MLB Player News

King is likely to move into a setup role with the Astros in the wake of the expected activation of closer Josh Hader (biceps) from the injured list Tuesday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Bryan Abreu was expected to step into the closer role with Hader sidelined to begin the season, but his early struggles opened the door for King, who leads the team with six saves. With Hader coming back to reclaim the ninth inning, King should now slide into a setup role. He's been effective with a 2.84 ERA across 25.1 innings this year, though his 1.30 WHIP and 19:10 K:BB are a bit underwhelming.

Astros manager Joe Espada said on SportsTalk720 in Houston that Hader (biceps) will be activated from the 60-day injured list prior to Tuesday's game against the Pirates, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Hader has been sidelined all season due to left biceps tendinitis, but he's been cleared for activation after posting a 4.15 ERA and 11:3 K:BB over 8.2 innings on a rehab assignment. The lefty averaged only 92.9 mph with his four-seamer during his final rehab appearance, which is down significantly from the 95.5 mph he averaged last season for Houston. It's possible Hader is able to get his velocity back up to par once he pitches in major-league games, but it's something to keep a close eye on as he returns to the Astros' closer role. Houston might give Hader a few low-leverage outings before throwing him back into the ninth inning.

The Reds recalled Mey from Triple-A Louisville on Tuesday.

The right-hander spent the past couple weeks at Louisville but is back with the Reds on Tuesday for his second big-league stint of the season. Mey made six appearances for Cincinnati earlier this year and gave up five earned runs with a 14:7 K:BB across 8.1 innings.

Ragans (elbow) resumed playing catch Monday, MLB.com reports.

Ragans was shut down after not feeling well in the aftermath of his rehab start with Triple-A Omaha on May 23, but he has since resumed throwing. The southpaw landed on the injured list May 8 due to a left elbow impingement and had made good progress in his recovery before the setback. Resuming throwing is a positive first step, though the next stages of his rehab remain unclear, and he's without a timeline for a return from the IL.

The Marlins recalled Gusto from Triple-A Jacksonville to pitch Tuesday against the Nationals.

Lake Bachar is opening Tuesday's contest for Miami with Gusto poised to follow as the bulk reliever. The 27-year-old made his season debut for the Marlins in early April with a scoreless inning out of the bullpen, but he's primarily worked out of the rotation at Jacksonville and posted a 3.83 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 52:17 K:BB across 44.2 innings.

The Marlins optioned Brzykcy to Triple-A Jacksonville on Tuesday.

He's being bumped from the roster in order to make room for Ryan Gusto. Brzykcy was with the Marlins for only one day and did not make an appearance.

Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer announced Monday that Herrera (elbow) has been diagnosed with a torn UCL and will miss the remainder of the season, Jack Janes of MLB.com reports.

Colorado placed Herrera on the 15-day injured list Friday due to left elbow inflammation, but he was shifted to the 60-day IL just two days later after a follow-up MRI apparently revealed that the 22-year-old reliever was dealing with ligament damage. Schaeffer said that the Rockies don't currently have a timeline for Herrera to go under the knife, as the left-hander will presumably receive additional medical evaluations before deciding whether to get Tommy John surgery, an internal brace procedure or a hybrid of the two. Even if Herrera avoids a UCL reconstruction and instead has a UCL repair surgery, he's still likely to require close to a full year of rehab and recovery before returning to game action in the middle or second half of the 2027 season.

Fermin was charged with a blown save against Colorado on Monday after he gave up five runs on four hits and two walks while striking out two batters over two-thirds of an inning.

Fermin entered Monday having tossed nine straight scoreless outings spanning 7.2 innings, though he had been playing with fire given his 8:8 K:BB during that span. The right-hander was summoned in the eighth frame Monday and again struggled with his control, throwing only 23 of 39 pitches for strikes and issuing two free passes while also uncorking a wild pitch. However, he wasn't able to maneuver his way around that wildness this time, as the Rockies rocked him for four hits, including two doubles and a three-run homer off the bat of Hunter Goodman. Fermin has worked his way up to a high-leverage role and had notched a hold in three of his previous four appearances coming into Monday, but he'll likely be a shaky option for the team if he's unable to get his walks down.

Marlins manager Clayton McCullough said Monday that Ekness is expected to miss approximately six weeks due to a right calf strain, Kyle Sielaff of Marlins.tv reports.

After Ekness was spotted moving around in the Miami clubhouse with the aid of crutches following Sunday's loss to the Mets, the Marlins placed him on the 15-day injured list a day later. Ekness was recalled from Triple-A Jacksonville on Friday but didn't make any relief appearances during his second stint of the season with the big club. Given the estimated six-week recovery timeline, Ekness will remain on the shelf through the All-Star break.

The Nationals list Alvarez as their starting pitcher for Wednesday's game against the Marlins in Washington.

Alvarez will be making his second straight turn through the Washington rotation, this time in a traditional starter role after the Nationals deployed him as a bulk reliever Friday. Stepping into the rotation spot that had previously belonged to the injured Jake Irvin (shoulder), Alvarez entered the game after opener Paxton Schultz pitched the first inning. The 26-year-old lefty proceeded to work three innings, taking a no-decision while allowing three earned runs on five hits and two walks.