MLB Player News

Alzolay (4-8) took the loss Saturday as the Cubs fell 3-2 to the Reds, allowing three runs on five hits and a walk over seven innings. He struck out six.

The young right-hander put together one of his best outings of the season, completing seven innings for only the second time while delivering his fourth quality start, but a lack of run support led him to his fourth straight loss. Alzolay will carry a 4.48 ERA and 76:21 K:BB through 72.1 innings into his next trip to the mound.

Zimmermann's (biceps) rehab has been pushed back another week or two, Rich Dubroff of BaltimoreBaseball.com reports.

The Orioles announced in late June that Zimmermann would miss two or three more weeks, and his recovery will extend another week or two as a precautionary measure. A clear timetable for the southpaw's return to game action hasn't yet been established, but he'll likely be sidelined at least through the All-Star break.

Valdez (back) could be reinstated from the 10-day injured list as early as Sunday, Rich Dubroff of BaltimoreBaseball.com reports.

Valdez has been dealing with a lower-back strain recently, but he's apparently feeling better and could rejoin the Orioles in the coming days. If the right-hander isn't activated ahead of Sunday's series finale against the Angels, he could return to action early next week when the Orioles return home to face the Blue Jays. Valdez had posted an 11.17 ERA and 2.17 WHIP in 9.2 innings across his last 10 relief appearances prior to his injury.

Paredes (shoulder) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list and optioned to Triple-A Sugar Land on Saturday, Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Paredes spent just over three weeks on the injured list, and he allowed a run on a hit and two walks in one inning across two rehab appearances. The right-hander recorded a lackluster 6.23 ERA and 2.77 WHIP in 8.2 innings with the Astros to begin the season, and he'll remain with the Triple-A club now that he's healthy.

Santana was recalled from Triple-A Round Rock on Saturday.

Santana was traded from the Dodgers to the Rangers in mid-June, and he struck out 12 in five scoreless innings across five relief appearances with Triple-A Round Rock. He should be available out of the bullpen going forward after left-hander Wes Benjamin was sent down in a corresponding move.

Alexander (shoulder) is expected to be activated from the injured list Monday or Tuesday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Alexander was one of the Dodgers' better relievers in April, posting a 2.31 ERA in 11.2 innings of work before getting injured at the start of May. Once activated, he's likely to play a considerable role as one of the bullpen's best left-handed options.

Uceta will be reinstated by the Dodgers ahead of Sunday's game against the Nationals, Jorge Castillo of the Los Angeles Times reports.

The Dodgers plan to have a bullpen game in Sunday's series finale, and Uceta should play a role during the contest. The right-hander has posted a 6.28 ERA and 1.40 WHIP in 14.1 innings across eight appearances (one start) with the major-league club this year.

Santiago, who's currently appealing his 10-game suspension for allegedly having a foreign substance on his glove, fired a scoreless eighth inning in an extra-inning win over the Rangers on Friday, allowing one hit and recording three strikeouts.

The veteran southpaw seemingly came out on a mission Friday, and with his trio of strikeouts, he ran his K:BB to an excellent 26:7 across 18 innings for the season. The appearance was Santiago's first since his glove was inspected as he wrapped up a 2.1-inning appearance against the White Sox last Saturday.

Helsley, who fired a scoreless two-thirds of an inning during which he allowed a hit and a walk in a win over the Rockies on Friday, now owns a 1.69 ERA across the 5.1 innings covering his last six appearances.

The right-hander has also had some control issues, as he's handed out five free passes during that aforementioned span. Nevertheless, Helsley has largely bounced back from a rough stretch during the latter half of May, as he's now coaxed his ERA down from the season-high 6.85 figure it reached on June 5 to 5.18.

Hartlieb was designated for assignment by the Pirates on Saturday.

Hartlieb was sent to Triple-A Indianapolis in late June, and he'll now be cast off the 40-man roster after the Pirates acquired John Nogowski from the Cardinals on Saturday. The right-hander has posted a 1.86 ERA and 0.98 WHIP in 9.2 innings across nine relief appearances in the minors this year, but he could remain in the organization if he goes unclaimed on waivers.