MLB Player News

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

After being recalled from Triple-A on May 20, Maldonado gave up six earned runs in just five innings while striking out five batters and walking five more. The A's will now send him back to the minors to right the ship and recall Osvaldo Bido as the 27-year-old's replacement.

The Cardinals optioned Graceffo to Triple-A Memphis on Saturday.

Graceffo has struggled mightily in the big leagues this season, accumulating a 7.47 ERA and 1.40 WHIP through 15.2 innings with St. Louis. He'll now attempt to get back on track in Triple-A, and Roddery Munoz will come up to fill the vacancy in the Cardinals' bullpen.

The Cardinals recalled Munoz from Triple-A Memphis on Saturday.

Munoz has given up four earned runs in 4.2 innings with the Cardinals this season, and he also owns a 5.06 ERA through 21.1 frames in the minors. Despite his performance, he'll rejoin the big club to give St. Louis' bullpen another fresh arm, replacing Gordon Graceffo.

Zastryzny will serve as the Brewers' opening pitcher for Saturday's game against the Phillies, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Zastryzny struck out two batters in a scoreless inning when the Brewers used him as an opener May 19 against Baltimore, and he'll now aim for similar success while facing off against the top of Philadelphia's order. Chad Patrick is expected to follow Zastryzny as a bulk reliever.

Lord recorded his first hold of the season in Friday's win over the Diamondbacks, giving up a hit and two walks while striking out three over two scoreless innings.

Entering the game in the seventh inning with the Nationals ahead 8-6, Lord threw 32 pitches (19 strikes) while providing a bridge to closer Kyle Finnegan. Lord's bounced between the rotation and a long-relief role this season, but Washington manager Dave Martinez appears to be willing to experiment with Lord as a high-leverage option in a Nats bullpen that needs all the late-inning help it can get. The rookie right-hander has earned the audition with a 1.00 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 11:4 K:BB over his last six appearances and nine innings, an impressive turnaround after he got tagged for multiple earned runs in seven straight trips to the mound.

Junk gave up three hits and struck out five over four scoreless relief innings in Friday's loss to the Giants.

After Cal Quantrill provided the Marlins with five good innings, Junk finished up the 2-0 loss and gave the rest of the bullpen a much-needed night off. The 29-year-old righty has made two appearances for Miami since being called up May 24, allowing just one run over nine innings with a 9:1 K:BB. While the team doesn't have an opening in its rotation right now and should get Eury Perez (elbow) back in early June, Junk is making a case for an audition as a starter at some point down the road.

Walters was removed from Friday's game with what appeared to an injury in the area of his shoulder, arm and back, MLB.com reports.

Walters grabbed at the area in obvious pain following a pitch in the ninth inning and was immediately removed. The right-hander will undergo an MRI on Saturday, and manager Stephen Vogt described the injury as "not good" following the game.

Suarez struck out three over 1.1 perfect innings Friday to record his 18th save of the season in a 3-2 win over the Pirates.

The right-hander breezed through Pittsburgh's 5-6-7-8 hitters as he moved back into the MLB lead in saves, one ahead of Seattle's Andres Munoz. Suarez has been tagged for earned runs only once in his last 13 appearances, and through 24.1 innings on the season he's produced a 2.22 ERA, 0.82 WHIP and 28:6 K:BB while converting 18 of his 20 save chances.

Vest gave up a run on two hits while striking out one in the ninth inning Friday to record his eighth save of the season in a 7-5 win over the Royals.

It's the second straight appearance in which Vest has been charged with a run, but he held a 0.00 ERA in 12 May innings prior to that. The right-hander is the lead dog in the Tigers' closer committee right now, picking up three of the team's last four saves, and on the season Vest sports a 2.00 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 29:9 K:BB through 27 innings while converting eight of his 10 save chances.

Yates (hamstring) threw off a bullpen mound Friday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

For the first time since landing on the injured list May 18 due to a right hamstring strain, Yates was able to throw off a mound. Per Ardaya, the veteran reliever said Friday that he hasn't felt any discomfort in the hamstring since a few days after initially getting hurt and indicated that he is optimistic he isn't going to miss much more time. Yates is eligible to be activated Monday, and he could be back with the Dodgers around that date if he comes out of Friday's session with any setbacks.