MLB Player News

The Phillies recalled Backhus from Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Saturday.

Backhus has posted a 5.87 ERA and 1.57 WHIP across 15.1 innings in the majors this season, but he'll return to Philadelphia to provide the big club with a fresh bullpen arm. Max Lazar was sent down to Triple-A in a corresponding move.

The Phillies transferred Banks (forearm) to the 60-day injured list Saturday.

Banks landed on the injured list July 9 with a strained left forearm, and his move to the 60-day IL will officially rule him out until at least Sept. 7. He'll give up his place on the 40-man roster to Brian Keller, who was activated to work as a bulk reliever Saturday against the Yankees.

Mayza will serve as the opening pitcher in Saturday's game against the Yankees.

Mayza has given up seven earned runs in 3.1 innings across his last three appearances, but the Phillies will trust him to open Saturday's contest and set the stage for Brian Keller, who will be making his MLB debut as a bulk reliever.

The Phillies selected Keller's contract from Triple-A Lehigh Valley ahead of his scheduled appearance Saturday against the Yankees.

Keller, 32, will be making his MLB debut as a bulk reliever Saturday after posting a 2.23 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 38:11 K:BB across 36.1 innings at Lehigh Valley. Alex McFarlane and Max Lazar were sent down to Triple-A as part of a roster shuffle, and Tanner Banks (forearm) was transferred to the 60-day IL to clear a 40-man spot for Keller.

The Rays optioned Roycroft to Triple-A Durham on Saturday.

After joining Tampa Bay's bullpen July 6, Roycroft gave up eight earned runs in 13 innings while striking out 11 batters and walking three. He'll now lose his place on the active roster to make room for Steven Matz (ankle), who returned from the injured list Saturday.

Gordon struck out two batters and allowed one earned run on three hits and one walk across 5.2 innings of relief in Sunday's 9-6 loss to the Reds.

After coming off the injured list June 30, Gordon made each of his three appearances as a starter prior to the All-Star break, logging a 6.60 ERA and 1.73 WHIP in 15 innings across those outings. However, with Tomoyuki Sugano getting cleared to return from the IL to begin the second half, Gordon has since shifted back to the bullpen. He ended up mopping up Sunday behind started Ryan Feltner, who took the loss after being rocked for eight earned runs across 2.1 innings.

Merryweather (hamstring) allowed one hit and no walks over a scoreless inning of relief Wednesday after being reinstated from Triple-A St. Paul's 7-day injured list Tuesday.

Merryweather was placed on St. Paul's IL coming out of spring training after suffering a Grade 1 hamstring strain in late February, and he then suffered a setback shortly after beginning a rehab assignment in the rookie-level Florida Complex League in early May. The veteran righty restarted his rehab assignment July 4 and compiled a 2.84 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 10:1 K:BB in 6.1 innings over six appearances between the FCL and Single-A Fort Myers before St. Paul brought him back from the IL.

Bradford (elbow) struck out four and allowed three hits and no walks across three innings in a rehab start Friday with Double-A Frisco.

Since resuming his rehab assignment July 12, Bradford has now tacked on an inning to his workload in his subsequent two starts. Overall, the southpaw has yielded one earned run on four hits and two walks while striking out nine across six innings. He built up to 48 pitches (39 strikes) in Friday's outing, so Bradford will likely need to push his pitch count up to the 70-to-80 range over the course of two more rehab starts before coming back from the 60-day injured list and slotting into the Texas rotation. Bradford has been on the shelf all season while recovering from the internal brace surgery he underwent last June and a setback that cropped up during his initial rehab assignment back in April.

Santillan (oblique) threw out to 75 feet Friday and experienced no discomfort, MLB.com reports.

Santillan is scheduled for additional imaging on his left obique next Friday. He's been on the injured list since late June.

Hollowell was charged with an unearned run in the 10th inning Friday without allowing a hit or a walk, recording his first save of the season in a 3-2 win over the Pirates. He didn't strike out a batter.

The right-hander entered the game after the Cubs took a 3-1 lead in the top of the 10th, and while Hollowell couldn't stop the phantom runner from coming around to score, the Bucs didn't get anyone else on base. Jacob Webb had worked the eighth inning and Caleb Thielbar the ninth, but Hollowell could be positioning himself for more high-leverage work. Since rejoining the big-league roster in late June, he's delivered a 0.00 ERA, 0.69 WHIP and 10:3 K:BB through 8.2 innings.