MLB Player News

Long allowed four runs on five hits and a walk with three strikeouts in five innings in Tuesday's win over Arizona. He did not factor in the decision.

Long worked behind opener Zack Littell on Tuesday, but it was Long who recorded the first out for San Francisco's pitching staff. The 25-year-old wasn't very effective while on the mound, but he was not in line for a decision. Long threw 65 pitches (46 strikes) in the outing. He could continue to work behind an opener going forward, and he lines up to pitch again in some capacity this weekend versus Philadelphia.

The Rays placed McHugh on the COVID-19-related injured list Wednesday, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

McHugh will face an uncertain timeline to return from the IL; his absence could last just one or two days if he's merely experience side effects of a vaccine shot, or he could be sidelined for more than a week if he's tested positive for the virus. The Rays recalled Chris Mazza from Triple-A Durham to provide a fresh arm out of the bullpen while McHugh is deactivated. After a rough April, McHugh has been one of the Rays' top relievers over the past month and a half, submitting a 0.50 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 31:6 K:BB in 18 innings over his last 11 appearances.

Pressly (3-1) picked up the win in Tuesday's 6-3 extra-inning victory over the Rangers, giving up one hit and one unearned run in the 10th inning. He struck out two.

The Houston closer did allow Texas' designated runner to score, but his team rallied for four runs of their own in the bottom of the frame. Pressly has only been tagged for earned runs once in his last 13 appearances, and on the season he boasts a tidy 2.00 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 29:5 K:BB through 27 innings with 10 saves in 11 chances.

Soto struck out one in a perfect ninth inning Tuesday to record his sixth save of the season in a 4-3 win over the Royals.

It's his first save since May 26, with Jose Cisnero notching both of Detroit's other saves during that stretch. With Michael Fulmer also back in action, it's hard to predict who manager A.J. Hinch might turn to in the ninth inning in any given game, but Soto is at least locked into a high-leverage role, having posted a 0.77 ERA, 0.77 WHIP and 13:5 K:BB over his last 11.2 innings.

Weathers will be optioned to Triple-A El Paso on Wednesday, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Weathers recently took on a bullpen role as the Padres shifted to a five-man rotation, and he allowed a run on three hits and no walks while striking out one in three innings during his most recent relief appearance. While the southpaw has been relatively effective this season with a 2.47 ERA and 1.01 WHIP in 47.1 innings across 14 appearances (eight starts), the Padres feel as though he'll benefit from time as a regular starter at the Triple-A level. However, Weathers could certainly be an option to return to the major-league club as a starter or reliever at some point this year.

Sims (4-1) walked one and struck out one in a scoreless ninth inning Tuesday to pick up the win in a 2-1 extra-innings victory over the Brewers.

The Reds finally broke a 0-0 tie in the top of the 10th inning, making Sims the pitcher of record. The right-hander is locked in right now, racking up five saves in six chances in addition to Tuesday's win over his last nine appearances, a span during which he's pitched to a 0.93 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 13:3 K:BB through 9.2 innings.

Treinen earned his third save of the year Tuesday night against the Phillies after pitching a scoreless ninth while striking out a batter.

Treinen was called upon to pitch the ninth with Kenley Jansen unavailable after closing out the previous two games. He got the first two hitters out and then managed to work around an Albert Pujols fielding error by striking out J.T. Realmuto to end the game. Treinen is one of the premier setup pitchers in the game, as he is tied for second with 14 holds and tends to pick up the occasional save when Jansen is unavailable or off his game.

Kelly (2-0) earned the win Tuesday over the Phillies after he pitched a perfect seventh inning while striking out a batter.

Kelly entered to begin the seventh with the task of shutting down the top of the Phillies' order and got through the inning with no trouble. The 33-year-old righty has had a much better month of June with a 1.42 ERA, 0.79 WHIP and 6:1 K:BB over 6.1 innings but still owns a 5.40 ERA overall thanks to a pair of rough outings in May.

Chapman had a strikeout and didn't allow a baserunner during the ninth inning to record the save in Tuesday's victory versus the Blue Jays.

Chapman surrendered five runs (four earned) on five hits while recording only one out in his past two appearances, though he rebounded Tuesday with a perfect frame. The veteran southpaw has otherwise been fantastic in 2021 with a 1.85 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 44:11 K:BB while going 13-for-15 in save chances.

Sborz allowed one run on one hit and struck out two over one inning in Tuesday's 6-3 extra-inning loss to the Astros.

With closer Ian Kennedy (hamstring) on the shelf, manager Chris Woodward turned to Sborz for the save. After dispatching Yordan Alvarez (strikeout) and Yuli Gurriel (pop up), Sborz caught too much of the zone with a slider that Carlos Correa made him pay for with a game-tying home run that sent the game into extras. An inning later, Demarcus Evans served up a grand slam to Jose Altuve. Sborz and Evans are expected to share the late-inning chores while Kennedy is on the injured list.