MLB Player News

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he expects Kelly (COVID-19 injured list) to be activated ahead of Tuesday's series opener in San Diego, Jorge Castillo of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Roberts said he felt Kelly looked "rusty" during his first rehab outing at Low-A Rancho Cucamonga on Friday, when he recorded one out and issued two walks. As a result, the Dodgers will have him make one more tune-up appearance Sunday for the affiliate before rejoining the big club ahead of the big three-game series with the Padres. Once reinstated, Kelly should be a key part of the late-inning bridge to closer Kenley Jansen.

The Giants recalled Jackson from Triple-A Sacramento on Sunday.

Jackson was eligible to return to the Giants less than a week after being demoted since Evan Longoria (hand) was placed on the COVID-19-related injured list in a corresponding move. Over his 15 appearances out of the big-league bullpen this season, Jackson has posted a 3.68 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 21:6 K:BB in 14.2 innings.

The Giants recalled Long from Triple-A Sacramento on Sunday.

Long will be available out of the bullpen for Sunday's series finale in Oakland, but if he goes unused, he could step into the rotation Tuesday against the Mets as a replacement for Anthony DeSclafani (ankle), who was placed on the 10-day injured list in a corresponding move. Over eight appearances (four starts) with the big club this season, Long has gone 1-1 with a 5.27 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 31:10 K:BB in 28.1 innings.

Melancon (3-2) picked up the win against the Phillies on Saturday with two scoreless and hitless innings during which he walked two and struck out one.

Melancon hadn't pitched in three days, to the Padres handed him the ball with the team trailing by two runs in the top of the ninth. The right-hander faced the minimum three batters thanks to a double play, then watched as San Diego tied the score in the bottom of the frame. He came back out for the 10th and kept Philadelphia off the scoreboard, nabbing the win when the Padres scored in their half of the inning. It was only the fourth time Melancon has hurled more than one inning this season, and he has now held opponents scoreless over his past five appearances covering 6.1 frames.

Bednar notched his first career save in Saturday's 5-4 win over the Cardinals, striking out one and working around a base hit in a scoreless ninth inning.

Save opportunities haven't been plentiful this season for the 44-79 Pirates, and the team's closer situation became murky when Richard Rodriguez was dealt to Atlanta ahead of the July 30 deadline. After converting his first save in relatively stress-free fashion Saturday, Bednar now looks like the clear top pitcher to roster out of the Pittsburgh bullpen. Even before Rodriguez was dealt, Bednar had been one of the team's top setup arms, logging a 2.49 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 62:16 K:BB in 50.2 innings while collecting 10 holds. Bednar still likely can't be counted on to receive more than a handful of save chances the rest of the season, but that might be enough to make the 26-year-old worthy of rostering for fantasy managers desperate to make up ground in the category.

Cabrera (2-4) was charged with the loss and his second blown save of the season in a defeat at the hands of the Pirates on Saturday, allowing three earned runs on four hits and an intentional walk over one inning. He struck out one.

The left-hander was charged with preserving a 3-2 lead when he entered in the seventh, and after retiring two of the first three batters he faced, three singles and an intentional walk led to him surrendering three quick runs. The stumble marked the end of a long stretch of success for Cabrera, who hadn't allowed a run in his 15 previous appearances.

The Nationals activated Voth (illness) from the COVID-19 injured list Sunday, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

The righty was struggling considerably before testing positive for the coronavirus in late July, as he allowed eight earned runs in his last 2.2 innings. On the season, Voth sports a 4.81 ERA and 1.30 WHIP in 43 innings. Javy Guerra was designated for assignment in a corresponding move Sunday.

Garcia allowed one hit and struck out one in 2.1 innings during Saturday's 6-5 win over Oakland.

Through 11 innings in August, Garcia has given up five runs (three earned) on eight hits and a walk with six strikeouts. The left-hander has pitched well in a versatile role this year with a 2.76 ERA, 0.84 WHIP and 52:13 K:BB across 49 innings. He's added a 4-3 record, one save and eight holds, although his ability to cover multiple innings has often kept him out of a truly high-leverage role.

Smith earned the save against the Orioles on Saturday, allowing one run on one hit while striking out one batter in one inning.

Smith started his outing by serving up a solo home run to Anthony Santander, but the veteran closer bounced back to retire the final three batters he faced. The long ball was the fourth allowed by Smith in his past 7.1 frames, and he has two blown saves along with an 8.59 ERA over that span. Nonetheless, Smith is tied for third in MLB with 27 saves and is relatively secure in his position as Atlanta's closer.

Rogers (4-1) logged a perfect inning and struck out two, earning the win Saturday over Oakland.

The right-hander kept San Francisco within a run during the eighth inning, and LaMonte Wade's two-run homer in the ninth put Rogers in line for the win. Through 10 innings in August, Rogers has given up three runs on 11 hits and no walks while striking out six. The setup man has a 1.98 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 38:9 K:BB, 11 saves and 22 holds through 59 innings overall.