MLB Player News

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said Wednesday that Megill will move to the bullpen following the acquisition of right-hander Paul Blackburn on Tuesday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Mendoza suggested the move to a relief role could be temporary, as the Mets want to keep Megill stretched out and may eventually send him back to Triple-A Syracuse to make regular starts. At least for the time being, however, the big right-hander will be the odd man out of the Mets' five-man rotation and will operate as a multi-inning reliever.

Blackburn is scheduled to make his first start for the Mets on Friday against the Angels in Anaheim, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Blackburn has yet to be officially added to the Mets' 26-man active roster after being acquired via trade from the Athletics on Tuesday, but that will happen this weekend. The right-hander has been limited to just nine starts this season because of a foot injury but has been decent when healthy, holding a 4.41 ERA and 38:14 K:BB over 51 innings. With Blackburn joining the rotation, the Mets will send No. 5 starter Tylor Megill to the bullpen, at least temporarily.

Cole (fatigue) played catch without issue Wednesday and is slated to throw a bullpen session Friday, Meredith Marakovits of YES Network reports.

Assuming he comes out of the bullpen session with no concerns, Cole will make a start this weekend against the Blue Jays, likely Sunday. The veteran right-hander was scratched from a scheduled start Tuesday in Philadelphia due to general body fatigue, but the Yankees don't seem concerned that he's dealing with any sort of long-term issue.

The Cardinals selected McGreevy's contract from Triple-A Memphis on Wednesday.

McGreevy will start Wednesday's series finale against the Rangers in what will be his major-league debut. The right-hander has put up pedestrian numbers at Memphis this season, collecting a 4.45 ERA and 96:36 K:BB over 109.1 innings. He's been at his best over the last two months, though, with a 2.94 ERA and 52:19 K:BB across 52 frames since June 1. McGreevy is expected to be sent back down to Memphis after the spot start.

The Cardinals placed Lynn on the 15-day injured list Wednesday with right knee inflammation.

Lynn has apparently been dealing with the knee issue for a couple starts and was seen limping around the clubhouse after Tuesday's 8-1 win over the Rangers. He'll be eligible to return from the IL in mid-August and has a shot to be ready around that time, as the team believes a little rest will help. The newly acquired Erick Fedde will slide into Lynn's rotation spot, and Andre Pallante will also remain in the rotation for the time being.

Orioles general manager Mike Elias confirmed Wednesday that Suarez will move to a long-relief role, Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun reports.

Rather than expanding the rotation to six men, the Orioles will shift Suarez to the bullpen to make room for lefty Trevor Rogers, who will take over as the club's No. 5 starter following his acquisition from the Marlins on Tuesday. Suarez owns a 3.62 ERA over 77 innings with the big club this season, but he failed to deliver a quality start in any of his last three outings while going 0-2 with a 10.03 ERA and 2.14 WHIP across those contests.

General manager Ross Atkins indicated Tuesday that Bloss will get some "breathing room" at Triple-A Buffalo before being called up and added to the Blue Jays' rotation, Kaitlyn McGrath of The Athletic reports. "Our ideal outcome is that he's helping us this year and growing and developing here in Toronto," Atkins said. "We're going to get to know him, make sure that he's in the strongest possible spot."

The right-hander was part of the package the Jays received from Houston in the Yusei Kikuchi deal, but Bloss will begin his Toronto tenure in the minors to help him get settled. Assuming he sees game action for Buffalo, the Bisons will be the fifth different affiliate the 23-year-old has pitched for this season -- he began the year with High-A Asheville before stints at Double-A Corpus Christi and Triple-A Sugarland, eventually making his big-league debut with the Astros on June 21. Bloss posted an impressive 1.64 ERA, 0.79 WHIP and 63:21 K:BB in 66 innings across his three minor-league stops, but he got tagged for five homers in 11.2 frames for the Astros before the trade.

Schmidt (lat) is expected to be cleared to throw live batting practice soon, Chris Kirschner of The Athletic reports.

Schmidt is moving along slowly but surely in his throwing program as he works his way back from a right lat strain. The hurler will need to face hitters at least a couple times before being cleared for a rehab assignment. He's still several weeks away from a return but is progressing well.

Steele (2-5) took the loss Tuesday against Cincinnati, allowing five runs on six hits and four walks across five innings. He struck out seven.

Three of the six hits Steele allowed Tuesday went for extra bases, including a two-run home run by Santiago Espinal in the second inning. Tuesday's outing marked Steele's second time allowing five runs in his last three starts, a stretch in which he's also walked nine batters in 15 innings. On the year, Steele has a 3.38 ERA and 1.11 WHIP across 101.1 innings. The left-hander is on track to close out a two-start week Sunday against the Cardinals.

Atlanta optioned Elder to Triple-A Gwinnett on Wednesday.

Elder's demotion seemingly signals that Atlanta is confident Reynaldo Lopez (forearm) will be ready to make his next turn through the rotation. Atlanta recalled Elder from Triple-A on Tuesday and turned to him to make a spot start against the Brewers. He came through with a quality start while nabbing his second win of the season in Atlanta's 5-1 victory, striking out seven over 6.1 innings while allowing one earned run on five hits and one walk.