MLB Player News

Ortega was recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake on Wednesday, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.

Ortega was demoted after giving up five runs (one earned) over two innings during his last appearance for the Angels on June 11, and he'll return to the majors ahead of Wednesday's matchup with the Royals. The 25-year-old has appeared in 20 big-league games this year and has a 3.81 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 24:12 K:BB over 26 innings.

Swanson, who fired a scoreless eighth inning during which he recorded a strikeout in a win over the Athletics on Tuesday, has put together four perfect frames and 5:0 K:BB across four appearances since his return from the injured list.

Swanson has been even better than immediately prior to suffering an elbow injury in early May, as he'd given up his first two runs of the season in his most recent two appearances at that point. He's bounced right back with a quartet of spotless efforts after spending exactly a month out of major-league game action, giving manager Scott Servais a versatile valued option for all manner of relief scenarios.

Giles, reinstated from the injured list Monday, fired a scoreless ninth inning during which he recorded a strikeout in a win over the Athletics on Tuesday.

The veteran right-hander's return to the majors was a long time coming, as Tuesday's appearance marked his first regular-season outing since mid-September 2020 due to injuries. Giles got through his frame on a relatively efficient 15 pitches, 11 which found the strike zone. The 8-2 lead the Mariners enjoyed at the time of Giles' entry represented the ideal low-leverage spot to reintroduce him to game action, and he's likely to continue seeing most of his opportunities under those conditions for the time being.

The Orioles outrighted Lowther to Triple-A Norfolk on Wednesday, Rich Dubroff of BaltimoreBaseball.com reports.

Lowther remains in the organization after he went unclaimed off waivers when the Orioles designated him for assignment last week. The 26-year-old lefty tossed 5.1 innings of long relief in his lone appearance with Baltimore on May 31 before he was optioned back to Norfolk and later dropped from the 40-man roster.

Quijada (0-2) was tagged with the loss against Kansas City on Tuesday as a result of allowing two runs (one earned) on two hits and a walk over one inning. He struck out one batter.

The wild contest featured 14 combined runs between the sixth and ninth inning, and the teams went into extra frames with the score tied 10-10. Both clubs went scoreless in the 10th, but the Royals scored twice off Quijada in the 11th and went on to claim a one-run victory. This was only the second time this season that Quijada has allowed an earned run, and he holds a 2.00 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 11:4 K:BB over nine innings on the campaign.

Otto (illness) rejoined the Rangers at Globe Life Field on Wednesday and will likely be activated from the COVID-19-related injured list to start in Sunday's home game against the Nationals, Joseph Hoyt of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Otto returned to Arlington after he made a rehab start Tuesday with Triple-A Round Rock. Though Otto was roughed up for four runs (three earned) on six hits and two walks while striking out three over 2.2 innings, the fact that he didn't stick around with Round Rock suggests the Rangers are preparing to have him back in the rotation this weekend. According to Kennedi Landry of MLB.com, the Rangers already announced that No. 5 starter Taylor Hearn will be available out of the bullpen this weekend, which seemingly supports the notion that Otto will be cleared to make his first start for the big club since June 4.

Stephan (3-2) walked one and struck out three in one scoreless inning to earn the win over the Twins on Tuesday.

Stephan walked Byron Buxton to lead off the bottom of the 10th inning, but he bounced back to strike out Carlos Correa, Max Kepler and Gary Sanchez in order. The Guardians pulled ahead in the 11th and Emmanuel Clase made it stick to earn Stephan his first win since April 29. He's kept runs off the board in six of his seven appearances in June and now owns a 3.65 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 27:8 K:BB through 24.2 innings overall. Stephan has added a save, four holds and a blown save, though he only occasionally sees high-leverage spots.

Hearn will be available out of the bullpen during the Rangers' weekend series against Washington, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

Hearn's first 13 appearances of the season came as a starter, but he posted a 7.02 ERA and 1.83 WHIP in 33.1 innings over his last seven starts. While the Rangers haven't revealed their rotation for their weekend series, Hearn will shift to the bullpen for now. It's not yet clear whether he'll rejoin the starting rotation next week.

Foster (personal) was reinstated from the bereavement list Wednesday.

Foster was away from the White Sox since Sunday, but he'll rejoin the team after spending the minimum amount of time on the bereavement list. Davis Martin was sent down to make room for Foster on the active roster.

Clase pitched a perfect 11th inning while striking out one to pick up the save in a 6-5 extra-innings win over the Twins on Tuesday.

The Guardians' 24-year-old closer has been very effective in 2022, and his clean frame in extra innings earned him his 16th save of the year. That total ties him for fifth in the majors, and it comes on the back of elite ratios. His ability to limit the long ball has been a key part of his success this season, evidenced by his sparkling 0.31 HR/9 rate.