MLB Player News

The Nationals recalled Abbott from Triple-A Syracuse on Monday.

Abbott posted a 5.25 ERA over 16 appearances (nine starts) with the Nationals last season, and though he maintained a 6.46 ERA in his first five starts with Syracuse in 2023, he struck out 12 over 5.2 innings his last time out Friday. In a corresponding move, the Nationals placed Chad Kuhl (foot) on the 15-day injured list. Kuhl's spot in the rotation is due to come up Wednesday against the Cubs, and manager Dave Martinez acknowledged that Abbott could be called upon to make the start if he isn't needed in relief in the first two games of the series with Chicago, per Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com.

The Tigers claimed Bristo off waivers from the Rays on Monday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

The Rays designated Bristo for assignment over the weekend and he has now latched onto another organization. Bristo, 28, tossed three scoreless relief innings for Tampa Bay in his major-league debut last month. He'll likely report to Triple-A Toledo to begin his tenure with his new organization.

Arizona acquired Pilkington from Cleveland on Monday in exchange for cash considerations.

Pilkington had been removed from Cleveland's 40-man roster late last week and has now found a new home. The left-hander has a limited ceiling but is a capable depth arm for Arizona. He's posted a 3.75 ERA over 16 appearances (11 starts) at the big-league level and will likely slide into Triple-A Reno's rotation.

Roberts (elbow) progressed to throwing off flat ground from 105 feet before the end of spring training, MLB.com reports.

The Cubs haven't provided any recent updates on Roberts within the past month, but unless he's suffered an unreported setback in his recovery from the Tommy John surgery he underwent last July, he's presumably increased his throwing distance off flat ground over the last few weeks and could soon be ready to resume mound work. Given the timing of his elbow procedure, Roberts may face an uphill battle to get back in a minor-league rehab game before the end of the season, but he should be fully cleared ahead of next year's spring training.

Jackson (2-1) got the win against the Reds on Sunday, firing a scoreless ninth inning during which he allowed two hits and recorded two strikeouts.

Jackson labored some to preserve the 4-4 tie he'd entered the game under, allowing a single and double to Kevin Newman and Spencer Steer, respectively, to open the frame. However, he powered himself out of trouble with swinging strikeouts of Jonathan India and Tyler Stephenson before inducing an inning-ending groundout from Henry Ramos. Jackson was then rewarded with his resiliency via Esteury Ruiz's game-winning single in the home half of the ninth, giving him both his 2023 wins in addition to his first hold in the last four appearances.

Sewald (2-0) recorded the win in an extra-inning victory over the Blue Jays on Sunday, firing a scoreless ninth inning during which he allowed a hit and a walk.

Tasked with preserving an 8-8 tie when he entered in the ninth, Sewald successfully got the Mariners to extra innings despite having to work around some trouble. The right-hander was pitching on consecutive days for the first time since April 7-8, and he's essentially picked up where he left off during his successful 2022 -- Sewald has seven saves in addition to his two wins, and Sunday's scoreless effort lowered his ERA to an even 3.00 after he'd recently allowed an earned run apiece in back-to-back outings on April 22 and Tuesday.

Iglesias (shoulder) is likely to rejoin Atlanta's bullpen later this week, Grant McAuley of 929 The Game reports.

Iglesias hasn't allowed a baserunner in his two rehab appearances with Triple-A Gwinnett, with his most recent outing coming Sunday. He will have to show he can pitch back-to-back days before Atlanta activates him, but it sounds like that could come his next two times out. A return this weekend when the club is back home would make sense. It's possible Iglesias is eased back into closing duties, but it shouldn't be long before he's the go-to option for saves for Atlanta.

Scott (2-1) earned the win in Sunday's 4-3 victory over the Cubs. He allowed no runs on two hits over one inning.

Scott worked around a pair of singles in the top of the eighth inning, coaxing a double-play ball from Nelson Velazquez to end the frame. Scott had a productive series against the Cubs, recording a win and a save over two scoreless innings. His ERA still sits at a subpar 5.25 with a 1.17 WHIP and 12:6 K:BB through 12 innings. The 28-year-old lefty was expected to share closing duties with A.J. Puk and Dylan Floro coming into the season, but he's fallen to a distant third on the depth chart. There's little reason to roster Scott at this point, outside of deeper holds leagues.

Beeks (0-2) allowed five runs on four hits while managing to get through only two-thirds of an inning in the loss to the White Sox on Sunday.

Beeks came in to try and shut things down in the ninth with the Rays up 9-5 and put together an absolutely disastrous performance. Romy Gonzalez lined out to open up the inning and Beeks got a second out on a sacrifice fly, but he then allowed three singles, a double and hit a batter, which led to three runs for the Sox. He was replaced by Garrett Cleavinger with men on first and second, and he couldn't get bailed out after Cleavinger allowed an inherited runner to score on another base hit before surrendering a three-run walkoff blast to Andrew Vaughn. Beeks did not register a single whiff on 23 pitches and now has an inflated 7.43 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 8:8 K:BB over 13.1 innings.

Thompson (1-2) allowed two runs on a hit and two walks with one strikeout over two-thirds of an inning, taking the loss Sunday versus the Dodgers.

Thompson got out of a mess made by starter Jake Woodford in the fourth inning, only to create trouble on his own in the fifth. Thompson allowed the first three batters to reach in the fifth, and Drew VerHagen allowed two of them to score, which put the Dodgers ahead for good. This is the third outing in a row in which Thompson's allowed multiple runs, a discouraging turn of events after he limited the damage to one unearned run in his first eight appearances. The southpaw owns a 4.63 ERA, 1.80 WHIP and 18:9 K:BB with a hold in 11.2 innings over 11 appearances.