MLB Player News

Wantz was ejected during the second inning of Sunday's game against the Mariners after hitting Jesse Winker with a pitch, which incited a benches-clearing brawl, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

The right-hander served as the opener Sunday and threw a pitch behind Julio Rodriguez during the opening frame, and he followed up by plunking Winker on the first pitch of the second inning, which prompted a fight that resulted in six players and both managers being ejected. Wantz is likely to face a suspension.

Garcia (finger) faced live hitters at the Yankees' player development complex earlier this week, and pitching coach Matt Blake stated that the pitcher is getting a "reset" physically, Brendan Kuty of NJ Advance Media reports.

Garcia was placed on the 7-day minor-league injured list with a finger injury May 31, but that issue no longer appears to be bothering him. Instead, Blake suggested that the organization is keeping Garcia at the team's complex in order to help him figure things out after a tough start to his season. "They just wanted to pull him out and let him get a little bit of a reset physically," Blake told NJ Advance Media on Wednesday. "Seems like he's in an OK spot mentally and physically, but I do think they're just trying to rework where they're at with him because he had been struggling a little bit." Garcia has posted a 10.38 ERA and 2.26 WHIP over seven starts with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on the campaign.

Mayers appears to be transitioning into a starter with Triple-A Salt Lake, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.

Mayers has started each of the three games in which he has pitched since returning to the minors after being designated for assignment by the Angels on May 26. The right-hander has struggled in that role so far, allowing nine runs and posting an 8:8 K:BB over just 7.2 innings through the three starts. Mayers worked out of the bullpen in each of his 15 games with the big-league club before his demotion, compiling a 5.40 ERA and 1.44 WHIP over 16.2 innings.

Wantz is listed as the Angels' starting pitcher for Sunday's game against the Mariners and is expected to be deployed as an opener, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Though he'll be credited with his first career big-league start, Wantz is likely to be pulled before Seattle's lineup turns over and is unlikely to factor into any decision. Instead, Jose Suarez, who was recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake earlier Sunday, is the better bet to cover most of the innings for the Angels in the series finale. Wantz hasn't worked more than 2.1 innings in any of his 11 appearances with the Angels this season.

Murfee secured his second hold in Saturday's win over the Angels, getting one out on a four-pitch strikeout to close out the sixth inning.

The Angels' Taylor Ward seemingly never knew what hit him, as Murfee came back from a first-pitch ball to retire the outfielder on three straight pitches, the final one a slider he induced a swinging third strike on. Except for a rare hiccup against the Twins on June 15 when he allowed three earned runs over two-thirds of an inning, Murfee has been an ultra-reliable asset for manager Scott Servais -- he lowered his ERA and WHIP to 1.63 and 0.80, respectively, with his fourth straight scoreless effort Saturday.

The Twins recalled Moran from Triple-A St. Paul on Sunday.

Minnesota will add the right-hander to the bullpen as a replacement for Joe Smith, who was placed on the 15-day injured list with upper trapezius tightness. Though Smith has been one of the Twins' top setup men this season, Moran is likely to be deployed in lower-leverage spots while he's up with the big club.

The Rangers recalled Sborz from Triple-A Round Rock on Sunday.

Sborz joins the Rangers' 26-man active roster as a replacement in the bullpen for Matt Bush, who was placed on the 15-day injured list with right forearm soreness. While he's up with the big club, Sborz projects to work in a low-leverage middle-relief role.

The Rangers reinstated Otto (illness) from the COVID-19-related injured list Sunday. He's listed as the Rangers' starting pitcher for the team's series finale with the Nationals in Arlington.

Otto will make his return to the Texas rotation after he covered 2.2 innings five days ago in his lone rehab start with Triple-A Round Rock, giving up four runs (three earned) on six hits and two walks while striking out three. Prior to testing positive for COVID-19 on June 10 and landing on the IL, Otto had compiled a 4.24 ERA and 1.36 WHIP across eight starts with Texas.

Staumont was placed on the 15-day injured list Sunday, retroactive to June 23, with a neck strain.

Staumont hasn't pitched since giving up two runs over one-third of an inning Tuesday against the Angels, and he's apparently dealing with a neck injury. The 28-year-old will be eligible to be activated July 8, though it's unclear if he's expected to be healthy by that time.

The Royals recalled Kowar from Triple-A Omaha on Sunday.

Kowar will provide the Royals with a multi-inning option out of the bullpen after Kansas City demoted lefty Foster Griffin to Triple-A in a corresponding move. Over his 12 starts with Omaha this season, Kowar has turned in a 6.34 ERA, 1.65 WHIP and 62:23 K:BB across 55.1 innings.