against the Phillies, striking out two while allowing two hits. He'll make way for Luke Weaver to return from an elbow injury.

Wilson (4-1) earned the win over Colorado in Game 1 of a doubleheader Saturday with a perfect inning during which he struck out one batter.

The low-scoring game went into extra frames, and Wilson was tasked with containing the Rockies in the top of the 10th. He started off the inning by striking out Connor Joe and retired all three batters he faced on only eight pitches. Wilson was credited with the win when San Diego scored in the bottom of the frame. The rookie right-hander has four victories, five holds and one save this season. He's posted a 3.97 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 22:7 K:B across 22.2 innings.

Rucker was optioned to Triple-A Iowa on Sunday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Rucker's latest stint in the majors lasted just one day. He gave up two runs on four hits in three innings of relief Saturday against the Mets. Sean Newcomb is expected to take his place on the roster.

Knehr tossed 4.2 scoreless frames in long relief but didn't factor into the decision Saturday in the Padres' 6-2 loss to the Rockies in the second game of a doubleheader. He scattered three hits and walked none while striking out three.

Knehr was one of two pitchers summoned from Triple-A El Paso in advance of the twin bill after fellow hurlers Mike Clevinger and Adrian Morejon were placed on the COVID-19-related injured list. Though he performed admirably in long relief after starter MacKenzie Gore was chased midway through the third inning, Knehr's 65-pitch workload means he likely won't be available out of the bullpen for at least the next couple of days. As a result, Knehr could be a candidate for a demotion back to El Paso if the Padres want to swap him out for a fresh arm in the bullpen.