MLB Player News

The Pirates recalled Kranick from Triple-A Indianapolis on Wednesday.

Pittsburgh hasn't announced a starting pitcher for Wednesday's game against the Brewers, but the nod will presumably go to Kranick, who would be stepping into the rotation as a replacement for the injured Chase De Jong (knee). Kranick tossed five scoreless innings in his MLB debut June 27 in St. Louis, but he's struggled over his last two outings with the big club. Between those starts, Kranick has covered six frames while giving up seven runs on 11 hits and four walks.

Brasier (concussion) is scheduled to face hitters in live batting practice Sunday at Triple-A Worcester, Rob Bradford of WEEI.com reports.

Brasier has been on the injured list all season with a calf strain and, most recently, a concussion, but he finally looks to be honing in on his 2021 debut. If he checks out fine in the live BP session, Brasier should be able to pitch in some simulated games next week before graduating to minor-league rehab games. Boston is optimistic the right-handed reliever will be ready to return from the 60-day IL around mid-August.

Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo said Wednesday that Merryweather's (oblique) return from the 60-day injured list isn't imminent, Mitch Bannon of SI.com reports. "It's ups and downs, but right now he's not close," Montoyo said of Merryweather's potential return.

After collecting two saves in the first week of the season and appearing to be in the driver's seat for closing duties with Toronto, Merryweather sustained a severe left oblique strain in mid-April and has been sidelined ever since. Toronto was initially optimistic Merryweather would be back by late June, but he experienced a setback in his recovery that has delayed his target return date. With Merryweather still limited to playing catch at this stage of his recovery, he's realistically at least two more weeks away from pitching for Toronto, in a best-case scenario.

Warren's contract was selected by the Angels on Wednesday, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Warren has made 22 appearances (one start) at Triple-A Salt Lake this year, and he's accumulated nine innings across his last three outings. The right-hander's 6.19 ERA this year has been skewed by several rough outings, but he's posted a 2.70 ERA and 0.90 WHIP in 13.1 innings across his last six appearances. He'll now be in line to make his major-league debut, likely out of the Angels' bullpen.

Wells is scheduled to start Thursday's series opener against the Tigers in Detroit, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.

With Keegan Akin still on the COVID-19 injured list, Wells will pick up another turn through the Baltimore rotation as the Orioles' fifth starter. He acquitted himself well in his first MLB start July 21 in Tampa Bay, covering 5.2 innings while allowing three runs and striking out seven.

Hand had a strikeout and didn't allow a hit or walk during a scoreless ninth inning to record the save in Tuesday's 6-4 win over the Phillies.

A throwing error put a runner on second base to start the frame, but Hand quickly retired the next three batters on only seven pitches to break a streak of two straight blown saves. The veteran lefty entered Tuesday's contest with seven earned runs allowed in five appearances since the All-Star break, so it was a welcome sight to see him deliver a clean ninth inning. He's 21-for-26 in save opportunities this season and has a 3.59 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 42:18 K:BB across 42.2 innings.

Moore (0-3) took the loss Tuesday versus the Nationals after giving up six runs on seven hits with three strikeouts and two walks over four innings.

Moore served up a three-run home run in each of the first two frames as Washington jumped out to an early lead. It's the second consecutive outing in which the left-hander gave up exactly six runs. He appeared set to lose his spot in the rotation with the Phillies on the verge of acquiring Tyler Anderson from the Pirates on Tuesday, but the trade fell through due to medical reasons after an initial agreement was reached. Moore has a 6.46 ERA, 1.65 WHIP and 40:22 K:BB across 46 innings this season, and he tentatively lines up for his next turn through the rotation Sunday in Pittsburgh.

Reyes tossed a scoreless ninth inning Tuesday to record his 24th save of the season in a 4-2 win over Cleveland. He didn't walk or strike out a batter but did hit Bobby Bradley with a pitch.

He needed only 10 pitches (seven strikes) to breeze through the heart of the Cleveland order. Reyes' lapses in control have cost him a little more than they did earlier in the year, and since the beginning of June, he's posted a 3.86 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 19:13 K:BB through 18.2 innings while still converting nine of 10 save chances.

Chapman walked one and struck out two in a scoreless ninth inning Tuesday to record his 19th save of the season in a 4-3 win over the Rays.

The veteran closer seems to have turned things around after his rough stretch in late June and early July, converting his last three save chances and posting a 1.29 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 13:6 K:BB over his last seven innings. Chapman's inconsistent control remains a bit of a worry, but as long as he's striking out nearly two batters an inning, he can get away with the occasional free pass.

Pressley allowed two runs on three hits and one walk over one inning in Tuesday's 8-6 win over Seattle.

It wasn't a save situation for Pressly, who entered with Houston up by four runs. He allowed a two-run home run to Seattle's Abraham Toro, who oddly enough began the day as a member of the Astros before being traded to the team in the dugout across the diamond. The Astros closer then put the tying run on base before retiring Kyle Seager and Ty France to end the game. Pressly had entered the game having allowed just one earned run over the last 19 innings and had a 0.84 ERA in non-save situations.