MLB Player News

The Royals transferred Taylor (back) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Monday.

Taylor underwent surgery last week to repair a herniated disc in his lower back and is without a timeline for his return, but the move to the 60-day IL ensures he won't be available out of the Kansas City bullpen until at least late July. The southpaw reliever had struggled to an 8.15 ERA and 1.75 WHIP in 17 appearances for Kansas City prior to being placed on the shelf in late May.

The Mariners acquired Muckenhirn from the Mets on Monday in exchange for right-handers Chris Flexen and Trevor Gott, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports. Seattle optioned him to Triple-A Tacoma.

The transaction frees up a spot on the 40-man roster for the Mariners while also sparing Seattle from covering the approximately $4.6 million remaining on the contracts of Flexen and Gott for the 2023 season. A 28-year-old southpaw, Muckenhirn reached the majors for the first time earlier this season and made three appearances for the Mets, but the bulk of his innings have come at Triple-A Syracuse, with whom he's produced a tidy 0.88 ERA and 1.13 WHIP over 30.2 innings. Muckenhirn could be one of the top options for a promotion when the Mariners require a lefty arm in the bullpen.

Hentges (1-0) struck out two over a perfect inning to earn the extra-inning win over the Cubs on Sunday.

Hentges' usage in the 10th inning would typically be scored as a save, but the official scorer credited him with the win rather than Emmanuel Clase, who allowed four runs in the ninth. Hentges picked up seven holds over his first 12 appearances, but a shaky stretch in June has seen him receive less high-leverage work lately. He's pitched to a 2.91 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 20:8 K:BB through 21.2 innings.

The Astros optioned Dubin to Triple-A Sugar Land on Monday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

After working in relief in his first two big-league appearances, Dubin entered the rotation Sunday and took a no-decision while limiting a tough Texas offense to one run on three hits and two walks. Though Dubin acquitted himself well Sunday, the Astros opted to swap him off the 26-man active roster for right-hander Brandon Bielak, who was called up from Sugar Land in a corresponding move. If he isn't needed in relief over the next couple of days, Bielak will likely step in the rotation when the Astros next require a fifth starter Friday versus the Mariners.

McCaughan will be traveling with the Mariners to San Francisco for the three-game series against the Giants that begins Monday, and he'll presumably serve as a spot starter Wednesday if Bryce Miller (finger) is forced to miss his scheduled turn, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

Divish notes McCaughan, who has a 3-4 record, 6.56 ERA and 1.49 WHIP across 14 appearances (13 starts) at Triple-A Tacoma, was in the Mariners clubhouse postgame Sunday ahead of the road trip, although no official announcement of him being on the taxi squad has yet been made. The right-hander has made two appearances at the big-league level this season, pitching to a 6.75 ERA and 2.25 WHIP with a 7:3 K:BB across four innings. Miller's status may come down to how he's feeling Tuesday, with manager Scott Servais previously confirming the right-hander was receiving constant treatment for the painful blister that forced him out of Friday's start against the White Sox early.

Jacques retired all three batters faced to earn the save in Sunday's 5-4 win over the Blue Jays.

With Kenley Jansen unavailable, per Greg Dudek of NESN, manager Alex Cora called on Jacques, who shut down the Blue Jays in order on 10 pitches for his first career save. He was promoted to Boston on June 9 and has made five appearances, mostly in low-leverage roles.

Jansen was not available to pitch Sunday when Joe Jacques closed out Boston's 5-4 win over the Blue Jays, Greg Dudek of NESN reports.

Jansen had pitched Saturday and escaped with a harrowing save, when he allowed three hits and a run while striking out three over 1.1 innings.

Munoz (1-1) got the win against the Rays on Sunday, firing a scoreless seventh inning during which he recorded a strikeout.

Less than 48 hours after a rare meltdown in Friday's loss, Munoz was right back to his usual sharp shelf in Sunday's appearance. The right-hander fired 12 of 16 pitches for strikes, and he's now generated scoreless appearances in 13 of his 14 trips to the mound this season while forging an elite 19:4 K:BB across 13 innings.

Walter is a candidate to be added to Boston's active roster this week, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.

The Red Sox have a rotation crunch this coming week after Garrett Whitlock left Sunday's start with elbow tightness. That injury along with the expected paternity leave of James Paxton could result in Walter returning to the majors. The left-hander made a spot start for Boston on June 22 and most recently pitched two innings June 30 for Triple-A Worcester.

Pivetta allowed one run on two hits and two walks while striking out six over four relief innings in Sunday's 5-4 win over the Blue Jays.

The Red Sox needed bulk innings out of Pivetta after starter Garrett Whitlock couldn't make it to the second inning due to elbow tightness. Whitlock will undergo an MRI on Monday and could join injured starters Chris Sale (shoulder) and Tanner Houck (facial fracture) on the injured list. Corey Kluber (shoulder), who was demoted to the bullpen, is also on the IL. With dwindling starter options, Boston could return Pivetta to the rotation. He's sparkled in relief, posting a 2.63 ERA and 0.92 WHIP over 24 innings out of the bullpen. Five of his 13 relief appearances have lasted at least three innings.