MLB Player News

Kranick will stick in the Pittsburgh rotation and make his next start Tuesday in Milwaukee, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.

Kranick was moved back into the rotation last week as a replacement for Tyler Anderson, who was dealt away to the Mariners ahead of the deadline. The rookie right-hander also faced the Brewers in that start, and he was lit up for six runs on 10 hits and one walk over five innings. Since tossing five no-hit innings in his MLB debut June 27, Kranick has submitted a 10.64 ERA and 2.36 WHIP in three starts with Pittsburgh.

Castro (undisclosed) was placed on the COVID-19 injured list Monday, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

The Mets apparently haven't reported a positive test for the virus, so it appears Castro is sidelined due to contact tracing. Assuming that remains the case, he should be able to rejoin the team relatively quickly if he continues to test negative.

Hernandez (quadriceps) will make his next rehab start Thursday with Triple-A Jacksonville, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

The 26-year-old made his first rehab outing Saturday for Double-A Pensacola, and he allowed one hit with three strikeouts and zero walks over 2.2 scoreless innings. Hernandez should continue ramping up his workload and will likely need another rehab start or after Thursday's appearance before rejoining the Marlins.

Hader was placed on the COVID-19 injured list Monday.

According to Adam McCalvy of MLB.com, Hader tested positive for the virus, so he'll be sidelined for at least the next 10 days. Depending how long he's out, Hader could require a rehab assignment before retaking the field for the Brewers. Devin Williams is the most likely candidate to receive save chances in the meantime.

De Los Santos was recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Monday.

The 25-year-old was sent down Saturday, but he'll rejoin the Phillies' bullpen after Vince Velasquez (finger) was placed on the 10-day IL on Monday. De Los Santos has recorded a 6.75 ERA and 1.75 WHIP in 16 innings across 15 relief appearances this year.

The Mets claimed Reed off waivers from the Rays on Monday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Reed will be moving on to his fourth organization of the season after stints with the Angels and Dodgers before the Rays scooped him off waivers July 25. The 28-year-old right-hander didn't appear at the big-league level for Tampa Bay, and he'll begin his tenure with the Mets in the minors as well. Over 22.1 innings between three different Triple-A affiliates this season, Reed has posted a 5.24 ERA while striking out 28 in 22.1 innings.

The Pirates claimed Banda off waivers from the Mets on Monday.

Banda doesn't have any minor-league options remaining, so Pittsburgh will need to clear a spot for him on the 26-man active roster ahead of Monday's series opener in Milwaukee. The 27-year-old lefty has made five career big-league starts, but he's worked in long relief over his five appearances with the Mets in 2021, giving up six runs on 14 hits and a walk over 7.1 innings. Pittsburgh will likely plug Banda into the bullpen initially, but he could emerge as a rotation option if the Pirates' starting depth is tested over the final two months of the season.

The Brewers outrighted Weigel to Triple-A Nashville on Monday.

Weigel went unclaimed off waivers when he was dropped from the Brewers' 40-man roster Friday in the wake of the trade deadline. Acquired in April in the deal that sent Orlando Arcia to Atlanta, Weigel has made three appearances out of the Milwaukee bullpen this season, giving up two earned runs on four hits and four walks while striking out nine in four frames.

Ponce de Leon (shoulder) is scheduled to make the fourth appearance of his rehab assignment Tuesday with Double-A Springfield.

Ponce de Leon is expected to follow starter Miles Mikolas (forearm), who is expected to cover around five innings or 70 pitches in his third rehab start. With both Mikolas and Jack Flaherty (oblique) on the comeback trail from injuries and with the Cardinals acquiring two starters (Jon Lester and J.A. Happ) at the trade deadline, Ponce de Leon likely won't be under consideration for a spot in the St. Louis rotation once activated from the 10-day injured list. The Cardinals are seemingly preparing for Ponce de Leon to serve as a long-relief option when he returns, as the right-hander worked three innings in his third rehab outing last Wednesday.

Finnegan (4-2) earned the win in relief Sunday against the Cubs after pitching a scoreless inning.

Finnegan tossed a scoreless frame in the top of the ninth and only needed 15 pitches to get the job done, extending his streak of scoreless appearances to eight in a row. The right-hander, who's expected to work as the Nationals' primary closer following the departures of Brad Hand and Daniel Hudson, has been pitching well over the last few weeks and owns a 1.42 ERA across 12 appearances (12.2 innings) since the beginning of July.