MLB Player News

Pagan hasn't pitched since Tuesday due to neck tightness, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Pagan's tight neck developed while he was sleeping recently, and he hasn't been available recently as a result. However, manager Jayce Tingler is hopeful that the right-hander could be available out of the bullpen as early as Saturday. Across his last two outings, Pagan has recorded two holds while striking out five in two perfect innings.

Milner was recalled from Triple-A Nashville on Friday.

Milner made three relief appearances during his most recent stint in the minors, and he allowed two hits and no walks while striking out five in 2.1 innings. He's posted a 5.91 ERA in 10.2 innings across nine appearances in the majors this year and should serve mainly as a low-leverage reliever for the Brewers.

Szapucki was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse on Friday.

The young left-hander will return to the minors after getting tagged for six runs over 3.2 frames in his big-league debut Wednesday. Szapucki will hope for another chance in the majors this season but will head back to Syracuse for now.

The Cubs optioned Nance to Triple-A Iowa on Friday, Gordon Wittenmyer of NBC Sports Chicago reports.

The righty had a miserable outing Wednesday, yielding five runs in 1.2 innings. Nance hit two batters on top of a walk and a home run. After 12 consecutive scoreless appearances to start the season, he's now allowed at least a run in six of his last seven games. Kohl Stewart was recalled in a corresponding move.

Banda was traded from the Giants to the Mets in exchange for minor-league third baseman Will Toffey on Friday, Deesha Thosar of the New York Daily News reports.

Banda joined the Giants last November on a minor-league contract. The southpaw has not pitched particularly well during 10 appearances (five starts) at Triple-A Sacramento, posting a 6.86 ERA and 1.70 WHIP across 39.1 innings. Banda appeared in 18 major-league games (five starts) with the Diamondbacks and Rays between 2017 and 2020, most recently struggling to a 10.29 ERA across four relief outings with Tampa Bay in 2020. Per Justin Toscano of The Bergen Record, Banda has been assigned to Triple-A Syracuse.

Graterol is expected to be recalled Friday to take the roster spot of Trevor Bauer (not injury related), Jorge Castillo of the Los Angeles Times reports.

With Bauer being placed on administrative leave following the assault allegations against him, Graterol will rejoin the Dodgers' bullpen starting Friday in Washington. The right-hander is already with the team for the club's visit to the White House, so he should be in uniform for the series opener. Graterol began the season on the COVID-19 injured list before returning in mid-April, but landed back on the IL just 11 days later with forearm tightness. He was sent to Oklahoma City when he was reinstated June 4. Graterol has allowed seven earned runs and struck out 11 across 10.1 Triple-A innings, and he figures to pitch in lower-leverage situations during his return to the majors.

Melancon (1-1) allowed three earned runs on three hits and two walks in two-thirds of an inning, taking the loss to the Reds on Thursday.

Melancon entered in the bottom of the ninth inning with a one-run lead. The lead quickly evaporated as Kyle Farmer homered to tie the game. Then, four of the next five batters reached safely, ending on a Tyler Stephenson walk-off single. The Reds have been Melancon's kryptonite with six of his nine earned runs coming against them this season. The 36-year-old has a 2.27 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP in 35.2 innings. He leads all of baseball with 25 saves.

Brebbia allowed a hit and struck out three in one scoreless inning in Thursday's 5-3 loss to Arizona.

Brebbia has done well since making his long-awaited return from Tommy John surgery June 20. He's allowed just one run, two hits and a walk while striking out eight through five innings this season. While he's not likely to see many save chances, he could continue to post solid ratios while working in close games.

Garcia allowed a walk and struck out one in one inning in Thursday's 5-3 loss to Arizona.

Garcia has now posted back-to-back scoreless outings after a brief skid in which he allowed four runs (three earned) across three appearances. The southpaw has been solid in a low-leverage role this year with a 3.58 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 33:12 K:BB across 27.2 innings. He's added a save and two holds, but he remains more likely to pitch in the middle innings.

Crowe (1-5) was tagged with the loss Thursday against the Brewers after allowing two runs on four hits and three walks while fanning six across 4.2 innings.

Crowe ended just two strikeouts away from matching his season-high mark, and he gave up just two runs for the third time over his last four outings. However, he hasn't pitched more than five innings in any of those contests. While his 6.26 ERA remains poor, he seems to be moving in the right direction as he owns a 4.66 ERA with a 8.4 K/9 over that aforementioned four-game span. He's slated to pitch again next week against Atlanta at home.