MLB Player News

The Royals designated Anderson for assignment Saturday.

Anderson's move off the 40-man roster clears a spot for right-hander Hunter Harvey, whom the Royals acquired from the Nationals on Saturday. Over 34.2 innings out of the bullpen this season, Anderson logged a 4.15 ERA and struck out 29 batters across 34.2 innings with Kansas City. He's under contract at a modest $1.58 million salary for 2024, so it wouldn't be surprising if another reliever-needy team put in a waiver claim for Anderson.

Wesneski (3-6) took the loss in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Cardinals, surrendering 11 runs (four earned) on 10 hits and a walk over four innings. He struck out four.

The right-hander's own errors during a nightmarish nine-run first inning prevented more damage to his ERA, but it was still a poor outing for Wesneski at the worst possible time, as it put extra pressure on the Cubs' bullpen ahead of the nightcap. In four starts since rejoining the rotation in late June, he's posted a 5.59 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 20:6 K:BB in 19.1 innings while serving up five homers, including a three-run blast by Alec Burleson on Saturday.

The Cubs recalled Palencia from Triple-A Iowa on Saturday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.

Palencia will join the big-league roster ahead of the second half of Saturday's twin bill against the Cardinals. The right-hander has been with Iowa since being activated from the IL on June 3. Ethan Roberts, who pitched two innings in Game 1, was optioned to Iowa in a corresponding move.

The Cubs optioned Roberts to Triple-A Iowa on Saturday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Roberts threw two scoreless innings and struck out three batters during a loss to the Cardinals in Game 1 of Saturday's twin bill, and he'll now be sent back to the minors between games. Daniel Palencia was recalled from Iowa in a corresponding move.

Brieske will start Sunday against the Dodgers in what will be a bullpen day for the Tigers, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.

Sunday will mark Brieske's first start of the season, as the Tigers will rely on their bullpen to get them through the final game of the first half. The right-hander owns a 3.52 ERA and 1.04 WHIP through 30.2 innings this season, and he's reached two innings or more in eight of his 18 appearances.

Ortiz did not factor into the decision in Saturday's 6-2 win over the White Sox, allowing one run on four hits and one walk with five strikeouts over 5.2 innings.

Ortiz tossed five scoreless innings before allowing an RBI single in the sixth. He was pulled just shy of a quality start at 94 pitches and has now yielded a total of two earned runs in his three opportunities to start this season. While it is unclear if the 25-year-old will remain in the rotation after the All-Star break, he has likely earned additional starting opportunities by posting a 2.84 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 57:19 K:BB across 66.2 innings this season.

Phillips blew a save in Saturday's 11-9 extra-inning loss to the Tigers, allowing two runs on three hits while striking out one in the ninth inning.

Phillips was called upon to protect a 9-6 lead with a runner on second and no outs in the ninth inning, but he allowed the Tigers to tie the game on an RBI single and a two-run home run. The righty has struggled in July, yielding four earned runs and blowing two saves in five appearances while not always working the ninth inning. On the year, he is 14-for-16 in save chances with a 2.73 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 32:8 K:BB across 29.2 innings.

The Giants reinstated Warren (elbow) from the 60-day injured list Saturday and optioned him to Triple-A Sacramento, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Warren has been on the injured list all season while working his way back from the Tommy John procedure he underwent in May 2023. He has been playing in rehab games at Triple-A since June 18, and he'll essentially continue that rehab with Sacramento after allowing 10 runs (nine earned) in his first 8.1 innings. He will reclaim a spot on the 40-man roster, though he'll likely need to turn in better results in the minors before having a chance to join San Francisco.

The Nationals recalled Salazar from Triple-A Rochester on Saturday.

Washington claimed Salazar off waivers from Seattle on June 13 and will now give him an opportunity with the big-league club a month later. The righty reliever has posted an excellent 0.84 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 15:2 K:BB over 10.2 frames with Rochester since joining the Nationals organization. Pitcher Jackson Rutledge was optioned to Triple-A in a corresponding move.

The Orioles transferred Coulombe (elbow) to the 60-day injured list Saturday.

Coulombe hasn't been ruled out for the season after undergoing left elbow surgery in June, but he'll give up his spot on the 40-man roster for the time being in order to make room for Vinny Nittoli.