MLB Player News

The Nationals reinstated Cavalli (elbow) from the 15-day injured list Sunday and optioned him to Triple-A Rochester.

After making his MLB debut with the Nationals in 2022, Cavalli had been limited to just 8.1 minor-league innings over the past two seasons while recovering from March 2023 Tommy John surgery. He reported healthy to spring training but was brought along slowly before being cleared to begin a rehab assignment April 19. Cavalli will stick around with Rochester and should continue to make regular turns through the rotation. He's expected to get another look in the big leagues later this season.

The Rockies optioned Blalock to Triple-A Albuquerque on Sunday.

Unsurprisingly, Blalock received a demotion after he was lit up for 12 earned runs on 13 hits and two walks over just 3.2 innings during Saturday's 21-0 loss to the Padres. The Rockies still have an opening in the rotation with Ryan Feltner (back) not ready to return from the injured list, and Triple-A righty Tanner Gordon could be the next man up as the fifth starter.

The Rockies recalled Molina from Triple-A Albuquerque on Sunday.

Molina made 35 appearances (one start) with the Rockies as a Rule 5 selection in 2024, but he's made the move to the rotation at Albuquerque this season. Over his seven starts, Molina has produced a 9.20 ERA, 2.39 WHIP and 23:18 K:BB in 30.1 innings. The Rockies have an opening in the rotation after optioning Bradley Blalock to Albuquerque in a corresponding move, but Molina is expected to serve as a long man out of the Colorado bullpen.

The Orioles activated Eflin (lat) from the 15-day injured list to start Sunday's game against the Angels.

The right-hander was sidelined just over a month due to a lat strain, but he'll rejoin Baltimore's rotation after firing four scoreless frames in his lone rehab start last weekend. Eflin threw only 58 pitches in that outing, so he will likely have some workload limitations for his first couple starts back with the Orioles. The 31-year-old delivered quality starts in all three of his outings prior to the injury and had a 3.00 ERA, 0.83 WHIP and 8:1 K:BB over 18 innings.

Schmidt is scheduled to start Monday's game at Seattle, Chris Kirschner of The Athletic reports.

The right-hander was a candidate to start Sunday in Sacramento following the demotion of Carlos Carrasco earlier in the week, but Schmidt will instead take the mound Monday. Schmidt surrendered eight runs over his first two starts after missing the first few weeks of the season due to a shoulder issue, but he's given up just three earned runs with 10 strikeouts over 11 frames in his past two outings.

Caminiti (forearm) struck out three and allowed two earned runs on three hits and one walk across 2.1 innings in his season debut Friday for Atlanta's rookie-level Florida Complex League affiliate.

The No. 24 overall pick in the 2024 First-Year Player Draft, Caminiti made his professional debut with Single-A Augusta late last season, but he stuck around at Atlanta's complex in Florida following spring training while he recovered from forearm tendinitis. The injury was never viewed as a major concern, as Atlanta had likely always planned to manage the 18-year-old lefty's workload in his first full pro season. He'll likely report to Augusta once he gets a few FCL starts under his belt.

Strider (hamstring) said that he feels ready to return from the 15-day injured list, but Atlanta has yet to decide whether he'll be activated during the upcoming week or go on a minor-league rehab assignment, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

Strider has been on the shelf since April 21 due to a Grade 1 right hamstring strain, which he sustained while playing catch. He received a platelet-poor plasma injection two days later that he credits with hastening his recovery. The right-hander has responded well to bullpen sessions Wednesday and Saturday, but Atlanta may want to have him face hitters in a simulated game or in a minor-league rehab start before bringing him back from the IL. If Strider is cleared to return during the upcoming week, his workload could be managed carefully in what would be his first outing since April 16. Per Lindsay Crosby of AthlonSports.com, Atlanta has already confirmed its starting pitchers through Thursday, so there wouldn't be an opening for Strider in the rotation until at least Friday.

The Brewers optioned Myers to Triple-A Nashville on Sunday.

The right-hander gave up two runs over four frames in a no-decision Saturday versus the Rays, and it appears he'll be the odd man out of the rotation with Brandon Woodruff (shoulder) and Aaron Civale (hamstring) nearing their returns from the injured list. Myers missed most of the first month of the season due to an oblique strain and never fully found his footing through five outings with a 3.86 ERA, 1.53 WHIP and 11:10 K:BB across 16.1 innings. The 26-year-old was a key rotation piece for Milwaukee last season and will likely get another look in the majors before too long.

Keller started Saturday's 6-5 win over the Mets and tossed a scoreless inning with two strikeouts before exiting.

The veteran righty served as an effective opener before turning things over to Cade Horton, who logged four innings in his MLB debut to snag the win. Keller has pitched well lately, as he hasn't allowed an earned run over his last seven appearances, but he's maxed out at two innings in his longest outing. The former starter looks to be locked into a more traditional bullpen role in Chicago, but he seems to be thriving.

Heaney didn't factor into the decision in Saturday's 3-2 extra-innings loss to Atlanta, giving up two runs on four hits and three walks over six innings. He struck out two.

The veteran southpaw only managed four swinging strikes on the afternoon among his 82 pitches, and all four of the hits off him went for extra bases, but Heaney still managed to deliver his fourth quality start of the season. He'll take a 3.15 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 36:16 K:BB through 45.2 innings into his next outing, which is scheduled to come on the road next weekend in Philadelphia.