MLB Player News

The Nationals signed Pilkington to a minor-league contract Thursday, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports.

Pilkington had been at Triple-A Toledo in the Tigers organization, where he held a 5.40 ERA and 30:28 K:BB over 33.1 innings. The lefty made 32 appearances out of the Nationals' bullpen in 2025, collecting a 4.45 ERA and 34:17 K:BB in 28.1 frames.

Kim is not in the lineup for Thursday's game versus the Cardinals.

After handing Kim four straight starts, Atlanta has now had him on the bench for three consecutive contests. Jim Jarvis was promoted earlier Thursday and will draw the start at shortstop in the series finale.

Gonzales went 3-for-5 with a solo home run and an additional RBI in Thursday's 6-1 win over the Phillies.

Gonzales extended Pittsburgh's lead to 3-1 with a two-out, RBI single in the seventh inning before capping the scoring in the ninth with a home run off Kyle Backhus, his fourth homer this season. It's the second straight three-hit game for Gonzales, who's gone 19-for-51 (.372) in his last 14 contests. Overall, he's slashing .305/.360/.387 with 38 RBI, 46 runs scored and four stolen bases across 333 plate appearances this season.

Jones did not factor into the decision Thursday against the Phillies, allowing a run on two hits and two walks over four innings. He struck out six.

Jones threw 73 pitches as he continues to build up his workload after missing the majority of the 2025 campaign following UCL surgery. It was an encouraging outing overall for Jones, who had given up 12 runs (11 earned) across 15.2 innings in his previous four starts. The 24-year-old right-hander will carry a 5.28 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 31:11 K:BB into his next start, currently scheduled to come next week at home against Atlanta.

The Giants outrighted Ramos to Triple-A Sacramento on Thursday.

Ramos was recently designated for assignment and will remain in the organization after passing through waivers unclaimed. The 25-year-old has allowed five runs with a 1:4 K:BB in his two innings with the Giants this season and has posted a 4.13 ERA and 32:12 K:BB in 32.2 frames with Sacramento.

Romero leads all of baseball with 20 holds this season.

While the left-handed reliever has been valuable for leagues that have holds as a category, he's trended in the wrong direction since the beginning of June in yielding eight runs over 10.1 innings. Romero is the only trusted lefty reliever the Cardinals have, so he should continue to stay busy, though the impending free agent will be a trade candidate this month.

Rodriguez (shoulder) struck out a batter and allowed three earned runs on two hits and one walk across 1.1 innings Wednesday in a rehab start for the Brewers' rookie-level Arizona Complex League affiiate.

Milwaukee optioned Rodriguez to Triple-A Nashville on May 31, but he didn't make an appearance in the minors before reverting to the Brewers' injured list June 8 after being diagnosed with a right shoulder impingement. While pitching in his first game in a month Wednesday, Rodriguez retired just four of the eight batters he faced. He'll likely get stretched out as a starter over the course of his rehab assignment but is expected to be optioned to Nashville once the Brewers are ready to activate him from the 15-day IL.

Single-A Jupiter placed Benitez on the injured list May 9, and the left-hander is expected to miss the rest of the season due to an arm injury, J.J. Cooper of Baseball America reports.

Benitez had gotten off to a stellar start this season for Jupiter, generating a 2.79 ERA, 0.83 WHIP and 24:9 K:BB in 19.1 innings through five starts. During his final appearance May 7, Benitez was working on a no-hitter midway through the fourth inning before he was abruptly pulled from the start after getting checked out on the mound by a trainer, per FishOnFirst.com. Benitez didn't look to be in any major discomfort at the time he was removed from the game, but the Marlins determined days later that he would need to be shut down. Details regarding Benitez's injury remain scarce nearly two months later, but the fact that he's been shut down for the season could point to the 20-year-old lefty requiring elbow or shoulder surgery.

Song went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in a blowout loss to the Cubs on Wednesday.

The Padres didn't have much to celebrate on a day when they were blown out of the water by a 23-3 margin. However, Song enjoyed a personal milestone when he hit his first major-league home run with a 385-foot solo blast in the fifth inning. The 29-year-old hasn't shown much power so far with a .100 ISO through 69 plate appearances, though he's demonstrated good plate discipline with a 9:13 BB:K and has swiped six bases on eight attempts.

Double-A Springfield activated Hjerpe (elbow) from the 60-day injured list Thursday.

Hjerpe had Tommy John surgery last April and has completed a rehab assignment, allowing four runs with a 9:3 K:BB over 8.2 innings covering five starts between Single-A Palm Beach and the rookie-level Florida Complex League. The left-hander struck out four over three scoreless frames in the FCL his last time out and will continue to get stretched out in the Springfield rotation. Hjerpe is on the Cardinals' 40-man roster and should move up to Triple-A Memphis before long if he's pitching well. A major-league debut during the second half is possible.