MLB Player News

Castro is scheduled to start the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader with the Cardinals, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

The Mets are still making Castro available out of the bullpen behind starter Marcus Stroman for the first game of the twin bill, suggesting that manager Luis Rojas is planning to use Castro as more of an opener for the nightcap than a traditional starter. Castro hasn't topped 31 pitches or recorded more than five outs in any of his 10 appearances this season, so he shouldn't be expected to work more than two innings in the second game before his night is over. Jordan Yamamoto and Sean Reid-Foley represent logical options to serve as a bulk reliever in Game 2, if the Mets decide to go that route.

Almonte (hand) will throw another simulated game in St. Louis this weekend, Kyle Newman of The Denver Post reports.

Almonte's simulated game Tuesday went well, so he'll complete another throwing session this weekend. If his next simulated game goes well, the right-hander could be in consideration for a rehab assignment in the near future. Almonte has been sidelined since April 29 due to a right hand contusion.

Giants manager Gabe Kapler said Wednesday that Rogers may be in the mix for more work in save situations, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Kapler's comments come less than 24 hours after closer Jake McGee was roughed up for four earned runs while recording just two outs in the Giants' loss to the Rockies in the second half of a doubleheader. Rogers, meanwhile, logged a clean inning in front of McGee to reduce his season ERA to a microscopic 1.02. Though Rogers doesn't miss many bats (5.1 K/9), he's been masterful at inducing weak contact and has already been battle tested in the ninth inning with a couple of saves on his ledger this season. With McGee having now given up at least one run in five of his last six appearances, his hold on the closer gig appears to be loosening, so Rogers makes sense as a speculative pickup in the event McGee fails to right the ship in his subsequent outings.

De Leon was optioned to Triple-A Louisville on Wednesday.

De Leon had allowed at least two runs in each of his last three relief outings, and he has an 8.35 ERA and 1.80 ERA in 18.1 innings to begin the season. The right-hander lost out on his rotation spot in early April when Sonny Gray returned to action, and he's now off the big-league roster altogether for the time being. De Leon will attempt to sort things out in the minors after left-hander Cionel Perez was recalled Wednesday.

Perez was recalled by the Reds on Wednesday.

Perez made 10 relief appearances for Cincinnati to begin the year and posted an 8.31 ERA and 1.62 WHIP in 8.2 innings. The southpaw pitched in Tuesday's season opener for Triple-A Louisville and allowed no hits and a walk while striking out two in one scoreless inning. He'll now return to the major-league bullpen after right-hander Jose De Leon was sent down in a corresponding move.

Ginkel (0-1) took the loss Tuesday, allowing three runs on three hits while striking out one over a third of an inning in a 9-3 loss to Miami.

The Diamondbacks had just clawed their way back to tie the game in the top of the eighth, but it took just two batters in the bottom half of the inning for Miami to reclaim the lead off the usually reliable Ginkel. Throw in some shoddy defense and the Marlins pushed six runs across the plate. Ginkel entered the game with a 3.27 ERA and 1.27 WHIP before picking up his first loss of the season.

Rogers pitched a perfect inning with one strikeout in Game 2 of Tuesday's doubleheader versus Colorado.

Rogers entered the game with a 6-2 lead to protect, and he put in another strong inning. Unfortunately for the Giants, Jake McGee and Camilo Doval melted down in the seventh inning. Rogers has a tiny 1.02 ERA, 0.85 WHIP and 10:3 K:BB across 17.2 innings this season. He's been a jack-of-all-trades with two saves, eight holds and two blown saves. With McGee struggling recently, Rogers could see more save chances come his way in the near future.

Doval (0-1) allowed two runs on two hits and allowed an inherited runner to score without recording an out as he took the loss in Game 2 of Tuesday's doubleheader versus Colorado.

Doval entered with a one-run lead to protect, but he gave up a single to C.J. Cron and a walkoff three-run home run to Charlie Blackmon. The loss was the first decision of Doval's career, and the hard-throwing right-hander now owns an 8.10 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 7:3 K:BB across 6.2 innings. He has three holds and two blown saves in eight appearances. Doval has now given up three home runs, and he'll need to keep the ball in the park to produce more consistently positive results.

Weathers (1-1) took the loss in Tuesday's 2-1 defeat against the Pirates, pitching three relief innings and allowing four hits and one run with one strikeout.

Weathers followed starter Dinelson Lamet and pitched OK despite being saddled with the loss. He left his start last week with joint inflammation in his left arm. It's fair to expect San Diego to score more runs in the future and Weathers' 0.93 ERA and 0.72 WHIP in 19.1 innings show the potential he has if used consistently in this kind of role.

Hoffman (2-2) took the loss in Tuesday's 9-0 mauling at the hands of the White Sox, giving up four runs on five hits and a walk over 2.1 innings. He struck out four.

The right-hander needed 63 pitches (36 strikes) to record only seven outs in his shortest start of the season. After promising returns in his first four outings, he's struggled through the last two, giving up a combined seven runs on six hits (including two homers) and six walks in 6.1 innings. Hoffman will carry a 4.39 ERA and 23:13 K:BB through 26.2 innings into his next outing.