MLB Player News

Smith-Shawver (oblique) will begin a rehab assignment with High-A Rome on Wednesday.

Smith-Shawver was diagnosed with a Grade 2 left oblique strain back in late May but has been cleared to return to game action. The young right-hander should be an option for Atlanta's rotation shortly after the All-Star break if all goes well, although it's possible he'll remain in the minors rather than rejoin the major-league club.

The Brewers acquired Civale from the Rays on Wednesday in exchange for minor-league infielder Gregory Barrios, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

Civale has an ERA north of 5.00 through 17 starts this season, but his xFIP is almost a full run lower at 4.09, and he should help stabilize the rotation for the division-leading Brewers. Shane Baz was scratched from his scheduled start for Triple-A Durham on Tuesday and appears a likely candidate to replace Civale in the Tampa Bay rotation.

Cease (7-7) took the loss Tuesday, coughing up six runs on eight hits and two walks over 3.2 innings as the Padres fell 7-0 to the Rangers. He struck out five.

The right-hander got no help from his offense, but Cease created his own problems by serving up six extra-base hits, including a pair of homers by Nathaniel Lowe. Cease has been tagged for four runs or more in three of his last four starts, walking multiple batters each time. He'll take a 4.24 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 130:32 K:BB through 102 innings into his next outing, which lines up to come at home this weekend against the Diamondbacks.

Mena has joined the Diamondbacks' taxi squad and appears in line to make his major-league debut Wednesday against the Dodgers, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.

Manager Torey Lovullo acknowledged Mena's presence in the clubhouse Tuesday and said that "if that does come up [Wednesday], [Mena] deserves the opportunity," per PHNX Diamondbacks. Mena is a 21-year-old right-hander who was traded to Arizona over the winter. He has spent the entire 2024 season to date with Triple-A Reno, posting a 4.90 ERA, 1.49 WHIP and 89:38 K:BB over 82.2 innings spanning 16 starts. A road matchup against the Dodgers represents a tough landing spot, and most will want to wait and see how the youngster fares before considering him for a fantasy roster.

Lopez came away with a no-decision in Tuesday's 5-3 loss to the Giants, allowing two runs on four hits and four walks over 4.1 innings. He struck out six.

The right-hander blanked San Francisco through four innings but was far from efficient, and when he served up back-to-back solo shots to begin the fifth, Lopez got the hook after 101 pitches (57 strikes). He's walked four batters in two straight trips to the mound, while the 4.1 innings represented his shortest start of the year. Despite the recent stumbles, he still hasn't given up more than three earned runs in an outing in 2024. He'll take a 1.83 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 87:31 K:BB through 83.2 innings into his next start, which is scheduled to come at home this weekend against the Phillies.

Birdsong (1-0) picked up the win Tuesday in a 5-3 victory over Atlanta, giving up two runs on four hits and two walks over five innings. He struck out five.

The runs came on back-to-back solo shots by Austin Riley and Sean Murphy in the second inning, but Birdsong otherwise shut the door over 87 pitches (57 strikes). The rookie right-hander hasn't exactly been dominant to begin his big-league tenure, serving up three homers and issuing five free passes in 9.2 innings, but he's giving an injury-depleted Giants rotation some length. Birdsong lines up to make his next start on the road this weekend in Cleveland.

Mercado (1-0) picked up the win Tuesday against the Cubs, allowing one earned run on two hits and two walks while striking out four batters over five innings.

Mercado's 1.71 Triple-A ERA translated well into the big leagues Tuesday, as he was able to silence the Cubs' offense during his first career MLB start. The only blemish on the 25-year-old's record came via a third-inning RBI double courtesy of Cody Bellinger, but the right-hander responded by throwing back-to-back 1-2-3 innings before being pulled. With Spencer Turnbull (lat) set to miss 6-to-8 weeks and Taijuan Walker (finger) out through the All-Star break, Mercado will almost certainly be granted another start -- tentatively scheduled to come Sunday in Atlanta.

Ashcraft (5-4) picked up the win Tuesday against the Yankees, allowing three runs on four hits and two walks across five-plus innings. He struck out three.

Ashcraft spent three weeks at Triple-A Louisville before allowing six runs in a start against the Pirates on June 26. He rebounded after struggling in his first start back in the bigs, blanking the Yankees over five innings before allowing a pair of singles and a walk and getting pulled without recording an out in the sixth. Ashcraft is expected to stick around for one more cycle in the Cincinnati rotation, with a start scheduled for Sunday against Detroit before Nick Lodolo (finger) returns from the injured list.

Herz didn't factor into the decision Tuesday against the Mets, allowing one run on five hits and no walks with 10 strikeouts across 5.2 innings.

After dazzling with 13 strikeouts over six scoreless innings June 15, Herz yielded eight runs (seven earned) with six strikeouts and four home runs across his next two starts. However, he stopped the skid Tuesday and allowed just one run, which came on a solo homer by Francisco Lindor in the fifth. Though the 23-year-old owns a 4.67 ERA, he's flashed tantalizing fantasy upside as a rookie and is on track to face the Cardinals, who've scored the fourth-fewest runs per game this season, in his next start.

Manaea didn't factor into the decision Tuesday against Washington, allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits and two walks across seven innings. He struck out five.

Although Manaea wasn't rewarded with the win, Tuesday's start marked his first time going deeper than six innings this season and was his third straight outing without surrendering a home run. The southpaw owns a 3.67 ERA across 83.1 innings, which would be his best since 2019, and has allowed only five earned runs in his last 22.2 innings pitched. Manaea is on track to start against the Pirates in Pittsburgh on Sunday.