MLB Player News

Williams picked up the save in Monday's 8-6 victory over the Cubs. He worked around a hit and a walk, logging a strikeout in a scoreless inning.

Williams has now converted eight straight save opportunities, including his last two in back-to-back games. The 28-year-old right-hander has thrown nine consecutive scoreless innings, lowering his ERA to 1.47 with a 1.01 WHIP and 40:17 K:BB across 30.2 innings this season.

Gonzalez was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Monday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Gonzalez was knocked around for three runs on four hits and one walk while striking out one over 1.1 innings Monday in Kansas City, and he'll now head to Triple-A to make room for a fresh arm in Gavin Stone. Gonzalez owns a 5.32 ERA and 1.27 WHIP with a 22:7 K:BB across 23.2 frames so far this season with the Dodgers.

McCaughan was recalled from Triple-A Tacoma on Monday, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

McCaughan is taking Bryce Miller's (finger) spot on the roster and could take his turn in the rotation Wednesday versus the Giants. The right-hander holds a 6.75 ERA in two appearances with Seattle this season and a 6.56 ERA in 14 outings with Tacoma.

Pressly picked up the save in Monday's 12-11 win over the Rangers, striking out one over a scoreless inning.

Pressly has earned saves in back-to-back games while extending his scoreless streak to nine innings. The 34-year-old right-hander is now 18-for-21 in save chances with a 2.65 ERA, 0.86 ERA and 40:7 K:BB across 37.1 innings this season.

Smith (1-3) blew the save and took the loss Monday against the Astros. He allowed two runs on three hits over one inning.

It's Smith's first blown save since May 5 -- he'd pitched to a 2.00 ERA over his last 18 innings. The 33-year-old southpaw is now 14-for-16 in save chances this year with a 3.19 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and 33:8 K:BB in 31 innings this season. Smith has certainly pitched well enough to hang onto the closing job, though the newly acquired Aroldis Chapman has been quickly working his way up the Rangers' bullpen hierarchy.

The Royals transferred Taylor (back) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Monday.

Taylor underwent surgery last week to repair a herniated disc in his lower back and is without a timeline for his return, but the move to the 60-day IL ensures he won't be available out of the Kansas City bullpen until at least late July. The southpaw reliever had struggled to an 8.15 ERA and 1.75 WHIP in 17 appearances for Kansas City prior to being placed on the shelf in late May.

The Mets transferred Uceta (knee) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Monday.

The transaction won't affect Uceta's timeline for rejoining the Mets, as he had already missed more than two months after landing on the 15-day IL on April 25 due to a left ankle sprain. He resumed a rehab assignment in early May, only to develop a left knee injury during that time before he was ultimately diagnosed with a torn meniscus, which he had surgically repaired June 9. The Mets likely won't have a precise timeline for Uceta's return from the IL until he resumes a throwing program.

The Nationals placed Ward on the 15-day injured list Monday with right shoulder inflammation, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

The rookie Rule 5 selection will head to the IL to clear a spot on the 26-man active roster for lefty Patrick Corbin (personal), who was reinstated from the bereavement list ahead of his scheduled start Tuesday versus the Reds. Considering Ward owns a 7.12 ERA and 1.65 WHIP and has yet to record a hold or save among his 22 relief appearances this season, his move to the IL should go largely unnoticed in fantasy circles.

The Mariners acquired Muckenhirn from the Mets on Monday in exchange for right-handers Chris Flexen and Trevor Gott, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports. Seattle optioned him to Triple-A Tacoma.

The transaction frees up a spot on the 40-man roster for the Mariners while also sparing Seattle from covering the approximately $4.6 million remaining on the contracts of Flexen and Gott for the 2023 season. A 28-year-old southpaw, Muckenhirn reached the majors for the first time earlier this season and made three appearances for the Mets, but the bulk of his innings have come at Triple-A Syracuse, with whom he's produced a tidy 0.88 ERA and 1.13 WHIP over 30.2 innings. Muckenhirn could be one of the top options for a promotion when the Mariners require a lefty arm in the bullpen.

Gott and right-hander Chris Flexen were traded to the Mets from the Mariners in exchange for southpaw Zach Muckenhirn on Monday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

Gott will head to New York as the Mets look to bolster their bullpen. The 30-year-old has produced a 4.03 ERA and 1.41 WHIP with 32 strikeouts over 29 innings in 30 appearances with the Mariners this season and will likely operate in a middle-relief role with his new squad.