MLB Player News

Blackburn gave up three runs on seven hits and a walk over four innings Sunday to record his first career save in a rout of the Rockies.

The veteran righty took the mound to begin the sixth inning with the Mets ahead 7-2, and they only extended their lead from there. Blackburn tossed 71 pitches (47 strikes) in his second appearance of the season, which will likely leave him unavailable for long-relief duties during a three-game set against the Nationals to begin the current week.

Bellozo (1-3) took the loss Sunday against the Rays, coughing up three runs on two hits and a walk over 3.1 innings. He struck out three.

The Marlins went with a bullpen game Sunday, and Bellozo was the only Miami hurler to give up any runs in a 3-2 loss. Yandy Diaz was the right-hander's nemesis, clubbing a two-run homer off Bellozo in the fifth inning and adding a double to lead off the eighth. Bellozo has provided useful innings in a swingman role, pitching at least three frames in all nine of his appearances (five starts) and allowing more than one earned run only twice. On the season, he sports a 3.41 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 28:14 K:BB through 34.1 innings.

Caminiti struck out eight and allowed one run on one hit and one walk over five innings for Single-A Augusta on Saturday.

The 18-year-old southpaw got a late start to the season due to forearm tendinitis, but after four starts in the Florida Complex League to get built up, Caminiti was bumped up to Augusta and dazzled over 62 pitches (43 strikes). A first-round pick in the 2024 First-Year Player Draft, the second-generation ballplayer -- his uncle was 1996 NL MVP Ken Caminiti -- won't be rushed up the ladder given his age, but he could be an option for the Atlanta rotation in a few years.

Verlander (pectoral) is scheduled to throw a simulated game Wednesday in Colorado, MLB.com reports.

On Friday, Verlander threw 35-to-40 pitches in a sim game at Oracle Park, and he'll presumably build on that workload while he faces hitters again Wednesday. If Verlander checks out fine physically following the upcoming sim game, he could be cleared to return from the 15-day injured list next week. Before landing on the shelf May 22 due to a right pec strain, Verlander went 0-3 with a 4.33 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 41:21 K:BB over 52 innings with the Giants.

Cameron is slated to start Tuesday's game against the Yankees.

Even though the Kansas City rotation is back to full strength after Cole Ragans returned from the injured list last week, Cameron will get another start while manager Matt Quatraro has seemingly opted to move forward with a six-man starting staff for at least one more turn. The 25-year-old southpaw has had an excellent start to his big-league career with an 0.85 ERA and 0.79 WHIP in 31.2 innings, though a weak 7.6 K-BB% suggests that some performance regression is likely headed his way.

Liberatore (fatigue) will start Wednesday against the Blue Jays, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Liberatore was lifted early from his last outing against the Royals due to fatigue-related issues, but he never underwent imaging and will not miss a turn in the rotation. The left-hander will get an extra day of rest between starts before taking the ball in the series finale versus Toronto.

Arrighetti (thumb) played catch from 70 feet while traveling with the team during its weekend series against Cleveland, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Arrighetti has made slow progress since breaking his thumb in early April. The injury is now completely healed, but he is building back up as if it were spring training. As a result, Arrighetti is not expected to return until July.

McClanahan (triceps) threw a successful bullpen session Friday, MLB.com reports.

Rays manager Kevin Cash confirmed that McClanahan's side session went well, and while the Rays aren't yet putting a firm timeline on the left-hander's return from the 60-day injured list, president of baseball operations Erik Neander suggested a week ago that McClanahan may be out until "somewhere in late July or early August." McClanahan will likely gradually increase the intensity and volume of his side sessions over the next couple of weeks before advancing to facing hitters in live batting practice.

Sugano (5-4) took the loss Sunday against the Athletics, allowing four runs (three earned) on eight hits and one walk over 4.1 innings. He struck out two.

Sugano allowed eight hits for the second time in three appearances, and he failed to complete five innings for the first time since April 12. The 35-year-old has been solid over his last four outings, sporting a 3.57 ERA and a 13:3 K:BB across 22.2 innings. He hasn't allowed more than four runs in a start this season. Sugano is slated to face the Angels next weekend.

Lopez didn't factor into the decision Sunday against Baltimore, allowing one unearned run on four hits and two walks with five strikeouts over four innings.

Lopez allowed 12 runs and five homers across six innings over his last two appearances, but he fared much better Sunday. Lopez has flashed some elite strikeout stuff, fanning eight or more batters in two of his last four outings, though he's stumbled to a 7.20 ERA in 24 innings this season. He's tentatively scheduled to make another start next weekend at Kansas City.