MLB Player News

The Angels selected Natera's contract from Triple-A Salt Lake on Friday.

Natera has pitched well out of the bullpen in Triple-A, where he has a 3.00 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 44:18 K:BB across 30 innings. He'll now get a shot with the Angels, and Natera's first call to the mound will officially be his major-league debut. The move corresponds with the Angels designating right-hander Shaun Anderson for assignment.

Ray (4-6) picked up the win Friday, allowing two hits and five walks over five scoreless innings in an 18-3 rout of the Cubs. He struck out four.

The veteran lefty had a little trouble finding the plate, tossing just 57 of 97 pitches for strikes, but Chicago hitters managed only two singles off Ray when he did get the ball into the zone, and his offense gave him a month's worth of run support in one afternoon. It's the first time since May 8 that Ray has lasted at least five innings in a start, and he'll take a 4.12 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 63:36 K:BB over 67.2 innings into his next outing, which lines up to come at home next week against the Nationals.

Kremer (quadriceps) threw a live bullpen session earlier in the week, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

Orioles manager Craig Albernaz noted Friday that Kremer has been progressing well in his recovery from a right quadriceps strain that landed the right-hander on the 15-day injured list in late April. He was transferred to the 60-day IL last Friday, and depending on when he embarks on a rehab assignment, Kremer could be back with the big club in mid-to-late June. Prior to his injury, Kremer had a 4.09 ERA and 0.91 WHIP across 11 innings.

Bassitt (back) is travelling to rejoin the Orioles in Toronto on Friday and could make his next start Monday against the Mariners, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

Bassitt was pulled from his last start Thursday against the Red Sox due to lower-back tightness. He was initially held back in Baltimore to have his injury examined, but it looks like the veteran right-hander will not miss a start in the rotation, barring any setbacks. Over his last five starts, Bassitt has a 4.44 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 17:5 K:BB across 24.1 innings.

Astros manager Joe Espada told reporters Friday that the team is weighing its options on whether Brown (shoulder) will need one more rehab assignment before being reinstated from the 60-day injured list, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Brown made his third rehab start Thursday with Triple-A Sugar Land, when he tossed 57 pitches (38 strikes) and allowed one run on three hits and one walk while striking out four across 4.1 innings. Espada relayed that he felt good about Brown's latest rehab outing, and a decision about whether the 27-year-old right-hander will make his next start in the majors should be made within the next couple of days. Brown is nearly fully recovered from a Grade 2 right shoulder strain that was severe enough for him to be placed on the IL in early April.

Manager John Schneider said Friday that Cease (hamstring) is "very likely" to rejoin the Blue Jays' rotation next week, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.

Cease threw 75 pitches across four innings in a rehab start with Triple-A Buffalo on Thursday and came out of it feeling good. He appears likely to make the start for Toronto on Tuesday at home against the Phillies. The right-hander last pitched for the Blue Jays on May 24 and owns a 3.05 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 92:26 K:BB across 62 innings this season.

The Red Sox optioned Bello to Triple-A Worcester on Friday.

The move opens up a spot on the 26-man roster for trade pickup Joe La Sorsa, who was acquired from the Pirates earlier in the week. Bello has been hammered for a 6.34 ERA, 1.67 WHIP and an American League-high 43 earned runs across 61 innings this season. He'll try to figure things out in the minors.

The Blue Jays optioned Dallas to Triple-A Buffalo on Friday.

With Toronto's acquisition of Simeon Woods Richardson from the Twins earlier this week, Dallas loses his spot on the 26-man roster after he picked up the win in relief during his major-league debut Thursday against Atlanta. Dallas yielded just one run on two hits and two walks with two strikeouts across 3.2 innings. He's operated mainly as a starter with Buffalo this season.

Skubal (elbow) will make a rehab start with High-A West Michigan on Sunday, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.

It will be Skubal's first rehab start since undergoing surgery to have bone chips removed from his left elbow in early May. He's been throwing bullpens and simulated games with the Tigers in recent weeks, but the lefty will now head out on a rehab assignment to get some game action. As long as all goes smoothly, Skubal looks poised to rejoin the Tigers' rotation perhaps as early as next week.

Mathews struck out nine while yielding just one hit and one walk over six shutout innings in a start for Triple-A Memphis on Thursday.

It's the best start of the season for Mathews, who faced just one over the minimum and induced 16 whiffs on 80 pitches. Mathews' major control problems have persisted this season at Memphis with a 17 percent walk rate, but he's also sporting a 30.5 percent strikeout rate and has been able to hold his velocity deep into outings. He could reach St. Louis at some point in the second half if he can get the walks down to an acceptable level.