MLB Player News

Lambert (forearm) will be reevaluated in six weeks, James Fegan of The Athletic reports.

Lambert was working his way back from Tommy John surgery when he suffered a forearm strain. Given that he won't even be reevaluated for another six weeks, his chances of appearing at any point this season appear quite slim, as there are already just eight weeks left in the regular season.

Zimmermann joined the Orioles' player pool Monday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

The lefty will give the Orioles' pitching staff additional depth, but he's unlikely to be called upon to fill a major role. He struggled upon promotion to Triple-A Norfolk last season, posting a 4.89 ERA and a 1.60 WHIP while striking out just 18.9 percent of opposing batters over seven starts.

Adams (knee) could be activated for the Mariners' upcoming road trip, which begins Aug. 10 against the Rangers, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

Adams is working his way back from surgery to repair a torn ACL, a procedure he underwent back in September. The league's COVID-19 protocols make it difficult for players to get work in during a road trip while not on the roster, but it's possible Adams is ready to go before the team departs.

Thielbar's contract was selected by the Twins on Monday, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.

The 33-year-old has thrown 98.2 career big-league innings, all with the Twins, though none of those have come since 2015. He owns a lifetime 2.74 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP at the highest level, though the fact that he hasn't been given any major-league opportunities in the last four years indicates that he's unlikely to fill anything other than a low-leverage role.

Chapman (illness) threw Monday and will throw a bullpen session within the next two days, Meredith Marakovits of YES Network reports.

Chapman missed most of camp after testing positive for COVID-19. Previous reports suggested that he'd throw a bullpen session Monday, but he's evidently a day or two behind that timetable. Zack Britton will remain the temporary closer until Chapman is activated from the injured list.

Pressly is likely the top candidate to close for the Astros after Roberto Osuna (elbow) was placed on the 10-day injured list Sunday, David Barron of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Pressly went unused Sunday in the Astros' come-from-behind 6-5 win in 11 innings, but manager Dusty Baker may just have wanted to be conservative with the right-hander's usage after he made his season debut just one day earlier. The 31-year-old had been slowed since the start of summer camp with a blister on his right index finger and a sore elbow, and it's worth noting that he developed a cut above the thumbnail on his pitching hand in Saturday's outing. That shouldn't be an issue for Pressly when the Astros return to action Tuesday in Arizona, but he could still need some time to shake off the rust and reemerge as the late-inning ace he has been for Houston over the past two seasons. If Baker ends up going in a different direction at closer, Blake Taylor, Bryan Abreu and Cy Sneed are the next-best bets for saves.

Taylor picked up his first MLB win in relief while recording the final four outs in Sunday's 6-5 win over the Angels in 11 innings. He issued two walks and struck out two in the 21-pitch appearance.

The Astros entered Sunday's contest with six relief pitchers on the 10-day injured list and another on the restricted list, which has resulted in several unproven bullpen arms garnering use in high-leverage spots early on this season. None have been as impressive thus far as Taylor, who has opened his career with five scoreless appearances, striking out nine and allowing only four baserunners over that stretch. While Ryan Pressly looms as the most likely candidate to replace injured closer Roberto Osuna (elbow), the left-handed Taylor could very well be the next man up behind him, given the lack of other healthy, established options.

The White Sox transferred Lambert (forearm) to the 45-day injured list Monday.

Chicago will still have a full 40-man roster after Lambert's move to the 45-day IL, which suggests that Nomar Mazara (illness) had been on the COVID-19 IL before being activated Monday. The transaction means that Lambert won't be eligible to join the White Sox until at least September while he recovers from a forearm strain, an injury he picked up in summer camp while he was completing his rehab for his June 2019 Tommy John surgery.

King completed 3.2 innings against Boston on Sunday, allowing two runs on two hits while striking out four. He did not factor in the decision.

For the second time this season, King came in to log multiple relief innings following a short start by James Paxton. King was better Sunday than in his first outing, but both hits he allowed left the yard, temporarily staking Boston to a lead after each long ball. Paxton's spot in the rotation looks to be secure despite his early season struggles, but King would be among the candidates to step in if the former were to miss any turns.

Graveman is slated to undergo tests on his neck Monday after battling through stiffness and soreness during Sunday's outing against the Athletics, the Associated Press reports. "Hopefully we'll find out some more answers tomorrow," Graveman said Sunday. "It's something I've dealt with for quite some time now. It kind of flared up in the Houston game. Trying to figure it out. ... I've been told it can't get any worse than it is."

The right-hander worked through the discomfort to log 4.2 innings and throw 96 pitches against Oakland on Sunday, but as Graveman confirmed, the issue is one he's dealt with since his first start of the season. There's no indication yet that Graveman's next start is in jeopardy, but forthcoming test results should confirm whether or not there is anything that could result in an absence.