MLB Player News

The Guardians recalled Nikhazy from Triple-A Columbus on Thursday.

Nikhazy was lit up during his lone MLB outing this season, giving up six runs on five hits and six walks in just three innings against the Red Sox on April 26. Since then, he's posted a 4.56 ERA and 1.46 WHIP over 49.1 frames at Columbus. The 25-year-old southpaw has worked exclusively as a starter this year, but with Joey Cantillo already slated to start Thursday in place of Luis L. Ortiz (personal), Nikhazy could be ticketed for a bullpen role. Kolby Allard was designated for assignment in a corresponding move.

Bello (4-3) allowed two earned runs on one hit and one walk over five innings out of the bullpen and scooped up a win in the Red Sox's 5-3 victory over the Reds on Wednesday in the continuation of a game that was suspended Tuesday. He struck out three batters in the 62-pitch appearance.

Rather than having Bello start the regularly scheduled game for Wednesday, the Red Sox had the right-hander take the hill in the top of the fourth inning for the suspended game from Tuesday. Making what was his first relief appearance since 2022, Bello entered the contest with the Red Sox up 2-1, but Boston quickly fell behind after he served up a one-out, two-run home run to Spencer Steer in the fourth. Bello buckled down thereafter, however, retiring 13 of the final 15 batters he faced and inducing inning-ending double plays in the seventh and eighth. The Red Sox were able to plate the tie-breaking run in the bottom of the eighth to put Bello in line for the win before closer Aroldis Chapman finished out the contest with a scoreless ninth. Bello will return to a traditional starting role for his next appearance, which is expected to come during next week's series with the Rockies at Fenway Park.

Festa (2-3) took the loss against the Marlins on Thursday, allowing four runs on five hits and one walk while striking out seven across six innings.

Festa put the Twins behind early after yielding three runs in the first inning, highlighted by a two-run home run by Agustin Ramirez. Festa gave up another run in the third, but he settled in over his final three innings -- striking out six batters over that span -- yet didn't receive enough run support to fade the loss. He has a 7.28 ERA (in 29.2 innings) across six starts since being promoted from Triple-A St. Paul in early June, but that number is inflated by two outings in which he gave up eight runs apiece. Festa is slated to face the Cubs at home next week, which will likely be his last turn in the rotation before the All-Star break.

Ortiz is being investigated by Major League Baseball due to a possible gambling-related offense, Zack Meisel and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic report.

Ortiz was placed on non-disciplinary paid leave by MLB on Thursday, and he will remain on leave through the All-Star break as the league continues its probe. MLB has the ability to extend the leave beyond that, if necessary. Ortiz had been slated to start Thursday's game against the Cubs, but the Guardians will now hand the ball to Joey Cantillo instead.

The Guardians announced Thursday that Ortiz has been placed on leave per an agreement with the Players Association due to an ongoing league investigation.

Major League Baseball hasn't released any specifics regarding the nature of the investigation, though Tim Stebbins of MLB.com relays that Ortiz will be on "non-disciplinary paid leave" through the All-Star break, according to a statement from the league. Ortiz had been scheduled to start Thursday's game against the Cubs, but left-hander Joey Cantillo will instead be called up from Triple-A Columbus to start the series finale in Chicago. After being acquired from the Pirates over the winter, Ortiz has been an adequate mid-rotation arm for Cleveland this season, posting a 4-9 record, 4.36 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 96:42 K:BB over 88.2 innings.

Perez (elbow) has progressed to throwing bullpen sessions, MLB.com reports.

Perez landed on the injured list after only four starts this season and has been engaged in a lengthy rehab process. He is hoping to begin a rehab assignment by early August, which could line him up to return for the final month of the campaign.

Woods Richardson (4-4) picked up the win Wednesday, allowing one run on two hits and two walks over five innings in a 2-1 victory over the Marlins. He struck out three.

The right-hander got the hook after 75 pitches (50 strikes), and while he hasn't been providing the Twins with much length, Woods Richardson has at least been giving them stronger results of late. Over his last four trips to the mound, he's posted a 1.71 ERA, 0.76 WHIP and 18:7 K:BB through 21 innings. With Bailey Ober (hip) joining Zebby Matthews (shoulder) and Pablo Lopez (shoulder) on the IL this week, Woods Richardson's spot in the rotation seems very secure regardless of his numbers. He'll look to extend his win streak to three in his next start, which lines up to come at home early next week against the Cubs.

Bieber (elbow) threw a live batting practice session Tuesday, MLB.com reports.

This was Bieber's first live BP following a string of bullpen sessions last week. Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt said Tuesday's session went "really well," but the pitcher's next step is to be determined. A best-case scenario for the right-hander's return is by the end of July.

Houck (elbow) is scheduled to make his next rehab start with Double-A Portland on Friday, MLB.com reports.

The right-hander labored through his first three rehab appearances at Triple-A Worcester, giving up a combined 12 hits (two home runs), four walks and nine earned runs over 6.1 innings. Houck will bump down a level for his fourth rehab outing, but as long as he's able to build on the 65 pitches and 3.2 innings he covered during his most recent start with Worcester, he could be cleared to rejoin the Red Sox rotation next week.

Brown (9-3) recorded the win Wednesday against the Rockies, giving up two runs on six hits and one walk in six innings. He struck out eight.

The damage came on a Mickey Moniak two-run shot in the second inning, but Brown conceded five innocuous singles otherwise. The right-hander registered a strong 17 whiffs on the evening, and he also fired at least six frames while surrendering two runs or fewer for the 12th time already this season. Brown will take an exceptional 1.82 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and 126:29 K:BB across 104 innings into what sets up as a favorable home matchup versus the struggling Guardians, who have a .594 OPS over their last 24 games.