The Orioles designated Contreras for assignment Thursday.

Contreras fared well in a bulk-relief appearance during Wednesday's 3-2 loss to the Red Sox, striking out a pair over 4.1 scoreless innings. However, he will now lose his spot on the roster as the Orioles clear room in the bullpen for waiver pickup Shawn Dubin. If Contreras clears waivers, he would have the ability to elect free agency.

Garcia (elbow) could be activated from the 60-day injured list as soon as this weekend for the Astros' four-game series against the Angels, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Garcia's latest rehab start with Triple-A Sugar Land on Tuesday went well, as he struck out five over six innings of one-run ball. He averaged 91.7 miles per hour and topped out at 93.5 mph with his four-seamer, which is notably down from the 94 mph he averaged in his last full season in 2022. Still, while Garcia has had numerous starts and stops during his comeback from May 2023 Tommy John surgery, the results have been solid during his rehab assignment, as he holds a 3.30 ERA and 38:7 K:BB over 30 innings. The Astros are currently using a six-man rotation; they could either keep that setup in place and have Garcia replace Jason Alexander, or they could pair Garcia with another hurler -- likely Cristian Javier or Lance McCullers -- for piggyback starts.

Ritchie gave up one hit and two walks over six scoreless innings for Triple-A Gwinnett on Wednesday. He struck out 11.

The 11 Ks were a career high for the 22-year-old right-hander at any level. Ritchie has made an impressive return from May 2023 Tommy John surgery, beginning the season at High-A and now sitting one promotion away from his big-league debut. Over seven starts for Gwinnett, he's posted a 3.62 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 39:16 K:BB through 37.1 innings, and while Atlanta has little reason to bring him up in September, Ritchie could get an audition for a rotation spot next spring.

Lauer didn't factor into the decision Wednesday against Minnesota, allowing eight runs (six earned) on 10 hits across 4.2 innings. He struck out four.

It was a rough outing for the left-hander, who gave up a season-high four homers before departing with two outs in the fifth inning. Prior to Wednesday, Lauer had not allowed more than three earned runs in any of his first 14 starts this year. Overall, his ERA sits at 3.21 with a 1.13 WHIP and 91:25 K:BB across 92.2 innings this season. Per manager John Schneider, Lauer will likely move into the bullpen down the stretch with Shane Bieber returning to the rotation.

Burns (elbow) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Saturday, MLB.com reports.

Burns threw a bullpen session without any issues Tuesday and is working his way back to active status. Per the report, an estimated timeline indicates he could possibly return by the end of the season.

Mize (12-5) took the loss against the Athletics on Wednesday, allowing five runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out four batters over 3.1 innings.

Mize struggled from the outset -- after facing four batters, he had already given up three baserunners and a run. The right-hander's outing didn't get much better, as he gave up three runs in the second frame and another in the fourth before he was pulled having recorded just one out in that inning. Overall, Mize finished with five runs on his ledger, the second most he's given up in a game this year. He'll try to right the ship in his next start, which lines up to come against the Mets at home next week.

Morales (2-0) earned the win over the Tigers on Wednesday, tossing seven scoreless innings during which he allowed two hits and two walks while striking out seven batters.

Morales got stronger as the game progressed -- he allowed three baserunners over his first three innings but only one across his final three frames. The right-hander notched 11 whiffs among his 91 pitches and recorded his third straight quality start. Morales made his MLB debut out of the bullpen Aug. 1 and has started in each of his four outings since. He's been a revelation for the Athletics, compiling a 1.19 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 22:10 K:BB through 22.2 total innings. Morales will try to keep rolling in his next start, which is tentatively scheduled to be on the road in St. Louis.

Nelson (7-3) notched the win Wednesday against the Brewers, allowing one run on six hits and no walks in six innings. He struck out three.

Wednesday marked Nelson's third straight start of at least six innings and his eighth consecutive of at least five frames. While the three strikeouts were his fewest over that eight-start span, the right-hander has surrendered two runs or fewer five times during that period. Nelson sports a 3.53 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 108:32 K:BB across 125 innings in 2025 ahead of his next scheduled outing, which lines up for next week at home versus the Rangers.

Fedde (4-13) was saddled with the loss Wednesday against the Diamondbacks, allowing two runs on eight hits and no walks in 4.1 innings. He struck out two.

Piggybacking off opener Aaron Ashby, Fedde functioned as a long reliever in his Brewers debut and poured in 52 of his 71 pitches for strikes. Quinn Priester was originally tabbed to start earlier in the day before being pushed back, so it's unclear how Milwaukee will choose to deploy Fedde going forward. Fedde will likely be unavailable out of the bullpen for at least a few days following Wednesday's showing, and his unsightly 5.71 ERA, 1.58 WHIP and 78:60 K:BB across 129.1 innings leave him without much fantasy appeal.

Rea (10-6) took the loss against San Francisco on Wednesday, allowing seven runs (six earned) on eight hits and two walks while striking out two batters over 4.2 innings.

Rea fell behind quickly, as Rafael Devers knocked his seventh pitch of the game over the outfield wall for a solo homer. Rea managed to get through a scoreless second frame, but things unraveled for him in the third, when the Giants got to him for three runs despite managing just two hits. The right-hander gave up three more runs (two of which were earned) in the fifth and was pulled before he could finish the frame. The poor outing snapped a string of four straight starts in which Rea had surrendered two or fewer earned runs. He's been middling overall this year with a 4.23 ERA through 132 innings, but he's been prone to blow-ups, giving up five or more earned runs on five different occasions.