MLB Player News

Tonkin earned a save against the Royals on Monday, walking one and striking out two in a scoreless ninth inning.

Tonkin was called upon to protect a 4-2 lead in the ninth inning and worked around a walk to secure his first save of the season and second of his career. Usual closer Clay Holmes pitched three times in the past four days, so it was a rare appearance in the role for Tonkin. He now owns a 2.45 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 30:11 K:BB ratio in 29.1 combined innings pitched for the Twins, Mets and Yankees in 2024.

Castillo will be optioned to Triple-A St. Paul prior to Tuesday's game against the Rockies, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports.

Castillo issued one walk and struck out one in a scoreless frame in Monday's 5-0 win, but he'll be rewarded with a demotion. He'll be sent to the minors with the Twins needing to clear a spot for Louie Varland, who is scheduled to be called up from St. Paul to start Tuesday's game.

Kimbrel picked up the save in Monday's 5-2 victory over Tampa Bay. He pitched a scoreless inning allowing no hits and one walk with two strikeouts.

Trouble seemed to be brewing in the ninth for Kimbrel as he issued a leadoff walk to Amed Rosario, his first free pass allowed since May 8. However, the veteran closer collected himself, punching out two batters before wrapping up the Baltimore win by inducing a Jose Caballero popup. Including this effort, Kimbrel has pitched 11 consecutive outings without allowing an earned run, firing 10 innings with a 0.30 WHIP and 12:1 K:BB.

The Royals optioned Klein to Triple-A Omaha on Monday.

Kansas City will swap Klein out of its bullpen for right-hander Dan Altavilla, whose contract was selected from Omaha ahead of Monday's game against the Yankees. Klein was unlikely to be available out of the bullpen for at least a couple of days anyway after he had given up two runs on six hits and two walks over 2.2 innings between relief appearances Friday and Sunday versus the Mariners.

Muller (shoulder) began a throwing program Thursday, MLB.com reports.

The next step for Muller will be to progress to throwing off a mound, but a timetable for such has yet to be established. The right-hander appears to be making fairly steady progress, however, so he could be set for activation well before the end of June.

Erceg (forearm) threw a successful bullpen session Sunday and is in line to be activated during the Athletics' road trip that begins Monday, MLB.com reports.

Erceg came out of his 20-pitch session feeling healthy, his second bullpen in a span of four days. With the right-hander eligible to come off the injured list Wednesday, it's possible he's activated that same day, if not soon thereafter.

Adams (0-2) took the extra-inning loss against the Blue Jays on Sunday, allowing three runs (two earned) on a hit, three walks, and a hit batsman over one inning. He struck out one and also uncorked a wild pitch.

Adams' one frame was about as frenetic as his final line implies, with the right-hander eventually surrendering a bases-clearing double to Isiah Kiner-Falefa that snapped the 3-3 tie the veteran reliever had been entrusted with preserving. Adams has now allowed at least one run in three of his last four appearances, a stretch that was preceded by seven consecutive scoreless outings.

Estevez (1-3) got the win over the Astros on Sunday after pitching a scoreless ninth inning and striking out a batter in the process.

Estevez was tasked with preserving a tie game, and did so without any trouble, sending the Astros hitters down in order on 12 pitches. He wound up as the winning pitcher after the Angels walked it off in the bottom of the ninth thanks to a two-run homer from Logan O'Hoppe. Estevez now has four consecutive scoreless appearances during which he's compiled three saves and a win. For the year, the 31-year-old has 10 saves to go with a 4.05 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 19:3 K:BB in 20 innings.

Hader (3-4) took the loss Sunday against the Angels after allowing two runs on two hits while striking out a batter over two-thirds of an inning.

Hader faced five total batters but only was able to record two outs. He entered with two outs in the eighth and got out of the frame. He then returned for the ninth to try and preserve a 7-7 tie and was unable to do so. Hader retired the first batter he faced but then allowed a base hit and a walk-off two-run homer to Logan O'Hoppe. It was Hader's first time allowing multiple runs in an outing since April 15 and his first loss since May 5. It's now been a full week since Hader's picked up his last save, and he sits at nine for the year after tallying 30-plus in each of his last four full seasons. He owns a 4.08 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 46:10 K:BB in 28.2 innings thus far.

Suarez is scheduled to start Tuesday's game against the Diamondbacks at Chase Field.

Suarez made 58 starts for the Angels over the past five seasons, but after losing out in a battle for a rotation spot in spring training, he's been working exclusively as a reliever in 2024 and has posted a 6.54 ERA, 1.67 WHIP and 34:20 K:BB in 31.2 innings. He won't be moving into the rotation on merit, but he'll nonetheless slot into the starting spot that had been previously occupied by the struggling Reid Detmers, who was recently demoted to Triple-A Salt Lake. Even if Suarez acquits himself well in a starting role Tuesday, he could be headed back to the bullpen immediately thereafter with Chase Silseth (elbow) nearing a return from the 60-day injured list.