MLB Player News

Mariners manager Scott Servais said last Saturday that Miller (finger) will come back from the 15-day injured list and return to "the backside of our rotation coming out of the [All-Star] break, for sure," MLB.com reports.

Servais' comments are somewhat of an about-face, considering that he told Janie McCauley of the Associated Press on July 4 that Miller wasn't going to pitch "for a while" after he was placed on the injured list a day earlier with a right middle finger blister. The rookie apparently overcame the blister issue quicker than initially anticipated, as he was throwing off flat ground from around 60 feet last weekend. The Mariners will likely re-evaluate Miller over the upcoming weekend and perhaps observe him throwing a bullpen session before signing off on his return from the IL. Assuming he's good to go when the Mariners require a fifth starter, Miller would line up to make his return to the rotation Tuesday versus the Twins at T-Mobile Park.

Contreras' option was transferred to the Florida Complex League on Thursday, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Contreras was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis on July 6 but had yet to take the mound in the minors. With this move, he should have the chance to re-find his form after a disappointing first half of the season, during which has maintained a 6.59 ERA, 1.57 WHIP and 55:32 K:BB across 68.1 innings. Mackey did note that Contreras is expected to pitch at a higher level again this season.

The Mariners sent Milone outright to Triple-A Tacoma on Thursday.

The 36-year-old lefty was DFA'd last week to make room for the arrival of Isaiah Campbell, and the veteran will remain in the Mariners' organization after clearing waivers. Milone was doing well in Seattle with a 2.00 ERA and 1.44 WHIP through nine innings. However, it's uncertain if he'll appear in the big leagues again this season now that he doesn't hold a spot on the 40-man roster.

Pepiot (oblique) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Friday, Alex Freedman of the Oklahoma City Dodgers reports.

A left oblique strain and a setback in early May have kept Pepiot on the shelf all season, but he is now entering the final stage of his recovery process. It's unclear how long the Dodgers plan on keeping Pepiot in the minors. He will likely make multiple starts in OKC before potentially returning to the Dodgers' rotation.

Atlanta designated Munoz for assignment Thursday.

After putting up a 4.28 ERA and 1.55 WHIP through 27.1 frames to begin the season in Triple-A Gwinnett, Munoz will be cast off Atlanta's 40-man roster. The move makes room for Lucas Luetge, who was selected to Atlanta's active roster from Gwinnett on Thursday. It's possible Munoz is claimed by another team looking for bullpen help, but he now appears in line to finish 2023 in the minors.

The Giants promoted Black to Triple-A Sacramento on Thursday.

Black had a strong first half with Double-A Richmond, putting up a 3.57 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and a 83:21 K:BB through 63 innings across 16 starts. The 23-year-old righty will likely close out the season in Sacramento and has a chance to make his debut for the Giants sometime in 2024.

Rays manager Kevin Cash said last week that he's confident McClanahan (back) will be ready to return from the 15-day injured list when first eligible to start Sunday's game in Kansas City, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

McClanahan was placed on the IL with mid-back tightness July 1, one day after he was limited to a season-low three innings in a start at Seattle. The injury kept him from making his final turn before the All-Star break and also prevented him from pitching in the Midsummer Classic, but he was able to play catch last week without any discomfort and has presumably continued to improve in the days that followed. McClanahan may throw a bullpen session Thursday or Friday before the Rays officially confirm that he'll take the hill for the final game of the series in Kansas City.

Glasnow (hand/legs) is scheduled to start Friday's game in Kansas City.

In his most recent start July 7 versus Atlanta, Glasnow exited midway through the sixth inning while battling cramps in his hand and legs, but the extended time off due to the All-Star break provided ample time for the 29-year-old to recover. He'll lead off the Rays' second-half slate and look to continue the momentum he had carried into the break. In his final three starts of the first half, Glasnow went 0-2 but submitted a 2.76 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 31:3 K:BB over 16.1 frames.

The Royals promoted Kudrna from Single-A Columbia to High-A Quad Cities on Wednesday.

Though Kudrna's numbers at Columbia this season (3.50 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 66:26 K:BB in 64.1 innings) don't vary wildly from his ratios in 2022 with the same affiliate (3.61 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, 61:32 K:BB in 72.1 innings), the Royals evidently saw enough growth from the 20-year-old right-hander to bump him up a level. He's the second major Royals pitching prospect to move from Single-A to High-A within the past two weeks, as Frank Mozzicato got the call to Quad Cities on July 2.

DeSclafani (shoulder) will begin a rehab assignment with the Giants' rookie-level Arizona Complex League affiliate Thursday, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

DeSclafani is expected to require just one rehab start, setting the right-hander up to rejoin the Giants rotation next week. He has been on the shelf since early July due to right shoulder fatigue and posted a 4.44 ERA across 17 starts prior to being deactivated.