MLB Player News

Astros manager Joe Espada said that Whitley (knee) is "a possibility" to be activated from the 15-day injured list during the team's three-game series with the Rays that begins Monday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Whitley has made just one appearance with the Astros this season due to a pair of knee injuries, but he looked sharp in two recent rehab appearances with Triple-A Sugar Land, tossing two perfect innings with four strikeouts. Upon activation, the former top prospect is likely to be used in low-leverage relief spots initially.

The Athletics optioned Maldonado to Triple-A Las Vegas on Monday.

The transaction clears a spot on the 26-man active roster for J.T. Ginn (elbow), who will return from the injured list to start Monday's game against the Angels. Maldonado was called up Friday and allowed two runs on three hits while striking out two during his lone one-inning appearance out of the Athletics bullpen. He'll return to Triple-A, where he's posted a 0.73 ERA, 0.66 WHIP and 17:2 K:BB across 12.1 innings.

Zastryzny will serve as the Brewers' opening pitcher in Monday's game against the Orioles, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

Zastryzny will likely be limited to one or two innings before giving way to right-hander Quinn Priester, who is slated to work as the Brewers' primary pitcher in the series opener. The left-handed Zastryzny was acquired via trade last week and tossed two scoreless frames in his first appearance with Milwaukee.

Cronin (hip) will resume a rehab assignment with Single-A Jupiter on Tuesday, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

Cronin made three rehab appearances with Triple-A Jacksonville in mid-April before being pulled off the rehab assignment, presumably after experiencing a setback. He looks to be back on track with recovery now, though. Cronin has been out all season with a left hip strain.

The Phillies recalled Lazar from Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Monday.

Lazar will join the big club for the first time all season and will take the 26-man active roster spot of right-hander Mick Abel, who was optioned to Triple-A after making a spot start for the Phillies in Sunday's win over the Pirates. Though the back end of the Philadelphia bullpen lost a notable piece after lefty Jose Alvarado was handed an 80-game suspension Sunday, Lazar is unlikely to factor into the mix for saves. He'll presumably work in middle relief initially after he turned in a 3.12 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 20:6 K:BB in 17.1 innings with Lehigh Valley to earn the call to Philadelphia.

The Royals activated Clarke from the paternity list Monday.

Clarke missed the weekend series versus the Cardinals while welcoming a new addition to the family, but he's back for the start of a three-game set in San Francisco. The righty has tossed 5.1 scoreless frames with the Royals this season.

Guenther will serve as the Tigers' opening pitcher for Monday's game against the Cardinals, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

Guenther will draw his first MLB start Monday, though he hasn't covered more than two innings in any of his nine appearances between the big club and the minors this season and is unlikely to work deep into the contest. Keider Montero is slated to cover the bulk of the innings out of the bullpen once Guenther exits the game.

Atlanta released Weems on Monday.

Inked to a minor-league pact over the winter, Weems posted a 5.09 ERA and 18:10 K:BB over 17.2 innings out of the bullpen at Triple-A Gwinnett. The 32-year-old last saw action in the majors in 2024, when he collected a 6.70 ERA across 40 appearances for the Nationals.

Banda (3-1) took the loss against the Angels on Sunday, allowing one run on two hits while striking out two batters over two innings.

Banda entered with the Angels up by three runs in the seventh inning and tossed a 1-2-3 frame. The Dodgers tied the game with three runs in the bottom of the inning, but Banda couldn't hold the lead, giving up a solo homer to Travis d'Arnaud in the eighth. That was the only run the lefty reliever surrendered, but it was enough to hand him his first defeat of the campaign. Banda was a bit of a revelation for the Dodgers last year, but he's been less effective this season with a 4.37 ERA and 1.28 WHIP over 22.2 innings. He's held the opponent scoreless in 16 of his 22 outings but has given up multiple runs in five of his other six trips to the mound.

Ginkel struck out two over a scoreless eighth inning to earn a hold in Sunday's 1-0 win over the Rockies.

Ginkel set down the side in order on 11 pitches (seven strikes) to hold a scant Diamondbacks lead for fill-in closer Shelby Miller. It was the second straight hold recorded by Ginkel, who has five over 10 outings. More importantly, he has four consecutive scoreless appearance following a disastrous meltdown against the Dodgers on May 9, when he was tagged with a loss and a blown save after allowing five runs and four hits over a third of an inning.