MLB Player News

Mayers (3-4) earned the win over Detroit on Tuesday as a result of pitching two scoreless innings, during which he allowed one hit and struck out four batters.

The right-hander was brought in to handle the bottom of the eighth inning with the score tied 2-2. He promptly struck out the side on 10 pitches, then watched as the Angels put up six runs in the top of the following frame. Mayers returned to close things out in the bottom half of the ninth, allowing just a one-out single. Though he has been pitching mostly in lower-leverage situations of late, the veteran reliever has put together a string of four straight scoreless outings in which he's posted a 7:1 K:BB across 6.1 innings.

Nationals manager Dave Martinez said Wednesday that Rainey was shut down at Triple-A Rochester a few days ago after experiencing pain in his side, Maria Torres of The Athletic reports.

Fortunately for Rainey, an MRI on his side returned negative, so the Nationals won't shutter him for the season and are hopeful he'll recover from the injury after resting for a few days. The 28-year-old has endured a brutal 2021 campaign from both a health and performance standpoint; he's missed time due to collarbone, tibia and side injuries and COVID-19 protocols, and he submitted a 7.62 ERA and 1.81 WHIP over 32 relief appearances with Washington before being optioned to Triple-A last week.

Merryweather (oblique) will begin a rehab assignment at Low-A Dunedin on Wednesday, Scott Mitchell of TSN.ca reports.

Merryweather has been on the injured list since April 14 and has experienced several setbacks in his recovery process, but the start of his rehab assignment indicates that he's nearing his return to Toronto's bullpen. The right-hander will throw one inning during his first rehab appearance and will likely require several minor-league appearances following his lengthy absence.

The Mets optioned Diaz to Triple-A Syracuse on Wednesday, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.

Diaz was a casualty from the active roster after the Mets needed to bring up Chance Sisco from Triple-A to serve as the backup catcher behind Patrick Mazeika in Wednesday's series finale in San Francisco due to No. 1 backstop James McCann (back) not being available off the bench. Since receiving a promotion from Syracuse on July 4, Diaz appeared in 13 games out of the New York bullpen, logging a 4.11 ERA and 1.30 WHIP across 15.1 innings.

Burdi was claimed off waivers by the Orioles and optioned to Triple-A Norfolk on Wednesday.

Burdi was designated for assignment by the White Sox on Monday after he recorded a 7.30 ERA and 1.53 WHIP in 24.2 innings across 23 relief appearances at Triple-A Charlotte this season. The 26-year-old was selected by the White Sox in the first round of the 2016 first-year player draft but failed to put things together while dealing with injuries earlier in his career. He'll attempt to generate better results at Triple-A Norfolk as part of the Orioles' 40-man roster.

The Blue Jays reinstated Mayza (elbow) from the 10-day injured list Wednesday, Kaitlyn McGrath of The Athletic reports.

Toronto cleared a spot for Mayza in the bullpen and on the 26-man active roster by designating reliever Rafael Dolis for assignment. Mayza was sidelined for the minimum amount of time with left elbow inflammation, so the Blue Jays shouldn't have much hesitation about moving him back into a high-leverage role right away. Before going on the IL, Mayza posted a 1.21 ERA and 0.67 WHIP while collecting 10 holds dating back to June 1.

The Padres placed Strahm on the 10-day injured list Wednesday with right knee inflammation.

Given that Strahm required patellar tendon surgery on the same knee last October and didn't debut for the Padres until Aug. 3 while recovering from the procedure, it's not an encouraging sign that he's back on the IL two weeks later with a related injury. Though the fact that Strahm is dealing with inflammation rather than a sprain of his right knee suggests his injury isn't too significant, the Padres are still expected to proceed cautiously with him and could hold him out for longer than the 10-day minimum. In a corresponding move, the Padres activated newly signed starting pitcher Jake Arrieta, who will take the hill Wednesday against the Rockies for his San Diego debut.

The Padres plan to place Strahm on the 10-day injured list Wednesday due to an unspecified issue, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

San Diego will confirm the transaction shortly before Wednesday's series finale with the Rockies that begins at 3:10 p.m. ET, at which time more information about Strahm's injury should become available. The right-hander had spent most of the season on the 60-day IL while recovering from the right knee surgery he required last October, but it's unclear if he suffered a related setback. Strahm made his first five appearances with San Diego as a reliever before he was deployed as an opening pitcher in Tuesday's contest. He was the pitcher of record in the Padres' 7-3 loss, giving up a run on four hits and no walks over 1.1 innings before turning the game over to the bullpen.

Jansen picked up the save Tuesday against the Pirates after allowing one run on two hits and a walk across one inning, fanning one.

Jansen might have clinched his 25th save of the season, but he was far from crisp on the mound and needed 24 pitches to get the job done. The veteran reliever is in no danger of losing the closer role any time soon, but it's worth noting he has given up runs in five of his 13 appearances since the All-Star break. He owns a 7.62 ERA across 13 innings while going 4-for-7 in save chances during that span.

Harvey (lat) is scheduled to pitch an inning for Triple-A Norfolk on Wednesday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Harvey has been working out and throwing to hitters with the Orioles' Florida Complex League team in recent weeks. He'll move his rehab up to Triple-A and should only need a handful of appearances at most before returning to the big-league roster.