MLB Player News

Miller will serve as the Giants' opening pitcher for Monday's game against the Cubs, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Miller has taken to the opener role quite well, allowing two runs (one earned) with an 8:4 K:BB over 6.2 innings covering his first six opener assignments. Spencer Howard is in line to follow Miller as the Giants' primary pitcher.

The Cardinals promoted Mathews from High-A Peoria to Double-A Springfield on Monday, Daniel Guerrero of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Mathews is one of the biggest risers among pitching prospects this season, having dominated at both Single-A Palm Beach and Peoria, collecting a 2.18 ERA, 0.78 WHIP and 110:20 K:BB over 74.1 innings in 13 starts between the two stops. His 110 punchouts lead all minor leaguers. Mathews was a fourth-round pick in the 2023 First-Year Player Draft and didn't pitch in pro ball last season after throwing 124.2 innings in the spring as a senior at Stanford. He has elevated his standing in 2024 by showing a velocity spike.

Kelly (shoulder) said Friday that he's eyeing the Diamondbacks' mid-August road trip as a target for his return from the 60-day injured list, Jake Oliver of SI.com reports. "Originally we thought it was kind of All-Star break but with how the progression lines up, it's probably a little bit later than that," Kelly said, when asked about his return timeline. "In my mind, I'm hoping I'm on that Tampa, Miami, and Boston trip. I've wanted to go on that trip all year and that seems to be around the right time that I'm back in there but obviously, things can change as we go along."

The three-city road trip that Kelly alluded to begins Aug. 16 in Tampa and wraps up Aug. 25, so the right-hander has shifted his focus toward returning roughly a month after the All-Star break. Placed on the IL on April 23 with a right shoulder strain, Kelly has had a slow recovery thus far from what he said is the first soft-tissue injury he's dealt with during his 15-year professional career. On a positive note, Kelly reiterated that he's continuing to throw, but he remains limited to playing catch off flat ground from 75 feet and hasn't stepped back on the mound since landing on the shelf. With Kelly suggesting that his return is still likely another two months away, fantasy managers in redraft leagues with limited IL spots who have been stashing him during his prolonged absence may be best served cutting bait at this point.

The Mets reinstated Torrens (personal) from the paternity list Monday.

Torrens was away from the Mets during their weekend series with the Cubs while he welcomed a new addition to his family. He'll be available Tuesday for the start of the Mets' two-game set with the Yankees and will assume duties as Francisco Alvarez's top backup behind the dish. Joe Hudson was designated for assignment to clear room on the active roster for Torrens.

Garrett gave up a hit and struck out one in a scoreless eighth inning Sunday to record his seventh hold of the season in a win over the Cubs.

Edwin Diaz came on the ninth but got ejected for a foreign substance, and Jake Diekman wound up getting a one-out save as Mets manager Carlos Mendoza scrambled to fill in for his closer. Diaz is facing a 10-game suspension, and based on Mendoza's bullpen usage while the right-hander was out injured, Garrett should be viewed as the favorite to handle any save chances during that time. Diekman, Adam Ottavino, Drew Smith and even potentially Dedniel Nunez could all be factors in the ninth as well, however.

Lowe won his fourth straight start Sunday for Single-A Lake Elsinore, tossing five innings and striking out six while giving up four runs (two earned) on five hits and four walks.

Lowe didn't make any appearances for Lake Elsinore after April 26 last season while he was shut down with shoulder inflammation, but he returned to full health for spring training and has thus far avoided the injured list in 2024. Through his 12 starts at Single-A covering 49 innings, Lowe has turned in a 2.94 ERA while striking out 64 batters and walking 21.

Puk (1-8) was credited with the win Sunday over the Mariners, striking out two batters in two perfect innings of relief.

The left-hander took over from Kyle Tyler to begin the fifth inning with the Marlins ahead 6-2, and Puk needed only 20 pitches (14 strikes) to rack up six outs and become the pitcher of record. He appears to be regaining his prior form now that he's no longer in the rotation -- through 10.2 innings in June, Puk sports a 3.38 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 10:1 K:BB. Should closer Tanner Scott be dealt by the trade deadline, Puk would be a candidate for saves given his experience in the role last year.

Sanchez went 1-for-3 with a walk, a solo home run and a second run scored in Sunday's win over the Mariners.

The outfielder lofted a Bryce Miller splitter over the right-field fence in the third inning to give the Marlins a 6-0 lead. Sanchez has gone yard three times in the last five games, but even with the power surge he sports a humdrum .241/.292/.384 slash line on the season with seven homers, six steals, 22 runs and 29 RBI in 69 contests.

Gordon went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run in Sunday's win over the Mariners.

The 28-year-old capped a four-run first inning for the Marlins with a shot to right field off Bryce Miller. The homer was Gordon's seventh of the season but his first in June, and even with Sunday's performance he's slashing just .205/.217/.341 on the month with a 1:11 BB:K in 16 games.

Rodgers went 2-for-4 Sunday against the Nationals.

Rodgers was activated from the injured list Friday after missing around two weeks with a hamstring injury, and he was in the starting lineup both Saturday and Sunday. He hit cleanup on both occasions, going a combined 3-for-8 with a home run and three RBI. The Rockies will head on a five-game road trip starting Tuesday, and Rodgers has hit just .239 with no home runs away from Coors Field this season.