MLB Player News

The Giants optioned Birdsong to Single-A San Jose on Sunday.

San Francisco previously optioned Birdsong to Single-A this past Monday, but the rookie right-hander didn't have to miss a turn through the rotation since the Giants were able to recall him from the minors to have him serve as the 27th man for Saturday's doubleheader with the Rockies. Birdsong took the hill for the second game of the twin bill and spun another gem, striking out eight over five shutout innings while the Giants rolled to a 5-0 win. Now that Birdsong has been optioned to the minors again, the Giants would need to place a player on the injured list in a corresponding move in order for the 22-year-old to be eligible to rejoin the big club in fewer than 15 days. Even though Birdsong holds a 2.97 ERA and 30.2 percent strikeout rate in the majors this season, it's unclear if the Giants will have room for him in their rotation. The Giants returned lefty Robbie Ray from the 60-day injured list this past week, and another starter in right-hander Alex Cobb (hip/shoulder) could be ready to come off the 60-day IL during the upcoming week.

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

As expected, Gordon was returned to Triple-A after he was called up to the big club to serve as its 27th man in Saturday's doubleheader with the Giants. He started the second game of the twin bill, giving up four earned runs on nine hits and no walks while striking out five over six innings in a 5-0 loss. Gordon has been dealt a loss in each of his first three big-league starts while producing an 8.80 ERA and 1.76 WHIP in those outings.

Hicks, who had been scheduled to start Sunday against the Rockies, is expected to be available out of the bullpen for the series finale with Colorado, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Previous reports had suggested that Hicks was on track to move to the bullpen in the near future in anticipation of Alex Cobb's (hip/shoulder) return from the 60-day injured list. Even though Cobb isn't expected to be activated until around the middle of the upcoming week, the Giants will get a head start on shifting Hicks to the bullpen. Hicks will likely work in bulk relief behind opening pitcher Erik Miller on Sunday, but the right-hander could fill a more versatile multi-inning role out of the bullpen once Cobb is back in the fold. After signing a four-year, $44 million deal with the Giants over the winter and clinching a spot in the Opening Day rotation, Hicks got off to a strong start to the campaign but has faded of late. Over his last five starts, Hicks has gone 0-4 with an 8.18 ERA, 1.95 WHIP and 22:13 K:BB across 22 innings.

The Rays reinstated Springs (elbow) from the 60-day injured list Sunday.

Though Springs has been added back to the Rays' 40-man roster and 26-man active roster, he won't make his season debut with the big club until Tuesday against the Marlins, per Ryan Bass of Bally Sports Sun. The upcoming outing against the Marlins will be the left-hander's first in the big leagues since undergoing Tommy John surgery in April of 2023. In his last full season in 2022, he went 9-5 over 25 starts with a 2.46 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 144:31 K:BB across 135.1 innings. Springs reached five innings and 82 pitches in his final rehab outing with Triple-A Durham this past Thursday, so he shouldn't face any major restrictions with his workload against Miami.

Curry won't start Sunday's game against the Phillies as previously scheduled, Paul Hoynes of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

The 26-year-old was initially penciled in to start Sunday, but the Guardians have instead called up Joey Cantillo from Triple-A Columbus to make his MLB debut. Curry allowed two runs over 4.1 innings during his previous start and has a 4.98 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 13:4 K:BB across 21.2 big-league innings this season. Matthew Boyd (elbow) is also nearing a return from the injured list, so Curry may not have many opportunities to start going forward and could move to the bullpen on a permanent basis.

Gordon (0-3) was the pitcher of record Saturday in the Rockies' 5-0 loss to the Giants in the second game of a doubleheader. He struck out five and allowing four earned runs on nine hits and no walks over six innings.

Gordon got off on the wrong foot, allowing back-to-back hits in both of the first two innings, leading to two early runs coming across for San Francisco. The right-hander would then cruise through the next two frames before once again surrendering back-to-back hits to open the fifth. The right-hander has now taken losses in all three of his starts this season, allowing at least four runs in each outing. On a positive note, he's managed to go six innings in two of those starts and currently holds a 12:2 K:BB on the campaign. Gordon was serving as the Rockies' 27th man for the doubleheader, so he'll likely be optioned back to Triple-A Albuquerque on Sunday.

The Guardians called up Cantillo from Triple-A Columbus to start Sunday's game against the Phillies, Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.

The 24-year-old missed the start of the Triple-A season due to a hamstring strain, but he's been effective since coming off the injured list in early June with a 2.79 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and 39:19 K:BB over 29 innings. If he delivers a strong debut, Cantillo could receive multiple turns through the rotation for Cleveland.

Birdsong (3-0) picked up the win over the Rockies on Saturday, allowing three hits and three walks over five shutout innings while striking out eight.

Birdsong once again proved he has the stuff to stick around in the big leagues, producing 20 swings-and-misses over five shutout innings to improve to 3-0 on the campaign. The right-hander has not allowed more than three runs in any of his five starts this season, and he hasn't surrendered more than three hits in three consecutive outings. He's gone 2-0 over that latter stretch while posting a 23:8 K:BB.

The Rays acquired Lesko, outfielder Homer Bush and catcher J.D. Gonzalez from the Padres on Sunday in exchange for reliever Jason Adam, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports.

Lesko was one of San Diego's top prospects, though he's struggled at the High-A level this season with a 6.82 ERA, 1.59 WHIP and 73:49 K:BB across 64.2 innings. He's also plunked 11 batters and thrown seven wild pitches, as his control has been erratic in his second year back from Tommy John surgery.

Anderson (8-9) took the loss against the Athletics on Saturday, allowing three runs on six hits and one walk over seven innings while striking out 10.

All three runs charged to Anderson came across in the first inning, when he allowed two of the first three batters to reach before surrendering a three-run homer to Shea Langeliers. The lefty would then allow just three singles and a walk over six scoreless frames to close out his night, but he still ended up taking his ninth loss, as the Angels' offense produced just one run in the contest. Anderson induced 17 whiffs in the loss, racking up 10 strikeouts for the second time in his last four starts. He's also gone at least six innings in three of his last four outings and currently holds a 2.70 ERA in July to go along with a robust 32:2 K:BB.