MLB Player News

The Angels transferred Rodriguez's (back) rehab assignment to Triple-A Salt Lake on Saturday.

Rodriguez made his first rehab appearance with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga on June 28 and allowed one earned run over four innings. He threw 57 pitches in the outing, so he needs more time to ramp back up before rejoining the big-league Angels. Rodriguez will make his next rehab start with Salt Lake on Saturday and said he could have "pretty close to a normal workload" in the appearance, per Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register. That could put the hurler on track to make his following start in the majors, though a definitive timeline for his activation hasn't been announced.

Montero walked one and didn't strike out a batter over three scoreless, no-hit relief innings Saturday to record his first career save in a 3-0 win over the Rangers.

While it wasn't a conventional save, the 25-year-old right-hander certainly saw high-leverage usage as he tossed 23 of 36 pitches for strikes to complete a combined shutout begun by Jack Flaherty, the pitcher whose return from the IL bumped Montero to the bullpen. Over his last four appearances (two starts), Montero has delivered an impressive 1.42 ERA, 0.79 WHIP and 9:3 K:BB in 19 innings while collecting two wins in addition to Saturday's save. Given the Tigers' issues this year at the back of the bullpen -- Kenley Jansen has a 5.23 ERA and has blown four of 13 save chances, while Will Vest (elbow) and Kyle Finnegan have been charged with five blown saves each -- manager A.J. Hinch could continue to get creative with how he deploys Montero.

Henderson (back) will be activated from the IL to make his next start for the Brewers, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Henderson last pitched for Milwaukee on May 22 and subsequently landed on the IL due to a back strain. He's since made two minor-league rehab starts, tossing a combined 6.2 innings, during which he's allowed two runs while posting an 11:2 K:BB. Henderson is now slated to return to the Brewers' rotation, and his return start is likely to come next week during Milwaukee's series against St. Louis.

Flaherty (2-8) picked up the win in Saturday's 3-0 victory over the Rangers, scattering three hits over 5.2 scoreless innings. He struck out five without walking a batter.

Texas didn't even get a runner into scoring position against Flaherty until a Josh Jung double in the sixth inning, which proved to be the last batter the right-hander would face. Flaherty held a 5.81 ERA at the end of May, but since then he's turned things around with a 1.90 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 28:7 K:BB in 23.2 innings over five starts, a stretch that was interrupted by a two-week stint on the IL due to an ankle injury. He'll look to keep rolling in his next outing, which is scheduled to come at home next weekend against the Phillies.

Littell didn't factor into the decision Saturday as the Nationals fell 7-1 to the Pirates, allowing one run on four hits and a walk over six relief innings. He struck out three.

The veteran righty put together an impressive performance as the bulk reliever, tossing 57 of 87 pitches for strikes in the equivalent of a quality start, but opener Carson Palmquist had coughed up four runs before Littell even set foot on the mound. Littell has given up two or fewer runs in three straight outings to lower his ERA on the season to 5.02, and he's set to get his next turn through the rotation at home next weekend against the Yankees.

Ashcraft (9-3) picked up the win Saturday, allowing one run on six hits and two walks over 5.2 innings in a 7-1 victory over the Nationals. He struck out seven.

James Wood led off the bottom of the first inning with a solo shot on Ashcraft's first pitch, but the right-hander shut the door from there and came one out short of his 11th quality start of the season. It was an impressive bounce-back performance after he'd been tagged for three homers and five runs in his previous outing; but despite that damage to his ratios, Ashcraft has won four straight starts. He'll take a 3.24 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 122:25 K:BB through 108.1 innings into his next trip to the mound, which lines up to come at home next weekend against the Brewers.

Colorado placed Sugano (back) on the 15-day injured list Saturday, retroactive to July 1.

Sugano was slated to pitch Saturday after having a few extra days to deal with a finger injury. While that issue appears to be in the rearview mirror, the right-handed hurler recently developed back spasms that are serious enough to result in a stint on the IL. Sean Sullivan was recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque on Saturday to replace Sugano in the rotation.

The Rockies recalled Sullivan from Triple-A Albuquerque on Saturday.

Sullivan was optioned to Albuquerque on Tuesday, but he's right back up with the big-league club to make a start in place of Tomoyuki Sugano, who was placed on the 15-day IL due to back spasms. Sullivan has struggled during his time with the big-league club this season, recording an 8.64 ERA, 1.86 WHIP and 12:9 K:BB over 16.2 innings spanning four starts. However, Colorado doesn't have many other rotation options to turn to, so Sullivan could remain in a starting role beyond Saturday while Sugano recovers.

The Yankees optioned Beck to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Saturday.

Beck was called up earlier Saturday to make a start against Minnesota in place of Carlos Rodon (elbow), who landed on the 15-day injured list Friday. Beck was the pitcher of record in the Yankees' 11-4 loss, allowing five runs on five hits (including three home runs) and two walks while striking out three batters over 3.2 innings. The Yankees will need to add a new starter to the mix when the fifth spot in the rotation comes up again Thursday at Tampa Bay.

The Royals placed Kolek (personal) on the Family Medical Emergency List on Saturday.

Kolek's next start is tentatively slated for next week on the road against the Mets, though it's unclear whether he'll be with the team at that time. He took the loss in his last start against the Rays on Thursday, when he allowed three runs on four hits and one walk across two innings without recording a strikeout. Prior to that outing, Kolek spent some time on the paternity list and then the family medical emergency list before rejoining the team Thursday. The Royals recalled right-hander Jose Cuas from Triple-A Omaha in a corresponding move.