MLB Player News

Ortiz (4-2) picked up the win in Wednesday's 6-1 victory over the Reds, allowing one run on four hits over six innings. He struck out seven without walking a batter.

The seven Ks tied the right-hander's career high, set back in September 2022 in his third career MLB start. Ortiz was making his first start of 2024 after spending the first part of the season in a long relief role, and he generated an impressive 19 swinging strikes among his season-high 85 pitches. Martin Perez (groin) is expected to come off the IL this weekend, but Ortiz made a solid case to return to the rotation later in the campaign should a spot open up. Through 53 innings this year, he sports a 3.23 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 43:18 K:BB.

The Giants designated Burgos for assignment Wednesday, Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic reports.

In the span of just two days, Burgos has been selected from Triple-A, optioned back to the minors and now will lose his spot on the 40-man roster. The 25-year-old lefty gave up a run during his only MLB appearance Monday but sports a 1.64 ERA in Triple-A, which could spark some interest from other organizations in need of bullpen help. Hayden Birdsong was selected from Sacramento in a corresponding move.

Turnbull said after Wednesday's 6-2 win over the Tigers that he felt "a little grab" in his right shoulder during his penultimate pitch of the third inning but noted that he isn't especially concerned about the injury, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Making his first start for the Phillies since April 30 as a replacement in the rotation for Taijuan Walker (finger), Turnbull struck out two and allowed one run on one hit and two walks before leaving the game following the bottom of the third inning. The Phillies labeled his injury as a sore shoulder, but he'll undergo further testing Thursday as the team looks to get a more precise diagnosis. The upcoming tests should also help clarify whether Turnbull will be ready to go for his next turn through the rotation, which would fall next week in Chicago at Wrigley Field. Michael Mercado would likely be the next man up to enter the rotation if Turnbull needs to join Walker on the 15-day injured list.

Smith will undergo an MRI after feeling tightness in his right forearm while playing catch Wednesday, Abbey Mastracco of the New York Daily News reports.

Smith missed a chunk of time earlier this season with a shoulder problem and now has another arm issue to contend with. The righty has been a high-leverage reliever for the Mets this season when healthy, posting a 3.06 ERA and 23:9 K:BB over 17.2 frames.

Turnbull was removed from his start in Wednesday's game against the Tigers after three innings due to a sore right shoulder, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports. He struck out two and allowed one earned run on one hit and two walks before exiting the contest.

Manager Rob Thomson previously said that Turnbull was being targeted for around 70 pitches in his first start since April 30, but the right-hander lasted just 36 pitches before bowing out with the shoulder issue. Turnbull will likely be put through more thorough testing after the game as the Phillies look to determine the full extent of the injury, but he could be at risk of landing on the 15-day injured list alongside Taijuan Walker (finger), whom he had replaced in the rotation.

The Rockies placed Bird on the 15-day injured list Wednesday with a right groin strain.

Bird sustained the injury in his most recent relief appearance in Saturday's 8-7 win over the Nationals and won't be eligible to return from the IL until July 8. The right-hander had recently returned from a month-long stay on the shelf due to elbow inflammation and made just three appearances out of the Colorado bullpen before being shut down again with a new injury.

Brewers general manager Matt Arnold said Wednesday that Williams (back) could return from the 60-day injured list sooner than his initial mid-to-late-July recovery timeline, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Williams was scheduled for a bullpen session Wednesday, which would have marked his first time throwing off a mound since being shut down during spring training with multiple stress fractures in his back. He will need to throw off the bump multiple times and eventually go out on a rehab assignment before being activated. That said, while Williams still has multiple checkpoints to hit in his rehab program, he looks to be in a good spot with his recovery.

The Brewers designated Kuhnel for assignment Wednesday, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

Kuhnel was on the Brewers' 40-man roster and 26-man active roster for one day and didn't make a relief appearance. He can elect free agency if he passes through waivers unclaimed.

Nunez (1-0) gave up an unearned run on one hit and struck out two over 2.2 relief innings Tuesday to record the win over the Yankees.

The right-hander fired 21 of 28 pitches for strikes and didn't walk a batter after taking over from David Peterson in the fifth inning with the Mets ahead 6-1, eventually getting credited with his first career win in the majors. Nunez has been outstanding since his promotion in late May, delivering a 1.80 ERA, 0.53 WHIP and 19:1 K:BB through 15 innings and emerging as a key figure in the team's bullpen.

The Cardinals recalled Roycroft from Triple-A Memphis on Wednesday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

He will serve as the team's 27th man for Wednesday's doubleheader against Atlanta. Roycroft has collected a 3.07 ERA and 13:8 K:BB over 14.2 relief innings with the Cardinals this season. He'll likely be sent back down to Triple-A following the doubleheader.