MLB Player News

The Cubs placed Martin on the bereavement list Sunday.

Per MLB rules, Martin will be away from the Cubs for 3-to-7 days while he tends to the personal matter. The Cubs have yet to announce a corresponding move to replace Martin on the roster, and the team is unlikely to summon another player from the minors until prior to Monday's doubleheader with the Brewers. Martin has mostly worked in middle relief for the Cubs this season, logging two holds to go with a 3.94 ERA and 1.50 WHIP across 18 appearances.

The Cubs recalled Leiter from Triple-A Iowa on Sunday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Leiter will be available out of the bullpen for Sunday's game against the White Sox, but if the right-hander isn't needed, he could slot into the rotation for one half of Monday's doubleheader with the Brewers as a replacement for Wade Miley (shoulder), who was placed on the 15-day injured list. The Cubs still have five other healthy members of their rotation, but Leiter could still line up for a two-start week since Monday's doubleheader is followed by a twin bill five days later against the Cardinals.

Lawrence was optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque on Friday.

Lawrence was optioned to make room for the return of Robert Stephenson (illness). He's spent the majority of the season with Colorado but has maintained just a 5.52 ERA and 1.84 WHIP with 12 walks across 14.2 innings.

Atlanta optioned Davidson to Triple-A Gwinnett on Sunday.

Though Davidson limited the Marlins to one run over five innings in a losing effort in his third start of the season Saturday, he issued four free passes for the second outing in a row. Overall, Davidson has walked 13 batters and struck out 10 over 15.1 big-league innings this season, so Atlanta will likely want to have him iron out his control problems in the minors before giving him another look. Atlanta hasn't announced an immediate replacement in the rotation for Davidson, with reliever Spencer Strider and Triple-A starters Kyle Muller, Huascar Ynoa, Bryce Elder and Touki Toussaint all representing possible options to take over as the big club's No. 5 starter.

Vesia earned a hold against Arizona on Saturday, allowing one walk and striking out two batters in one scoreless inning.

The left-hander handled the eighth inning for Los Angeles and protected a one-run lead despite issuing a one-out walk. Vesia has seen his high-leverage opportunities increase over the course of the season, and he has secured a hold in five of his past six outings. He's allowed only one run during that span and has held the opponent scoreless in 16 of his 18 appearances on the season.

Stephenson (illness) was reinstated from the COVID-19 injured list Friday and allowed two earned runs on two hits in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader loss to the Nationals, which marked his first appearance since being activated.

In his first outing in a week following his stint on the IL, Stephenson served up a two-run home run to Riley Adams in the eighth inning. Stephenson now owns a 5.56 ERA and 1.59 WHIP across 11.1 frames this season, and he will likely continue to occupy a low-leverage role out of the Rockies bullpen.

Davidson (1-2) took the loss Saturday as Atlanta was downed 4-1 by the Marlins, allowing one run on three hits and four walks over five innings. He struck out three.

The lefty tossed 47 of 77 pitches for strikes but once again had trouble putting hitters away, issuing four free passes for the second straight start. Davidson has a 4.26 ERA, 1.66 WHIP and brutal 8:11 K:BB through 12.2 innings over three outings since joining the rotation, and he won't keep that assignment much longer if he can't sharpen his control.

Sulser gave up a hit and a walk while striking out two in a scoreless ninth inning Saturday to record his second save of the season in a 4-1 win over Atlanta.

The right-hander made things interesting, putting two runners aboard with two outs, but Sulser was able to strike out Austin Riley to preserve the victory. The back of the Marlins' bullpen remains a mess, as Anthony Bender (back) is on the shelf and Dylan Floro continues to work in lower-leverage spots despite a streak of five straight scoreless appearance. Remarkably, this was the first save by any Miami reliever in the month of May. Given Sulser's effectiveness this season, his 2.50 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 20:8 K:BB through 18 innings might be good enough to earn him further chances in the ninth inning.

Bard struck out one in a perfect ninth inning Saturday to record his 11th save of the season in the second game of a doubleheader against the Nationals.

The right-hander stumbled a bit in the middle of May, but Bard has rebounded to deliver three straight scoreless appearances with a 5:1 K:BB over four innings. He's 11-for-13 in converting save chances on the season, and his 3.12 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and career-best 33.3 percent strikeout rate are all excellent numbers considering his home stadium.

Rogers (0-1) was dealt the loss and blown save during Saturday's 4-2 loss to Pittsburgh, allowing three runs on two hits and one walk in the ninth inning.

Rogers entered in the ninth inning to protect a one-run lead and allowed two early baserunners before permitting a go-ahead three-run home run to Ke'Bryan Hayes. The lefty had allowed only one earned run through 20.1 innings prior to Saturday's blip, and the 31-year-old now possesses a 1.69 ERA and 0.75 WHIP in addition to an MLB-best 17 saves.