MLB Player News

Kinley pitched two shutout innings Sunday against the White Sox, allowing zero hits and one walk while striking out one.

The 33-year-old worked around the ghost runner in both the 11th and 12th innings, allowing just a single baserunner on an intentional walk. Fellow reliever Jalen Beeks earned the win in the 14th inning, but Kinley remains the preferred closer despite owning an ugly 8.27 ERA on the year. Both relievers will be in the mix for saves moving forward as part of a volatile Rockies bullpen.

Beeks (5-4) blew the save and picked up the win Sunday against the White Sox, allowing an unearned run on two hits and zero walks while striking out one batter in two innings of work.

Beeks came on in the 13th inning and allowed the ghost runner to score on an RBI single by Luis Robert, resulting in a blown save. The 30-year-old rebounded in the 14th inning, however, retiring the side in order to earn his fifth win of the season. Although Beeks was used in a high-leverage role Sunday, Tyler Kinley pitched two scoreless innings in the 11th and 12th and remains the preferred late-inning option for the Rockies. Beeks will continue to be in the mix for saves, but he is just 6-for-11 in save opportunities this season.

Mercado is scheduled to start Tuesday's game against the Cubs at Wrigley Field.

Just as Rob Thomson suggested would be the case shortly before Spencer Turnbull's (lat) placement on the 15-day injured list Thursday, Mercado is the next man up in the Philadelphia rotation. He should stick around as the Phillies' No. 5 starter at least until Taijuan Walker (finger) is ready to come off the IL, as Turnbull is projected to miss 6-to-8 weeks and won't factor into the rotation mix anytime soon. The 25-year-old Mercado made his a one-inning relief appearance in his MLB debut last week, but he had been operating as a starter at Triple-A Lehigh Valley prior to his June 23 call-up and shouldn't be facing any major restrictions with his pitch count Tuesday. Mercado -- who has posted a 1.71 ERA and 44:23 K:BB in 47.1 innings at Triple-A this season -- lines up for a two-start week, with his second outing set to come next Sunday in Atlanta.

Hoffman struck out one in a scoreless ninth inning to pick up the save Sunday vs. Miami.

Hoffman allowed a runner to reach on an error but was otherwise solid in picking up his sixth save. Jose Alvarado leads the Phillies with 12 saves this season, but Hoffman has gotten the occasional opportunity. No matter the role, Hoffman has proven to be one of the most reliable bullpen weapons for the Phillies this season, posting a 1.27 ERA and 0.93 WHIP.

Atlanta is expected to activate Minter (hip) from the 15-day injured list Monday, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

While making his third rehab appearance for Triple-A Gwinnett on Sunday, Minter tossed a scoreless inning. Assuming his left hip is feeling fine coming out of the minor-league outing, he should join Atlanta for the start of its three-game series versus the Giants. Daysbel Hernandez was optioned to Gwinnett following Atlanta's 4-2 loss to the Pirates on Sunday, creating an opening in the bullpen for Minter.

Hernandez was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett following Sunday's 4-2 loss to the Pirates.

Hernandez was called up June 17, tossing 6.2 scoreless innings while striking out nine batters over six appearances out of Atlanta's bullpen. The right-hander will now head back to Gwinnett, but he'll likely get another shot with the big-league club down the road this season.

The Rangers optioned Burke to Triple-A Round Rock on Sunday, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

The left-hander gave up three runs in his past two outings and will head to Triple-A in order to make room for infielder Jonathan Ornelas, who was called up Sunday. Burke has struggled to a 7.45 ERA and 11:6 K:BB in 10 outings for Texas this season.

Jansen earned the save Sunday against San Diego, striking out one batter during a perfect ninth inning.

Jansen was lights-out, and he has now converted on 12 straight save chances. It was his seventh straight appearance without allowing a run. He's been fantastic as of late, with a 0.70 ERA over his last 12 appearances. The 36-year-old has converted 16 of 17 save chances this season and will carry a 2.22 ERA and 1.02 WHIP into July.

Triple-A Salt Lake reinstated Rosenberg (undisclosed) from the 7-day injured list Friday.

In his return from a three-week absence, Rosenberg stepped right back into the Salt Lake rotation, covering four innings while giving up one run on three hits and no walks while striking out five in the club's 12-11 loss to Albuquerque in 11 innings. Over his 13 starts for Salt Lake this season, Rosenberg has compiled a 3.75 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 61:24 K:BB across 72 innings.

Contreras will start Thursday's game against the Athletics in Oakland, Doug Padilla of The Orange County Register reports.

The Angels will get Jose Soriano (abdomen) back from the injured list Tuesday, but with Patrick Sandoval (elbow) getting ruled out for the season last week and with Zach Plesac getting sent down to Triple-A Salt Lake on Saturday, Contreras and Davis Daniel will both get at least one more turn through the rotation. Since he had been working exclusively out of the bullpen this season before being called upon to start last Wednesday in Anaheim versus the Athletics, Contreras was capped at three innings and 61 pitches in the outing. Though he likely won't be stretched out quite enough to handle a typical starter's workload, Contreras should at least be able to give the Angels five innings if he's more efficient with his pitch count in the rematch with Oakland.