MLB Player News

Fisher will serve as the Blue Jays' opening pitcher for Wednesday's game in Boston, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Max Scherzer had been scheduled to start Wednesday, but after he developed back spasms that resulted in his unexpected placement on the IL, the Blue Jays will pivot to a bullpen game. The opener assignment is a familiar one for Fisher, who has made four of his 36 appearances this season as a starter. He hasn't recorded more than six outs in any of those outings, so he'll likely cover no more than an inning or two before exiting the game. Chad Dallas and Simeon Woods Richardson are on hand as fresh arms capable of covering multiple frames in relief behind Fisher.

The Blue Jays recalled Dallas from Triple-A Buffalo on Wednesday.

Toronto had optioned Dallas to Triple-A on June 5, but he'll be eligible to rejoin the big club less than two weeks later since Max Scherzer (back) was placed on the 15-day injured list Wednesday. Scherzer had been scheduled to start Wednesday's game in Boston, but his move to the IL will prompt the Blue Jays to turn to Braydon Fisher to open the contest. Dallas will be available on five days' rest and could be called upon to cover multiple innings out of the bullpen once Fisher exits the game, though Simeon Woods Richardson also lingers as a fresh arm that Toronto could lean on in bulk relief.

The Twins sent Rojas (elbow) to Triple-A St. Paul this week to begin a rehab assignment, Aaron Gleeman of AaronGleeman.com reports.

Rojas has been shelved since late May with left elbow inflammation, but after completing a 30-pitch live batting practice session over the weekend, he's been cleared to start pitching in rehab games. How long Rojas' rehab assignment lasts could depend on what role the Twins have planned for him when he returns. He's made one start for Minnesota this season and has gone multiple innings in all four of his relief appearances.

Marinaccio will begin a serving a two-game suspension Wednesday following a successful appeal to reduce the ban from three games, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Major League Baseball issued Marinaccio the suspension Monday, two days after he was deemed to have intentionally thrown at the Orioles' Gunnar Henderson during a relief appearance. He was available out of the bullpen for the first two games of the Padres' series in St. Louis while he appealed the suspension, but now that a resolution has been reached, Marinaccio will sit out Wednesday's finale as well as Friday's series opener against the Rangers.

Giants manager Tony Vitello said Wednesday that Gage (knee) has joined the team in Atlanta and will be activated from the 15-day injured list before the end of the series, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

The Giants will complete Tuesday's suspended game Wednesday afternoon before playing their regularly scheduled game in the evening, and then they'll have the series finale Thursday. Gage has been sidelined since early June with right knee inflammation but is ready to roll after making one scoreless rehab appearance.

Klein notched a hold against Tampa Bay on Wednesday, walking one batter in a hitless and scoreless inning of work.

After Justin Wrobleski gave the Dodgers six scoreless innings, manager Dave Roberts turned to Klein in the seventh to keep the shutout going. The right-hander came through, issuing a leadoff walk but getting out of the frame having faced the minimum thanks to a double play. Klein had just one hold across 14 regular-season appearances last year, but he's already collected 10 holds (along with one save) through 25 outings in 2026. He's earned the higher-leverage role with a 2.12 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 31:22 K:BB across 29.2 innings.

The Nationals released Fernandez (undisclosed) on Wednesday.

Fernandez had been booted from the 40-man roster last week and has now been cut loose after clearing waivers. The righty had been on the 7-day injured list at Triple-A Rochester with an undisclosed injury, and it's unclear when he might be ready to pitch again.

Rodriguez will serve as the Padres' opening pitcher in Wednesday's game versus the Cardinals, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Rodriguez will cover the first inning or two before turning the ball over to Griffin Canning, who will be utilized in bulk relief. The 22-year-old Rodriguez boasts a 2.16 ERA this season but has been scored upon in four of his last five appearances.

Varland gave up a run on a hit and a walk in the ninth inning Tuesday to record his sixth save of the season in a 6-4 win over the Royals. He struck out one.

The right-hander entered the game to protect a three-run lead, and while he did serve up a solo shot to Lane Thomas, Varland got the job done on 23 pitches (14 strikes). His brother Louis also notched a save for the Blue Jays on Tuesday, making them the fourth set of brothers in MLB history to pick up saves on the same day, with Edwin Diaz and Alexis Diaz having most recently accomplished the feat May 17, 2022. The Nationals' Varland has the team's two most recent saves, and he seems to have nudged his way to the front of the line for closing opportunities, as neither Clayton Beeter nor Richard Lovelady have collected a save in June.

Ashby improved to 10-0 on the season in Tuesday's 2-1 win over the Guardians after striking out two batters while allowing one earned run on one hit and two walks across one inning of relief.

Despite being charged with the Guardians' only run of the night when he surrendered a game-tying RBI single to Gabriel Arias in the top of the seventh inning, Ashby was credited with the win after the Brewers recovered the lead with a Garrett Mitchell home run in the bottom of the frame. Despite making just one start as an opener and not typically pitching in the highest-leverage spots out of the bullpen, Ashby has been a fantasy asset by virtue of racking up an MLB-leading 10 wins. He's also turned in a 2.86 ERA to go with 61 strikeouts over 44 innings, though a high walk rate has played a part in inflating his WHIP to 1.36.