MLB Player News

Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said Sunday that he anticipates Bednar (oblique) reporting to Triple-A Indianapolis this week to begin a rehab assignment, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.

Bednar has been on the 15-day injured list since June 23 with a left oblique strain, but he's on the cusp of a return after he threw a 21-pitch live batting practice session Saturday without incident. Cherington didn't say whether Bednar would require more than one rehab appearance with Indianapolis, but with the All-Star break looming, it wouldn't be surprising if the Pirates waited until the start of their second-half schedule July 19 before activating their closer.

Double-A Harrisburg reinstated Brzykcy (elbow) from its 60-day injured list Monday.

Brzykcy has struck out two while allowing two hits and one walk over two scoreless innings across two appearances since making his 2024 debut for Harrisburg. The 24-year-old rejoined Harrisburg after recently finishing up a six-week rehab assignment at the Nationals' lower-level affiliates while he completed his recovery from the Tommy John surgery he underwent last summer. The relief prospect has a spot on the Nationals' 40-man roster, but the organization likely isn't counting on Brzykcy making any major contributions to the big-league bullpen in 2024.

The Dodgers optioned Varland to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Sunday.

The right-hander was called up by Los Angeles on Friday and will return to Oklahoma City without appearing in a game. Varland has six appearances for the Dodgers this season and has allowed two earned runs with a 3:4 K:BB over six innings.

The Athletics reinstated Muller (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list Sunday.

Muller had been on the shelf since May 30 with left shoulder tendinitis but will rejoin Oakland after completing four rehab appearances with Triple-A Las Vegas. The southpaw covered three innings and tossed 61 pitches in his final outing for Las Vegas on Saturday, so the Athletics would presumably prefer not to use him in Sunday's series finale with the Orioles. Left-hander Jack O'Loughlin was optioned to Las Vegas in a corresponding move.

The Athletics optioned O'Loughlin to Triple-A Las Vegas on Sunday.

Though he was called up from Las Vegas on June 25, O'Loughlin went unused out of the bullpen until the Athletics' 19-8 win over the Orioles on Saturday, when he gave up five runs on seven hits and two walks over 2.2 innings while mopping up. The Athletics activated Kyle Muller (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list to replace O'Loughlin in the bullpen.

The Cubs selected Bigge's contract from Triple-A Iowa on Sunday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.

The 26-year-old will join the Cubs for his first look in the big leagues as Colten Brewer (hand) heads to the 60-day injured list in a corresponding move. Bigge has six saves with a 0.77 ERA and 19:6 K:BB across 11.2 innings for Iowa this season.

The Cubs placed Brewer on the 60-day injured list Sunday with a fractured left hand, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.

The 31-year-old suffered the injury when he punched the dugout wall with his left (non-throwing) hand after being removed from Saturday's 7-0 loss. Brewer gave up three runs (one earned) over two-thirds of an inning, which capped a five-appearance stretch during which he allowed seven earned runs in five frames. He'll now be sidelined through at least early September.

Santana (arm) struck out two over two scoreless innings of relief in Saturday's 5-2 loss to the Mets. He gave up two hits and no walks.

Santana was making his third appearance out of the bullpen since he was lifted from a June 24 relief outing versus the Reds after being struck in the right arm by a line drive. He was held out of action for a week and has given up two runs (one earned) on four hits and two walks over four innings through his first three appearances of July.

Peralta (2-2) didn't retire a batter and took the loss against Arizona on Saturday. He entered in the 10th frame and allowed three runs (two earned) on two hits and one walk.

Peralta took the ball in the top of the 10th and quickly loaded the bases, giving up a bunt single and a walk to the first two batters he faced. Christian Walker followed with a two-run single, which resulted in Peralta getting the hook. Another run scored following the left-hander's departure, and San Diego couldn't come back in the bottom of the frame. After posting a sub-3.00 ERA in each of his previous two seasons while with the Yankees, Peralta is at a 4.32 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 20:12 K:BB over 33.1 innings this year. He's given up at least one run in six of his past 12 outings.

The Marlins designated Andriese for assignment Sunday.

He'll cede his spot on the 40-man roster and 26-man active roster to right-hander Edward Cabrera (shoulder), who was reinstated from the 60-day injured list ahead of his start Sunday against the White Sox. After being called up from Triple-A Jacksonville on Thursday, Andriese appeared in relief later that day in the Marlins' game against the Red Sox, taking a loss while giving up two runs (one earned) on two hits and one walk over one inning.