MLB Player News

Williams (back) played catch before Saturday's game against the Astros, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Saturday marks the first time Williams has done any sort of throwing since being shut down during spring training due to multiple stress fractures in his back. The 29-year-old closer still has a long way to go before the Brewers can think about sending him out on a minor-league rehab assignment, but he is certainly trending in the right direction. He's expected to rejoin Milwaukee's bullpen near the All-Star break.

Fleming cleared waivers Saturday and was sent outright to Triple-A Indianapolis, Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Fleming was DFA'd by the Pirates on Tuesday after giving up six runs (five earned) in his most recent MLB appearance, and he will officially remain within the organization as he looks to get back on track. The 28-year-old southpaw posted a 4.35 ERA and 1.77 WHIP in Triple-A last season, though he will likely have to do better than that before the Pirates start thinking about calling him back up to the majors.

Walker (back) struck out one in a perfect inning to earn a hold in Friday's 10-5 win over the Rockies.

Walker was dealing with back tightness earlier in the week, but he was able to move past it with the help of Thursday's off day. The right-hander is up to five holds on the year, and he's added a 2.35 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 31:4 K:BB over 23 innings. He continues to be one of the Giants' most versatile relievers, though that doesn't often lead to him pitching in late-inning situations.

Manager Craig Counsell said Saturday that he expects Smyly (hip) to begin a rehab assignment with High-A South Bend sometime next week, Mike McGraw of the Chicago Daily Herald reports.

Counsell did not specify how many appearances Smyly will make in the minors, though the lefty figures to require multiple outings given he's been on the shelf since April 23 with a hip impingement. The 34-year-old put up a 4.97 ERA and 1.34 WHIP across 12.2 innings before getting hurt, and he will likely return to a multi-inning relief role once he rejoins Chicago.

De Los Santos registered a hold against Atlanta on Friday, striking out one batter over a perfect two-thirds of an inning.

De Los Santos entered in the seventh frame with the tying run at the plate and struck out Zack Short before getting Ronald Acuna to fly out to escape the danger. The hold was the first this month for the right-hander hurler, who had given up a homer in three of his previous four outings prior to Friday. The long ball has been an issue for De Los Santos this season -- of the six earned runs he's allowed, five have come on solo homers -- but he's otherwise been solid, posting a 3.12 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 23:4 K:BB while collecting five holds across 17.1 innings.

The Rays traded Belge to the Cubs on Saturday in exchange for Richard Lovelady.

Belge has spent all of 2024 at Double-A Montgomery while putting up a 4.20 ERA and 1.13 WHIP across 15 innings out of the bullpen. The 26-year-old southpaw will presumably remain in Double-A as he moves into the Cubs' farm system.

Suarez earned a hold against Atlanta on Friday, allowing two hits and striking out two batters over one inning.

Suarez has been one of the best closers in baseball this season with 12 saves (in 12 chances) and a 0.47 ERA, so his usage in the eighth inning against Atlanta was not a demotion. Rather, the right-hander was called upon to face the heart of Atlanta's formidable lineup, and though he gave up singles to Marcell Ozuna and Chadwick Tromp, Suarez managed to emerge from the outing with his 16-game scoreless streak intact. The 33-year-old should see most of his work in the ninth inning going forward, though Friday's usage is an indication that manager Mike Shildt won't hesitate to use Suarez in the highest-leverage situations prior to the ninth if the situation calls for it.

Matsui earned a hold against Atlanta on Friday, walking one batter and striking out two over two-thirds of an inning.

Matsui was called upon with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning with the trying run at the plate, and he struck out Michael Harris to end the frame. The lefty reliever then struck out Orlando Arcia to begin the seventh before walking Adam Duvall, which got him the hook. Interestingly, usual closer Robert Suarez was deployed in a high-leverage spot in the eighth frame Friday, but Matsui -- who was expected to compete for the ninth-inning role after working mostly as a closer during his 10-year career in Japan -- wasn't available to close since he had already been used. If Suarez sees more work before the ninth, it's possible Matsui gets an occasional save chance, though he's mostly struggled in May, allowing four runs on five hits while posting a 6:6 K:BB over 4.2 innings covering six appearances.

Atlanta outrighted Stephens to Triple-A Gwinnett on Saturday.

Stephens came up from the minors May 4 to replace the injured Pierce Johnson, and will now return to Triple-A as Johnson comes off the IL. Stephens made three appearances in his latest big-league stint, allowing one run over 3.1 innings while striking out two batters and walking one.

Atlanta reinstated Johnson (elbow) from the 15-day injured list Saturday.

Right elbow inflammation forced Johnson onto the injured list May 4, and he'll now return to Atlanta's bullpen following a minimum-length stay. The 33-year-old righty sports a 3.00 ERA and 1.25 WHIP through 12 innings this season, and he figures to see plenty of action during Atlanta's stretch of 17 consecutive games without a day off. Jackson Stephens was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett in a corresponding move.