MLB Player News

Smith picked up the save in Wednesday's 3-2 win over the Pirates, striking out two over 1.2 perfect innings.

Smith entered with one out in the eighth inning after Jose Leclerc loaded the bases. The left-hander got Rodolfo Castro to fly out before striking out Jack Suwinski to end the frame. Smith then set down the Pirates in order in the ninth, securing a one-run victory and his ninth save. Smith has now converted his last five save opportunities across five scoreless innings. His ERA is down to 2.65 with a 0.88 WHIP and 21:5 K:BB through 17 innings this season. He's become a reliable source of saves on a first-place Rangers team.

Hollowell (forearm) has struck out four while allowing one hit and two walks over two scoreless innings in his two appearances since being activated from Triple-A Albuquerque's 7-day injured list May 16.

Hollowell missed the first month and a half of the season while recovering from right forearm tightness. The 25-year-old retains a spot on the Rockies' 40-man roster and has prior experience in the big leagues, so he could emerge as a candidate for a promotion to the Colorado bullpen if he can continue to string together quality appearances with Albuquerque.

Cincinnati designated Bracho for assignment Wednesday.

Bracho gets the boot from the 26-man and 40-man rosters to make room for Eduardo Salazar with Salazar having his contract selected from Triple-A Louisville on Wednesday. In four appearances with the Reds, Bracho registered a 5.06 ERA and 1.31 WHIP over 5.1 innings. Assuming he goes unclaimed, he could report back to Louisville as an organizational depth piece.

Tampa Bay designated Burdi for assignment Wednesday, Steve Carney of StPeteNine.com reports.

Burdi was lit up for six runs -- five earned -- in Tuesday's 20-1 loss to the Blue Jays. The transaction removes the right-hander from both the 40-man roster and the 26-man active roster to make room for reliever Ben Heller, whose contract was selected from Triple-A Durham on Wednesday. If Burdi goes unclaimed or isn't traded, he'll likely report back to Triple-A to provide bullpen depth for the Rays for the rest of 2023.

Tampa Bay selected Heller's contract from Triple-A Durham on Wednesday, Steve Carney of StPeteNine.com reports.

Heller will get a chance to pitch in the majors for the first time since 2020 after the right-hander forged a 3.91 ERA with 29 strikeouts over 23 innings in his 16 appearances for Durham. He'll take the roster spot of Zack Burdi, who was designated for assignment in the corresponding transaction.

Morris (lat) is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment Wednesday with Double-A Akron, Joe Noga of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Morris, who has been on the shelf since early in the spring with a right teres major muscle strain, looks ready to advance to the final phase of his throwing program after he spent the last several weeks building up at extended spring training in Arizona. Expect the right-hander to handle a limited pitch count Wednesday and gradually increase his workload over multiple outings in the high minors before the Guardians bring him back from the 60-day injured list. Because rookies Logan Allen and Tanner Bibee have delivered quality results since entering the big-league rotation and with both Triston McKenzie (shoulder) and Aaron Civale (oblique) being further along in their respective rehab programs, Morris likely won't have a spot in the rotation waiting for him once activated. The Guardians could still view Morris as a useful multi-inning option out of the bullpen if they don't want to have him make regular starts at Triple-A Columbus once his rehab assignment ends.

Underwood (forearm) struck out two and gave up one run on two hits over two innings of relief in Tuesday's 6-1 loss to the Rangers.

Underwood was diagnosed with right forearm tightness after exiting his most recent appearance Friday against the Diamondbacks, and while that sort of injury is typically a precursor to an extended absence, the 28-year-old apparently required just a few days of rest for the issue to resolve itself. The fact that the Pirates had him cover two innings in a game that they were trailing by four runs suggests that the organization is confident in his health.

Selby was placed on the 7-day injured list last week with Triple-A Indianapolis.

Arguably the Pirates' best relief pitching prospect, Selby struck out 20 and walked 11 while generating groundballs 62.9 percent of the time in 15.1 innings at Triple-A. He also notched three saves in 14 appearances. It's unclear what the nature of his injury is.

Cimber gave up a hit and a walk in a scoreless ninth inning during Tuesday's rout of the Rays.

It wouldn't have been possible to find a lower-leverage spot for Cimber in his return from the injured list -- the Jays were up 20-1 when he took the mound -- but the appearance was still a success as he tossed nine of 14 pitches for strikes, and the one hit he allowed came when Christian Bethancourt fought off a fastball above the strike zone and slapped it the other way for a single. Cimber looked good early in the season before being shut down due to back issues, and if he stays healthy the sidearming right-hander should be a key part of the middle-inning bridge to closer Jordan Romano.

Mills (elbow) won't throw in an extended spring training game this weekend, Christopher Smith of The Springfield Republican reports.

Mills was supposed to head to Boston's facility in Fort Myers, Fla., but the Red Sox are having him delay his arrival while he contends with soreness. It's unclear how much time Mills will need before he begins throwing in game situations.