MLB Player News

Phillies manager Rob Thomson said Tuesday that Mercado will move to the bullpen, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

Mercado pitched well in his first major-league start against the Cubs last Tuesday but was then roughed up in his second outing in Atlanta on Sunday, coughing up five runs while recording just five outs. Tyler Phillips was effective in long relief of Mercado in the latter outing and will replace him in the rotation this weekend against the Athletics.

Phillies manager Rob Thomson said Phillips will make his first major-league start Saturday against the Athletics, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Phillips pitched well in an extended relief outing Sunday in Atlanta, allowing one run, striking out seven and not issuing a walk over four innings. He was pressed into action following an ineffective start by Michael Mercado, who will now head to the bullpen to make room in the rotation for Phillips.

The Pirates activated Priester (lat) from the 15-day injured list Tuesday.

Priester has been shelved since June 6 due to a right lat injury, but after making a pair of rehab starts, Pittsburgh determined he was ready to rejoin the active roster. The 24-year-old completed five innings in his latest rehab outing and could take the spot of Jared Jones (lat) in the Pirates rotation, which would put him on track to start Sunday against the White Sox. Priester holds a 4.83 ERA across 31.2 innings with the Pirates this season.

Atlanta optioned Elder to Triple-A Gwinnett on Tuesday.

Elder was called up to make a spot start Monday. a move made to give Chris Sale an extra day of rest. After allowing three runs across five-plus innings Monday, Elder will be returned to Triple-A. Elder has a 5.71 ERA across seven starts with Atlanta, recording a 24:13 K:BB across 34.2 innings.

Atlanta activated Smith-Shawver (oblique) from the 15-day injured Tuesday.

Smith-Shawver had been slated to make his second rehab start Tuesday with Triple-A Gwinnett, but he will rejoin the big club instead to offer length in the bullpen, per Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The young right-hander struck out four and allowed one run over two innings in his lone rehab appearance last week with High-A Rome. Smith-Shawver went 4.1 shutout frames in his lone start this season for Atlanta back in late May before exiting with a strained oblique.

Marquez (elbow) made the sixth start of his rehab assignment Thursday with Double-A Hartford, covering 3.2 innings and giving up two runs (one earned) on five hits and one walk while striking out two.

According to MLB.com, Rockies manager Bud Black said Marquez's surgically repaired elbow came out fine following his latest rehab start, during which he built up to 69 pitches and hit 99 miles per hour with his fastball. Black suggested that Marquez will make one more rehab start with Hartford on Tuesday, and if all goes well, the right-hander's next outing will likely come with the big club. Marquez would line up for a start during the Rockies' final game before the All-Star break Sunday versus the Mets, but the organization may be more inclined to give him some extra time to recover from Tuesday's outing and wait until after the break before activating him from the 60-day injured list.

Gordon is scheduled to start Friday's game against the Mets at Citi Field.

Gordon was lit it up for five runs on eight hits in his MLB debut this past Sunday against the Royals, but the fact that he pitched into the seventh inning without issuing a walk and while striking out four batters offered some signs of encouragement. The 26-year-old righty may not necessarily be in store for a long-term stay with the big club, but he'll get at least one more turn through the rotation while the Rockies wait for German Marquez (elbow) to complete his rehab assignment before returning from the 60-day injured list.

Lodolo (finger) will be activated from the 15-day injured list to start Tuesday versus the Rockies, Jeff Wallner of the Associated Press reports.

Lodolo will skip a rehab assignment and slide right back into the Reds' rotation after missing the last two weeks of action with a blister on his pitching hand. It's possible the southpaw won't quite be ready for a full workload, but he's a must-start in fantasy, regardless, particularly in such a favorable matchup.

Diaz allowed one run on four hits and one walk while striking out five batters over six innings in a no-decision against Atlanta on Monday.

Diaz got the call-up to the majors after making just four starts at Triple-A and more than held his own against big-league hitters. The right-hander served up a solo homer to Austin Riley in the first frame but didn't allow any extra-base hits or runs thereafter, notching a quality start with five punchouts. Diaz certainly pitched well enough to earn another turn in the rotation, and if he gets that opportunity he's lined up to face the Blue Jays at home this weekend.

Elder tossed five-plus innings against Arizona on Monday, allowing three runs on four hits and two walks while striking out one batter in a no-decision.

Elder was recalled from Triple-A ahead of the contest to make a spot start as Chris Sale was pushed back an extra day for rest reasons. Elder was outstanding through five frames, allowing just two hits and no runs. However, he lost that momentum in the sixth, allowing four straight batters to reach base (on two singles and two walks) to surrender a run before getting the hook. Two more runs were charged to the right-hander's ledger following his departure, souring what had been an impressive outing. Elder may return to the minors in short order with Atlanta's rotation lined up until the All-Star break.