MLB Player News

Hernandez will move to the bullpen for at least the near future, Andre Fernandez of The Athletic reports.

Hernandez owns a 4.25 ERA in 29.2 innings this season, starting five times and appearing twice out of the bullpen. His 27.0 percent strikeout rate and 6.4 percent walk rate are each strong, but his 1.82 HR/9 represents a significant weakness. The 24-year-old is set for a fairly high-leverage role, Fernandez reports. He'll have an outside chance to enter the ninth-inning conversation if Sergio Romo struggles or gets traded at the deadline, though Hernandez doesn't appear to be a favorite to close at this point.

Maurer (knee) has not pitched at any level since June 21.

The 29-year-old right-hander started up a rehab assignment with short-season West Virginia on June 18. He made two appearances but has not pitched since according to his MiLB.com game log, suggesting there was a setback in his recovery from knee surgery.

Ponce de Leon will make a spot start in place of Adam Wainwright (back) on Friday against Arizona, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Wainwright was scratched with back spasms, though he's yet to be placed on the injured list, so Ponce de Leon may be in line for just a single start. He owns an excellent 2.16 ERA and 0.92 WHIP in 25 innings for the Cardinals this season, starting three games and appearing in another three out of the bullpen.

Peralta (hip) was activated off the 10-day injured list Friday.

Peralta had been sidelined since mid-June with a strained right hip flexor. He recorded an unremarkable 5.96 ERA in 22.2 innings prior to suffering the injury. Josh VanMeter was optioned to Triple-A Louisville over the All-Star break in a corresponding move.

Rodriguez is a candidate to make a spot start in the second game of the Giants' doubleheader with the Rockies in Colorado on Monday, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.

Rodriguez had been working in a long-relief role for the Giants for just over a month before being optioned to Triple-A Sacramento on July 1. After making one appearance in the Pacific Coast League, Rodriguez dropped down to High-A Rancho Cucamonga this week while the Triple-A affiliate was on break. He tossed 4.2 innings for Rancho Cucamonga on Wednesday and gave up two runs on four hits and a walk while striking out nine. The outing sets Rodriguez up to be available on his normal four days' rest should the Giants turn to him for the spot start in Colorado.

Woods-Richardson gave up one run on two hits and a walk over five innings while striking out six for Low-A Columbia on Thursday.

The right-hander won't turn 19 until late September, but Woods-Richardson is handling himself well in the full-season Sally League after a bumpy start to the year. He's posted a 2.20 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 38:10 K:BB through 32.2 innings since the beginning of June, and while the Mets have been keeping a close eye on his workload -- five innings is the longest he's gone in any outing this season -- the organization's No. 6 fantasy prospect could receive a taste of High-A ball before the end of the campaign if he keeps taking care of business for Columbia.

Miller signed a minor-league contract with the Brewers on Thursday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

Miller was released by Texas on July 4 after accruing an 8.59 ERA and 1.98 WHIP with a 30:29 K:BB over 44 innings with the big-league club. He'll likely serve as organizational depth with the Brewers, though given Milwaukee's starting pitching woes this season, he could be a candidate to provide a spot start or even enter the rotation at some point.

Hicks (elbow) was transferred to the 60-day injured list Thursday, Rob Rains of StLSportsPage.com reports.

Hicks underwent Tommy John surgery at the end of June, so this move is simply procedural. The hard-throwing right-hander is set to miss the remainder of this season and likely most of the 2020 campaign while on the mend.

Webb was optioned to Triple-A Memphis on Thursday.

Webb was rocked for three runs on four hits over 0.2 innings during his last outing against the Giants, and his poor performance has ultimately resulted in a demotion. He owns a 4.45 ERA and 1.29 WHIP with a 26:16 K:BB over 30.1 innings this season in the big leagues.

Barraclough (forearm) was activated from the 10-day injured list and optioned to Double-A Harrisburg on Wednesday, Byron Kerr of MASN Sports reports.

Barraclough was expected to be back in Washington after the All-Star break. That could still happen, though it's not clear why the team wouldn't simply leave him on a rehab assignment if the plan is to promote him soon. His 6.39 ERA in 25.1 big-league innings isn't exactly a ringing endorsement for a spot on the big-league roster, so it's possible he remains in the minors for an extended period.