MLB Player News

Strahm will start Monday's game against the Diamondbacks, Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.

The Phillies appear to be in line to rely on several bullpen arms during Monday's series opener in Arizona, so Strahm should operate as an opener while beginning the game on the mound. The southpaw hasn't been particularly sharp in recent outings, posting a 6.75 ERA and 1.29 WHIP in 9.1 innings over his last six appearances.

McGough recorded the save in Sunday's 7-5 win over the Tigers, recording a strikeout in two-thirds of an inning.

McGough entered in relief of Andrew Chafin with runners on the corners and one out. The right-hander struck out Javier Baez before inducing a game-ending groundout from Nick Maton. The 33-year-old McGough has been spotless of late -- he's now gone 11.1 innings without allowing a run, allowing just two hits while striking out 17 in that span. His ERA is down to 2.97 with a 0.87 WHIP and 39:12 K:BB through 33.1 innings this season. With Miguel Castro struggling a bit of late, McGough could be in the mix for more closing opportunities in Arizona.

Astros general manager Dana Brown said Sunday that Blanco will be available out of the bullpen as a long reliever moving forward with Houston transitioning back to a five-man rotation, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

The Astros are completing a string of 17 games in 17 days Sunday, and Blanco had been called up from Triple-A Sugar Land early in that stretch to help give Houston's other five starting pitchers an extra day of rest amid the busy schedule. Though Blanco acquitted himself well in his first two big-league starts -- he turned in a 3.18 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 10:7 K:BB in 11.1 innings -- his results weren't spectacular enough to supplant either J.P. France or Brandon Bielak as a back-end option in the rotation.

Angels manager Phil Nevin said Saturday that an MRI on Joyce's right elbow revealed no ligament damage, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.

Joyce was placed on the 15-day IL earlier Saturday with what the Angels labeled as right ulnar neuritis, and that initial diagnosis looks as though it'll hold after the MRI turned up nothing concerning. The power right-hander had pitched to a 4.50 ERA, 2.25 WHIP and 5:4 K:BB in four innings over his first five appearances out of the Los Angeles bullpen prior to suffering the injury.

Moore (oblique) said he played catch from 60 feet Sunday, Sarah Valenzuela of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Moore is gradually increasing his throwing distance off flat ground while he's in the early stages of a throwing program following a roughly two-week shutdown due to a right oblique strain. The veteran southpaw will need to advance to throwing off a mound and then facing hitters in live batting practice before the Angels map out a rehab assignment for him.

Reyes underwent surgery on his right shoulder last week and has been ruled out for the 2023 season, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

The surgery is Reyes' second on his right shoulder in a little over a year, as he previously required a procedure to repair a torn labrum back in May 2022. The right-hander was signed to a one-year, $1.1 million contract in the offseason with the hope that the former Cardinals top prospect could offer a boost to the Los Angeles bullpen, but he won't end up throwing a pitch for the Dodgers in 2023. His deal contains a $3 million team option for 2024 that the Dodgers will most likely decline this winter.

The Angels recalled Herget from Triple-A Salt Lake on Sunday, Sarah Valenzuela of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Herget has made the trip from Salt Lake to Anaheim a few times already this season and owns a 4.38 ERA and 1.46 WHIP in 12.1 innings with the big club. He'll likely work mostly in low-leverage spots out of the bullpen while he's up with the Angels.

Snead (shoulder) fired 1.2 scoreless innings for the Athletics' Arizona Complex League team Saturday against the AZL Reds, allowing no hits and one walk while recording a strikeout.

The left-hander redeemed himself after surrendering three runs over two-thirds of an inning during his first rehab appearance Tuesday. Snead may be set to move up affiliates following Saturday's encouraging outing, but he still looks to be trending toward a late-June regular-season debut at the earliest.

Tarnok (shoulder) fired two scoreless innings for the Athletics' Arizona Complex League team against the AZL Cubs on Friday, allowing a hit and a walk while recording two strikeouts.

The caliber of competition aside, it was certainly a strong long-awaited start to Tarnok's rehab assignment. The right-hander, acquired via a three-team trade this offseason, had been sidelined since early March with his right shoulder strain. Tarnok figures to have plenty more rehab outings ahead of him at different affiliates for the next several weeks before being deemed ready to make his Athletics debut.

Speier (2-1) recorded the win over the Angels on Saturday, retiring the only batter he faced on a strikeout to close out the fifth inning.

What might seem like an easy win on the surface actually took some doing from Speier. The southpaw worked through an eight-pitch encounter with Shohei Ohtani that saw the two-way star work the count to 3-2 before fouling off a pair of sinkers and finally go down looking, leaving men stranded on second and third in the process. Speier has proven a highly effective addition to the Mariners bullpen, now posting eight consecutive scoreless appearances and generating an impressive 20:2 K:BB to go along with a 2.38 ERA, 0.84 WHIP and seven holds across 22.2 innings.