MLB Player News

Boston recalled Ort from Triple-A Worcester on Sunday, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.

Ort will give the Red Sox a fresh arm in the bullpen, with Ryan Sherriff heading to Triple-A in the corresponding transaction. In his 12 appearances with Boston thus far, Ort has struggled with a 7.30 ERA and 1.78 WHIP over 12.1 innings.

The Twins placed Sands on the 15-day injured list Sunday with a right shoulder impingement.

Sands had not worked in a game since May 30 after throwing 2.1 scoreless frames against the Astros. The right-hander will be out for two-plus weeks while he recovers, and the Twins reinstated Caleb Thielbar (oblique) off the 15-day IL in a corresponding move.

Minnesota activated Thielbar (oblique) on Sunday off the 15-day injured list.

Thielbar fired two scoreless rehab appearances with Triple-A St. Paul, and while he wasn't activated as expected before Friday's game against the Guardians, the left-hander will now get a chance to be a mid-innings option for the Minnesota bullpen. Cole Sands (shoulder) was placed on the 15-day IL in the corresponding transaction.

Pressly allowed one earned run on two hits while striking out two across one inning in Saturday's game against the Angels.

Pressly entered the game in the ninth inning with a four-run lead, allowing two singles and a wild pitch to surrender a run. He has allowed at least one earned run in three of his last 10 appearances, though he has only one blown save in that span and has maintained a 15:1 K:BB across 10 frames. Though he's had an inconsistent start to the season, Pressly comfortably remains the Astros' closer.

Kimbrel picked up the save during Saturday's win over the Nationals, tossing a perfect inning in which he struck out one.

Kimbrel retired the Nationals in order to secure his eighth save. Despite a robust 5.32 ERA, the veteran right-hander has yet to blow a save chance this season and sports an elite 33:11 K:BB over 24 appearances (22 innings). The 35-year-old continues to operate as Philadelphia's top closer, but he figures to share closing responsibilities when Jose Alvarado (elbow) returns from the injured list.

Strahm did not factor into the decision during Saturday's win over the Phillies, tossing two scoreless innings in which he didn't allow a hit or walk and struck out one.

Strahm operated as the opener behind Dylan Covey, and the former outperformed the latter. In his first season with Philadelphia, Strahm has made 16 appearances (eight starts) and sports a 3.05 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 53:11 K:BB across 41.1 innings. The left-hander has been elite since moving to the bullpen full time, allowing just four runs over his last nine games (14.2 innings) while boasting a 16:3 K:BB. He may continue handling the opener role, but Strahm shouldn't be considered a starter anymore, as he hasn't completed more than two innings since May 2.

The Pirates optioned De Los Santos to Triple-A Indianapolis on Sunday.

De Los Santos will return to the minors following a one-day stint with the big club. He was deployed in relief in Saturday's 4-3 win over St. Louis, retiring two of the three batters he faced on the day. The Pirates selected the contract of right-hander Chase De Jong from Triple-A in a corresponding move.

Sborz (2-2) earned the win over Seattle on Saturday. He struck out two over two scoreless and hitless relief innings.

Sborz entered in the fourth inning after starter Andrew Heaney left with none out and the bases loaded. The righty reliever struck out the first batter he faced before giving up a run on a groundout. Sborz has not been immune to recent bullpen struggles but has put together two consecutive strong appearances in which he's struck out four of nine batters without allowing a hit.

Williams picked up the save during Saturday's 10-8 win over Cincinnati, tossing a scoreless inning in which he allowed zero hits and two walks while striking out three.

Jake Cousins started the ninth with a four-run lead but allowed the first three batters to reach and failed to record an out, so Williams came on to finish the job. The closer's command was a bit shaky, but he still shut the door on Cincinnati's comeback by striking out the side. Williams is a perfect 10-for-10 in save opportunities this year and sports a 0.46 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and 26:9 K:BB across 19 appearances (19.2 innings).

Bednar gave up a hit in a scoreless ninth inning Saturday to record his 12th save of the season in a 4-3 win over the Cardinals. He didn't walk or strike out a batter.

The right-hander failed to fan a batter for only the second time in his last 16 appearances, but he still got the job done. Bednar has been one of baseball's top closers to begin 2023, converting 12 of 13 save chances with a 1.17 ERA, 0.74 WHIP and 29:1 K:BB through 23 innings, and with the Pirates currently in contention for a division title in a wide-open NL Central, trade chatter around the 28-year-old has died down considerably even with arbitration approaching this winter.