MLB Player News

Bird struck out five batters over two perfect innings of relief in Tuesday's 6-5 loss to the Giants.

Though he has yet to record a save this season, Bird has quietly emerged as an indispensable piece in the Colorado bullpen. He hasn't allowed an earned run in any of his last 10 appearances and has been scored upon just three times in 22 outings dating back to April 15. Over that span, Bird owns a 1.16 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 41:8 K:BB while collecting one win and seven holds in 31 innings. With both Zach Agnos and Seth Halvorsen having faltered in their recent late-inning opportunities, it wouldn't be surprising if Bird was called upon for a save chance in the near future, though the 12-55 Rockies haven't had many leads to protect all season.

Law (forearm) threw a successful simulated game Wednesday, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.

He's slated for two more simulated games on Saturday and Tuesday. If that goes well, Law will then head out on a rehab assignment. The veteran reliever has been sidelined all season with a right forearm strain but finally appears to have turned the corner in his recovery.

The Brewers optioned McGee to Triple-A Nashville on Thursday.

McGee was with the big club for a couple days, allowing one run over three innings in his lone appearance Wednesday versus Atlanta. He's clearing out to make room on the roster for the arrival of Jacob Misiorowski.

The Rockies recalled Molina from Triple-A Albuquerque on Thursday.

Molina made one scoreless appearance with the Rockies earlier this season. The 23-year-old reliever will give the big club a fresh arm for the bullpen and is likely to work in a lower-leverage role.

The Reds optioned La Sorsa to Triple-A Louisville on Thursday.

La Sorsa was just recalled Tuesday and was knocked around for four runs over one inning in Wednesday's loss to the Guardians. The Reds have not announced a corresponding move, but it's likely that Brent Suter will return from the bereavement list prior to Friday's contest in Detroit.

Kinley (0-3) allowed four earned runs on four hits and one walk while recording just one out to take the loss Wednesday against the Giants.

Kinley entered the game in the eighth inning with a three-run lead, but he allowed five of the six batters he faced to reach base. The big blow came from Mike Yastrzemski, who delivered a two-run double to tie the game at 6-6. Kinley has now allowed multiple earned runs in three of his last four outings, though Zach Agnos has also struggled mightily in high-leverage situations of late. That could open the door for Seth Halvorsen to get the next few save chances.

Agnos allowed three earned runs on one hit and two walks over one inning Wednesday against the Giants.

Agnos relieved Tyler Kinley with one out in the eighth inning after the latter blew a three-run lead. Agnos surrendered a run on a sacrifice bunt but didn't allow any additional baserunners in the frame. However, he came back out for the ninth inning and allowed three of the first four batters he faced to reach base before being pulled. Agnos has been sharing save opportunities with Seth Halvorsen for the last several weeks but has now allowed 10 earned runs across his last 3.1 innings (four appearances), so the latter could be in line for the next few chances.

Manager Dave Roberts said after Wednesday's 5-2 win over San Diego that Casparius will operate as a traditional starter in his next appearance, Sonja Chen of MLB.com reports. "Where we're at now, currently, he's certainly showing that he's one of five [starters]," Roberts said of Casparius. "The next time he's on the mound, it'll be as a starter."

Casparius technically made his second start of the season Wednesday, but he was deployed as something between an opener and a traditional starter after he had previously been working out of the bullpen. The right-hander was still stretched out enough to give the Dodgers four innings and 54 pitches in the outing, finishing the night with two strikeouts and one earned run allowed on three hits and two walks. The 26-year-old has found success no matter how the Dodgers have used him this season, as he now owns a shiny 2.86 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 46:9 K:BB across 44 innings. He'll still likely be on somewhat of a workload restriction in his next start -- which is expected to fall early next week at home versus the Padres -- but Casparius could be capable of giving the Dodgers five or six innings and around 70 to 80 pitches.

Miller earned the save in Wednesday's 5-2 win over the Mariners, allowing one hit with two strikeouts in a scoreless ninth inning.

Miller was summoned to protect a three-run lead in the ninth and needed just 14 pitches to do so. The 34-year-old has held opponents scoreless in nine of his past 10 appearances, converting four of five save chances during that stretch. He owns a 1.63 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 29:11 K:BB across 27.2 innings this season and should be the favorite to close games for the Diamondbacks with Justin Martinez (elbow) back on the injured list.

Vesia earned the save in Wednesday's 5-2 win over the Padres, striking out three in a perfect ninth inning.

After Tanner Scott faced the middle of San Diego's lineup in the eighth inning, the Dodgers turned to Vesia with a three-run lead in the ninth. The left-hander breezed through the bottom of the Padres lineup, striking out the side to lock down his third save. The 29-year-old Vesia boasts a 2.79 ERA with a 1.07 WHIP and 41:9 K:BB across 29 innings in a high-leverage role this season.