MLB Player News

The Mets optioned Tong to Triple-A Syracuse on Wednesday.

Tong was knocked around for five runs (four earned) on five hits and two walks over 3.1 innings against the Mariners on Tuesday in a bulk-relief outing. The Mets recalled right-hander Joey Gerber from Triple-A in a corresponding move.

Bender struck out one in a scoreless two-thirds of an inning Tuesday to record his fifth hold of the season in a win over the Nationals.

The right-hander picked up his first hold since April 28 as the Marlins continue to mix and match bullpen options behind closer Pete Fairbanks. Bender hasn't pitched poorly of late -- quite the opposite in fact, as he's posted a 1.46 ERA, 12:1 K:BB and microscopic 0.24 WHIP over 12.1 innings since the beginning of May. Without more consistent usage, however, Bender's fantasy appeal will remain very limited.

Gusto surrendered three runs on five hits over two innings of relief in Tuesday's win over the Nationals.

Called up from Triple-A Jacksonville earlier in the day, Gusto tossed 40 pitches (28 strikes) in what wound up being a bullpen day for the Marlins. The right-hander had been stretched out at Triple-A, lasting five-plus innings in five of his last seven outings for Jacksonville, but his usage Tuesday -- Gusto was the third pitcher into the game after Lake Bachar and John King -- suggests Miami may not view him as a viable rotation option, either working behind an opener or as a traditional starter. Until they're willing to promote top prospect Karson Milbrandt, however, the Marlins' staff will be awfully thin while Eury Perez (hamstring) and Janson Junk (shin) are on the shelf.

Hentges allowed an earned run on two walks over one-third of an inning in Tuesday's 8-3 loss to the Brewers.

Hentges retired the first batter he faced but walked the next two before being pulled, ending his outing with six strikes across 15 pitches. The left-hander has surrendered an earned run in back-to-back appearances after giving up just two hits and zero runs in his first seven games of the season. He owns a 2.25 ERA, 1.75 WHIP and 9:10 K:BB across eight innings in nine outings on the campaign.

King (2-1) picked up the win in Tuesday's 7-3 victory over the Nationals, tossing 1.2 perfect innings of relief. He didn't strike out a batter.

Lake Bachar got the start on a bullpen day for Miami and worked into the third inning before handing the ball to King, who needed just 26 pitches (14 strikes) to record his five outs. The southpaw wound up being credited with the win after Ryan Gusto, the pitcher who replaced him, coughed up three runs in two frames. King has been scored upon only once in his last seven appearances, posting a 2.25 ERA and 0.50 WHIP in eight innings over that stretch despite a lackluster 4:1 K:BB as he fills a flexible middle-relief role for the Marlins.

Suarez gave up a hit and struck out two in 1.1 scoreless innings Tuesday to record his ninth hold of the season in a win over the Blue Jays.

The veteran righty continues to excel as Atlanta's primary setup man for closer Raisel Iglesias. Suarez has been scored upon just once in his last 19 appearances, delivering a 0.46 ERA, 0.71 WHIP and 16:4 K:BB over 19.2 innings during that stretch while collecting two wins, four saves and seven holds.

Duran struck out the side in a perfect ninth inning Tuesday to record his 13th save of the season in a 3-2 win over the Padres.

The right-hander hit triple digits on the radar gun four times in 14 pitches (nine strikes) during a dominant performance. Since recovering from an oblique strain and returning from the IL in early May, Duran has posted a 1.50 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 21:5 K:BB in 12 innings while converting all eight of his save chances.

Ashcraft (elbow) received a platelet-rich plasma injection Tuesday, MLB.com reports.

Ashcraft got the injection after a second opinion confirmed he's dealing with a UCL sprain. The right-hander was immediately placed on the 60-day injured list following the injury last Friday and is not expected back until some point after the All-Star break.

Puk (elbow) allowed one hit and struck out one over a scoreless inning in a rehab appearance for Triple-A Reno on Tuesday.

The Diamondbacks moved Puk's rehab assignment to Reno after the left-hander threw three scoreless innings in three appearances in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League to close out May. He's scheduled to throw again Friday, per Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com, and Puk will likely need a few more appearances beyond this week before being activated from the 60-day injured list. When Puk opened his minor-league assignment last month, Arizona general manager Mike Hazen said the team was targeting him seven or eight rehab outings, which puts the reliever on a path to return from the shelf around the middle of June.

Soto earned the save in Tuesday's 10-6 win against the Astros, striking out both batters he faced.

After Dennis Santana struggled to close out the ninth inning, allowing four batters to reach base while two runs scored, Pittsburgh turned to Soto with two runners on and one out. The left-hander immediately shut the door, striking out both hitters he faced to lock down his eighth save of the season. Soto continues to pitch at a high level out of the bullpen, holding opponents scoreless in 13 of his last 15 appearances while solidifying himself as Pittsburgh's main ninth-inning option. He now owns a 1.91 ERA, 0.74 WHIP and 34:11 K:BB across 28.1 innings.