MLB Player News

Cubs manager Craig Counsell said that Brown will start Thursday's game against Atlanta at Wrigley Field, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.

Brown will pick up his fifth start of the season, filling the spot in the rotation that belonged to Kyle Hendricks before the veteran right-hander was moved to the bullpen earlier this week. Because he hasn't started since May 2 and will be pitching on three days' rest after covering two frames in relief Sunday, Brown may not be asked to give the Cubs more than three or four innings as he re-enters the rotation. Hendricks hasn't been used since his last start Friday and could be called upon to piggyback Brown, but Counsell hasn't outlined his plans for when Brown exits the contest. Brown may not be in line for a lengthy stay in the rotation, as the Cubs could get Jordan Wicks (forearm) back from the injured list next week to take over as their No. 5 starter.

Newcomb (knee) allowed two runs over one inning in his first rehab appearance with Triple-A Las Vegas on Wednesday.

Newcomb had his first rehab outing over the weekend with the Arizona Complex League Athletics before moving up to a higher affiliate. Making his way back from left knee inflammation, Newcomb will probably need a couple more rehab appearances before Oakland adds him to their active roster.

The Cardinals optioned Roycroft to Triple-A Memphis on Thursday.

Roycroft served as the 27th man for the Cardinals on Wednesday and didn't make an appearance. The big right-hander will rejoin the bullpen at Memphis.

Spence did not factor into the decision in a loss to the Rockies on Wednesday, allowing two runs on five hits and three walks over three innings while striking out four.

Spence got knocked around early, surrendering a leadoff single to Charlie Blackmon to open the contest, followed by a two-run shot off the bat of Elias Diaz three batters later. Those would be the only two runs allowed by the right-hander on the night, though he continued to struggle with his command, needing 27 pitches to get through the third inning alone. Spence has been unable to get through five innings in either of his first two starts and also matched his season high with three walks Wednesday.

Walker (4-2) pitched a perfect ninth inning and struck out one, earning the extra-inning win over the Pirates on Wednesday.

Walker kept the game tied in the ninth inning, and the Giants' offense exploded in the 10th to make him the pitcher of record. The right-hander has stumbled a little recently, allowing two runs over his last five innings, but he also has a 7:0 K:BB and three holds in that span. Walker is getting the job done with a 2.42 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 36:4 K:BB over 26 innings this season. He's added seven holds and one blown save while not seeing a lot of late-inning work, but his elite strikeout numbers make him an interesting option in all NL-only formats and some deeper mixed leagues as well.

Scott earned the save Wednesday against Milwaukee, allowing one hit and no walks across a scoreless inning with one strikeout.

Scott is now 6-for-7 on save chances this season and has added four tallies in the win column. The 29-year-old has been charged with at least one earned run in just two of his 21 appearances, owning a 1.71 ERA with a 22:18 K:BB across 21.0 innings.

Gaddis (3-1) allowed a hit and struck out three without walking a batter over 1.1 innings to earn the win over the Mets on Wednesday.

Gaddis was the beneficiary of the Guardians' comeback push Wednesday, picking up his second win in five outings. The right-hander hasn't allowed a run over 9.1 innings in May while adding a 7:1 K:BB, two wins and four holds for the month. He's thriving in a high-leverage role in his first year as a full-time reliever, posting a 1.85 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and 24:4 K:BB with 11 holds and three blown saves over 24.1 innings this season.

The Orioles traded Baumann and catcher Michael Perez to the Mariners on Wednesday in exchange for catcher Blake Hunt.

The 28-year-old righty was squeezed off the Orioles' 40-man roster Saturday to make room for Grayson Rodriguez's return from the injured list, and Baumann will now find a new home in the Seattle bullpen. He sports a 3.44 ERA and 1.47 WHIP alongside a 16:9 K:BB through 18.1 frames and should settle in as a middle reliever.

The Rangers transferred Burke's (hand) rehab assignment from the rookie-level Arizona Complex League to Triple-A Round Rock on Wednesday.

Burke struck out four over two scoreless innings between a pair of appearances in the ACL. He'll likely stick around with Round Rock for at least the next two weeks, as he's not eligible to return from the 60-day injured list until mid-June.

Garcia struck out two in a perfect ninth inning Wednesday to record his third save of the season in a 2-1 win over the Astros.

Carlos Estevez had pitched both of the prior two days, giving up a run each time, so Angels manager Ron Washington turned to Garcia to wrap things up. The 37-year-old right-hander has never collected more than three saves in a season and his 5.06 ERA doesn't suggest he'll remain a reliable high-leverage option, but for now he seems to be the next man up when Estevez isn't available.