MLB Player News

Coulombe (forearm) tossed one scoreless inning in his first rehab outing with Triple-A St. Paul on Friday.

Coulombe landed on the 15-day injured list May 18 due to an extensor strain in his left forearm. He was cleared to embark on a rehab assignment Friday, but the veteran southpaw may not need more work in Triple-A and could rejoin the Twins' bullpen in the coming days, per Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic. Coulombe hasn't given up a run across 16.2 major-league innings this season while posting a 0.60 WHIP, two saves and a 19:2 K:BB.

Atlanta designated Kimbrel for assignment Saturday.

Kimbrel was called up from the minors Friday for a return to the big-league club that drafted him in 2008, but the reunion may end up being short-lived. The veteran reliever looked fine in pitching a scoreless inning against the Giants on Friday, though he allowed a hit and a walk while striking out one batter and averaging only 91.5 mph on his fastball. Atlanta filled Kimbrel's bullpen spot by recalling lefty reliever Austin Cox from the minors.

The Phillies optioned Rangel to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Saturday.

Rangel had just been called up from the minors Friday, and he gave the Phillies three innings of work against Pittsburgh that night, allowing two runs on three hits and two walks while striking out one batter. The righty reliever's return to Triple-A makes room for Philadelphia to call up a fresh bullpen arm from the minors in Daniel Robert.

Philadelphia recalled Robert from Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Saturday.

Robert previously had a stint with the Phillies this season, allowing one run on two hits with a 2:3 K:BB over two-thirds of an inning in mid-May after being acquired in a trade with the Rangers on May 1. He's posted a 0.95 ERA and 1.00 WHIP with a 26:5 K:BB across 19 innings during his time in Triple-A and will get another shot to make an impression as part of the Phillies' bullpen. Fellow righty reliever Alan Rangel was optioned to Lehigh Valley in a corresponding move.

The Cardinals optioned O'Brien to Triple-A Memphis on Friday.

O'Brien was up as the 27th man during Thursday's doubleheader against the Royals, tossing 1.2 scoreless innings in the first game of the twin bill. The 30-year-old has thrived at Memphis this season with a 2.79 ERA and 32:8 K:BB in 19.1 frames and should get another opportunity with the big club sooner rather than later.

Bergert is slated to start Sunday's game against the Brewers in Milwaukee.

Bergert will get at least one more turn through the San Diego rotation after he was summoned from Triple-A El Paso to make his first MLB start Tuesday. He acquitted himself well in a no-decision against the Giants, allowing two earned runs on six hits and two walks while striking out two batters over five innings. Bergert will get a favorable draw in his second start of the week, facing a Milwaukee offense that has produced a 93 wRC+ against right-handed pitching since the start of May.

Little gave up a run on two hits and a walk in the eighth inning Friday to record his 11th hold of the season in a win over the Twins. He struck out one.

The 28-year-old left-hander entered the game to protect a 6-3 lead, and after he put the first two runners aboard, a Royce Lewis single brought home the first earned run off Little since April 25. Little sported a 1.00 WHIP and 20:8 K:BB in 16 innings over that stretch with a 0.00 ERA, and as the top southpaw in the Toronto bullpen, he's become one of the key setup men in front of closer Jeff Hoffman.

Fluharty struck out two in 1.1 perfect innings of relief Friday to record his fourth hold of the season in a win over the Twins.

Entering the game with one out in the fifth inning and the Blue Jays ahead 4-3, the rookie southpaw closed out the frame before fanning Matt Wallner and Brooks Lee to begin the sixth. Fluharty isn't seeing consistent high-leverage work as the second lefty in the bullpen behind Brendon Little, but he's pitched well enough to get a more prominent spot in the pecking order. Through 26.2 innings this season, he's delivered a 3.04 ERA, 0.75 WHIP and 29:8 K:BB.

Nelson is slated to start Saturday's game against the Reds at Great American Ball Park.

Nelson will pick up his fourth start of the season Saturday and could have an opportunity to stick around in the rotation for the remainder of 2025 with Corbin Burnes (elbow) set to undergo Tommy John surgery next week. Since being lit up by the Cubs for five earned runs while recording just two outs in an April 18 game, Nelson has pitched to a 1.72 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and 23:9 K:BB in 31.1 innings.

Johnson (1-2) took the loss Friday against the Giants, allowing an unearned run on one hit over one inning.

After Dylan Lee recorded the first two outs in the ninth inning with the score tied 4-4, Johnson entered the game and gave up a single to Tyler Fitzgerald but promptly picked him off at first base. The right-hander wasn't so fortunate in the 10th, however -- with Fitzgerald at second as the phantom runner, Johnson watched him advance to third on a one-out groundout, and then bounced a curveball well wide of the plate that Sean Murphy couldn't corral to bring home the winning run. Raisel Iglesias appears to be on very thin ice as Atlanta's closer, but performances like this don't make a compelling case for Johnson to replace him. Over his last seven appearances, Johnson has a 6.00 ERA, 1.83 WHIP and 6:2 K:BB in six innings with two losses and a blown save.