MLB Player News

Kontos signed a minor-league deal with the Nationals on Friday, Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports reports.

Kontos joined the Cubs on a minor-league deal during the offseason but didn't play a game with the organization after spring training. The 33-year-old had 28 appearances between the Indians, Yankees and Pirates last season and had a 4.39 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 15:7 K:BB over 26.2 innings. Kontos will report to Triple-A Fresno.

Rodriguez was recalled from Triple-A Sacramento on Saturday.

Rodriguez slumped to a 5.05 ERA in eight starts for the Giants to open the season before being demoted to Sacramento in mid-May. He appears to be back in a relief role this time around, with Trevor Gott (forearm) heading to the injured list in a corresponding move.

Gott was placed on the 10-day injured list with a right forearm strain Saturday.

The injury perhaps explains Gott's poor showing in his most recent outing, where he allowed three runs while recording just two outs Friday against the Diamondbacks. It's not clear when he's expected to return to action. Dereck Rodriguez was recalled in a corresponding move.

Clarke was recalled from Triple-A Reno ahead of his scheduled start against San Francisco on Saturday.

Clarke has allowed two runs in nine major-league innings this season but has an ugly 7.22 ERA in seven starts for Reno. John Ryan Murphy was designated for assignment in a corresponding move.

Anderson (1-2) was saddled with the loss Friday against the Nationals, getting charged with two runs after walking two batters and striking out one in an inning of relief.

He replaced Adam Conley in the seventh and induced an inning-ending double play and then fanned Trea Turner to begin the eighth, but Anderson got the hook after walking the next two batters and had to watch them trot home after Juan Soto turned around a 100-mph fastball from Tayron Guerrero for a three-run homer. Anderson has been feast or famine since emerging as another high-octane relief option for the Marlins -- eight of his last 11 appearances have been scoreless ones, but he's been tagged with 10 runs in the other three, leaving him with a 5.57 ERA despite an impressive 39:10 K:BB over 21 innings this year.

Robertson (elbow) was transferred to the 60-day injured list Saturday, Meghan Montemurro of The Athletic reports.

This is strictly a bookkeeping move that allows the Phillies to purchase the contract of J.D. Hammer. Robertson is not expected to resume throwing until at least mid-June.

Hammer's contract was purchased from Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Saturday, Meghan Montemurro of The Athletic reports.

The 24-year-old reliever has a 1.61 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 29 strikeouts in 22.1 innings across stops at Triple-A and Double-A. He takes the place of Pat Neshek, who landed on the injured list with a shoulder strain.

Strop (hamstring) will need to throw another bullpen session early next week and manager Joe Maddon said they will know by the end of next week whether a rehab assignment will be necessary, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Reports from earlier this week suggested that Strop could be activated shortly after throwing off a mound Saturday, but it seems like that was an overly optimistic timetable. It is unclear if Strop suffered a setback. An activation next weekend now seems like the best-case scenario, but he could also require a rehab assignment, which would mean an early-June return would be in the cards.

Collins was recalled from Triple-A Iowa on Saturday.

He has a 2.25 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 14 strikeouts in 12 innings at Triple-A. Collins will work in low-to-mid-leverage situations during this stint in the majors.

Ponce de Leon is a candidate to start Wednesday's game in Philadelphia, Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com reports.

With Michael Wacha getting demoted to the bullpen, the Cardinals will need to summon a starter from Triple-A. Per Langosch, it will either be Ponce de Leon or Jake Woodford. Ponce de Leon is on the 40-man roster, while Woodford is not, but Woodford could make that start on normal rest while Ponce de Leon would be making the start on six days rest. Neither pitcher projects to be a major fantasy asset. Ponce de Leon has a 4.68 FIP, 1.45 WHIP and 37:22 K:BB in 41.1 innings at Triple-A. Alex Reyes (finger) still hasn't been cleared to hit at Triple-A and Austin Gomber (biceps) isn't expected to come off the minor-league injured list until next weekend. Both Reyes and Gomber are better long-term rotation options, so one could displace whoever makes the start Wednesday in short order.