MLB Player News

Snead cleared waivers and was assigned outright to Triple-A Tacoma on Saturday.

Snead was designated for assignment by the Mariners on Tuesday, but he'll now report to Triple-A after going unclaimed on waivers. The left-hander has appeared in 12 contests with Tacoma this season, producing a 2.92 ERA and 0.91 WHIP with 13 strikeouts over 12.1 innings.

Brewers manager Pat Murphy said Saturday that Williams (back) is expected to be cleared to throw off a mound soon, Jack Stern of Brewer Fanatic reports.

Murphy also added that Williams remains on track to return just after the All-Star break, although that would seem to be a tentative timetable given that the reliever has yet to resume throwing off a mound. Williams is working his way back from multiple stress fractures in his back. Trevor Megill has operated as the Brewers' primary closer with Williams on the shelf.

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

Thompson will provide a fresh arm for a bullpen that was needed to cover 7.1 innings Friday. He holds a 4.97 ERA and 19:6 K:BB over 12.2 relief innings during his time with the Cubs this season.

Vespi was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk on Saturday.

Vespi will return to the major-league bullpen after being sent down June 6, replacing Kyle Bradish (elbow) on the Orioles' roster following Bradish's placement on the 15-day injured list Saturday. The left-handed Vespi has made two appearances with Baltimore this season, tossing two scoreless innings while allowing two hits.

Webb (1-4) allowed two runs (one earned) on one hit and one walk while striking out one over one inning to take the extra-innings loss versus the Phillies on Friday.

Alec Bohm delivered a two-run double in the 11th inning, and the Orioles couldn't produce a fourth comeback in the contest. That play ended an 11-inning scoreless streak for Webb, who has been steady in a setup role for Baltimore this season. Overall, he has a 1.95 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 29:15 K:BB while adding two saves and seven holds across 32.1 innings. Webb's 4.2 BB/9 is not outside of his usual level of performance but is still high, so he may have trouble sustaining his strong ratios over a full season.

Wilson is in line to serve as a bulk reliever Saturday versus the Reds behind opening pitcher Jared Koenig, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Wilson has now alternated between traditional starts and bulk relief over his last six appearances. The right-hander had turned in a 3.00 ERA over a stretch of 11 appearances spanning 48 innings from April 10 through June 3, but he had his worst outing of the season in a loss to the Tigers this past Sunday, when he surrendered seven earned runs over 4.1 frames.

Koenig will serve as the Brewers' opening pitcher in Saturday's game against the Reds, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

It's a familiar role for Koenig, who hasn't been scored upon in 4.1 innings as an opener this season. He's expected to be followed Saturday by Bryse Wilson in bulk relief.

Merryweather (ribs) threw a 26-pitch bullpen session Friday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.

Merryweather has been on the shelf since early April due to a rib stress fracture and has finally progressed to mound work. While he's moving in the right direction, the reliever would seem to still be several weeks away from a potential return.

Alexander (0-2) took the extra-inning loss against the Twins on Friday, allowing an unearned run on a hit and an intentional walk without recording an out.

Alexander's lighting-quick outing resulted in the culmination of the Twins' comeback from a pair of deficits, with the southpaw intentionally putting Carlos Correa on and then conceding a walk-off RBI single on his first pitch to Max Kepler that plated automatic runner Austin Martin. Alexander has now allowed a run in three straight appearances and taken his first two losses of the season in consecutive outings, and he may be kept out of high-leverage situations for the time being as he tries to get back on track.

Kilian (shoulder) threw a 32-pitch bullpen session Friday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.

It would appear to be the first time he's thrown off a mound since being diagnosed in early March with a teres major strain in his right shoulder. Kilian, who is on the 60-day injured list, figures to need a lengthy rehab assignment once he's deemed ready. Further, it isn't a given that he will be added to the big-league roster once he's off the IL.