MLB Player News

The Nationals optioned Cruz to Triple-A Rochester on Wednesday.

Cruz was part of the trade package that came back to Washington from the Yankees in the Aug. 3 deal that sent first baseman Luis Garcia to New York. In six appearances out of the Nationals bullpen, Cruz allowed five runs on nine hits and five walks with four strikeouts across four innings.

The Reds are expected to activate Santillan (oblique) from the 15-day injured list Friday, Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati reports.

Santillan has retired all nine batters he's faced on his rehab assignment, five of them via strikeout. He's been shelved since late June with an oblique strain, but his return to the Cincinnati bullpen is imminent.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Wednesday that Hollowell (shoulder) has resumed a throwing program, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Counsell didn't offer any specifics regarding where Hollowell stands in his progression, but the skipper noted that the right-hander ended up being shut down from throwing a little longer than anticipated after hitting the shelf July 31 due to shoulder inflammation. Deployed mostly in lower-leverage spots during his time with the Cubs this season, Hollowell has collected one save and one hold while pitching to a 2.51 ERA and 1.33 WHIP across 14.1 innings out of the bullpen.

Brown (neck) is slated to throw against live hitters Friday at the Cubs' facility in Arizona, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Facing hitters will represent the final box for Brown to check in his recovery from a stress reaction in his neck before heading out on a rehab assignment. Prior to landing on the injured list June 24, Brown had excelled after transitioning from the bullpen to a starting role in early May, but it's unclear if the Cubs will have room for him in the rotation once he's ready to return from the shelf. Though Edward Cabrera (finger) landed back on the IL on Monday and is slated to serve as a reliever when he eventually returns, the Cubs still have Javier Assad, Colin Rea and David Peterson on hand as viable options to fill the vacancy in the rotation.

Palencia (elbow) will be reinstated from the 60-day injured list ahead of Friday's game in Seattle, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

The Cubs have deemed Palencia fit to rejoin the big club after he capped his five-appearance minor-league rehab assignment on a high note Sunday, when he gave up one hit and struck out three of the four batters he faced for Triple-A Iowa. Palencia had been serving as the Cubs' primary closer prior to landing on the shelf June 16 due to a right elbow flexor strain, but it's unclear if he'll immediately reclaim those duties upon his return. Jacob Webb has been lights out at the back of the Chicago bullpen, converting seven consecutive save chances while permitting no runs over his last 23 appearances.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Wednesday that Harvey's (triceps/shoulder) rehab hasn't come along as hoped, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Harvey has been out nearly all season, first due to right triceps inflammation and then because of a stress reaction in his triceps/shoulder area. The reliever has been throwing off a mound this month, but he doesn't look close to facing hitters or going out on a rehab assignment.

The Mets recalled McDermott from Triple-A Syracuse on Wednesday.

McDermott has allowed two runs with a 3:2 K:BB over 3.1 innings during his time with the Mets this season. He will give interim manager Andy Green a fresh arm in the bullpen.

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

Though he allowed one run over 1.1 innings in Tuesday's loss to the Padres, Weisenburger's first big-league stint went well, as he logged a 2.08 ERA and 4:2 K:BB over 4.1 frames. Chayce McDermott will grab Weisenburger's spot on the active roster.

Raley struck out one in a perfect ninth inning Tuesday to record his first save of the season in a 6-4 win over the Marlins.

With Jhoan Duran unavailable after working the prior two days, interim manager Don Mattingly deployed Jose Alvarado in the seventh inning and Orion Kerkering in the eighth before turning to Raley in the ninth to face the bottom of the Miami order. Raley got tagged for two runs in his Philly debut after being acquired from the Mets at the trade deadline, but since then the veteran lefty has settled down, posting a 1.59 ERA, 0.53 WHIP and 6:1 K:BB over his last six appearances and 5.2 innings.

O'Brien struck out one in a perfect ninth inning Tuesday to record his 32nd save of the season in a 3-0 win over the Reds.

The big right-hander continued an absolutely dominant stretch that began July 22. Over his last 11 appearances, O'Brien has converted all seven of his save chances without allowing a run and surrendering just one hit, while posting a 12:5 K:BB over 11 innings. While he entered 2026 with just six career saves, O'Brien's 32 this season have him second in the majors behind Bryan Baker's 35.