MLB Player News

The Orioles optioned Espada to Triple-A Norfolk on Friday.

Espada spent 48 hours with the big club but didn't get into any game action. The 29-year-old has a 5.40 ERA, 1.80 WHIP and 7:9 K:BB across 10 innings with Norfolk this season.

The Orioles activated Kittredge (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list Friday.

Kittredge was diagnosed with right shoulder inflammation in early March and has yet to make his 2026 season debut. He pitched in six games on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Norfolk, registering an ugly 15.19 ERA, 2.81 WHIP and 8:1 K:BB across 5.1 innings. Kittredge figures to work in a setup role for Baltimore.

The Mariners acquired Cummings from the Rays on Friday in exchange for Casey Legumina, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Cummings was a seventh-round pick by Seattle in 2023 and was sent to Tampa Bay as part of the Randy Arozarena trade in 2024. Cummings pitched at three different levels of the minors last season, logging a 3.29 ERA and 6.7 K/9 across 123 innings.

The Rays acquired Legumina from the Mariners on Friday in exchange for Ty Cummings, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

Legumina was designated for assignment by Seattle earlier this week after posting a 4.63 ERA, 1.54 WHIP and 9:3 K:BB across 11.2 innings out of the Mariners' bullpen. The right-hander owns a career 5.83 ERA spanning 83.1 innings.

The Twins reinstated Funderburk from the paternity list Friday.

Minnesota optioned Kendry Rojas to Triple-A St. Paul to open a spot on the 26-man roster for Funderburk, who owns a 2.00 ERA, 1.56 WHIP and 8:7 K:BB across nine innings this season. Funderburk has also recorded four holds and one save.

Pearson (elbow) permitted one run on one hit and four walks over two innings in his first rehab start with Triple-A Sugar Land on Thursday.

Pearson hit some bumps in the road in his recovery from an offseason cleanup surgery on his pitching elbow, but he's finally ready for game action. Given that he threw 53 pitches in his first rehab outing, it seems Pearson will be stretched out as a rotation option for the Astros. That means his rehab assignment will take longer, though the club could alter plans and activate him as a reliever if a need arises in the bullpen.

Bednar earned a save against the Red Sox on Thursday, retiring all three batters he faced in the ninth inning.

Bednar was called upon to protect a 4-2 lead after Cam Schlittler tossed eight innings for New York. Bednar breezed through his frame, setting down the side in order on 11 pitches (eight strikes). The veteran closer was shaky at times early in the campaign and had a 5.40 ERA through his first seven outings, but he's since logged four consecutive scoreless appearances, during which he's given up just one hit and registered a 5:1 K:BB over four frames. Bednar is tied for second in MLB with seven saves on the campaign.

Dominguez picked up the save Thursday against the Diamondbacks, throwing a clean ninth inning. He struck out two.

The right-hander retired the side with relative ease Thursday, throwing eight of his 12 pitches for strikes. That's now three straight scoreless outings for Dominguez, who owns a 5.00 ERA, 1.56 WHIP and 12:8 K:BB over his first nine innings while converting five of his seven save opportunities as Chicago's closer.

Baumler (intercostal) has been sent to Triple-A Round Rock to begin a rehab assignment.

Baumler has been shelved since early April with a right intercostal strain. The Rule 5 pick seems likely to make multiple rehab appearances before rejoining the Rangers' bullpen around the beginning of May.

The Rangers placed Garcia on the 15-day injured list Thursday with left shoulder inflammation.

Garcia hasn't pitched in a week due to the injury, and the Rangers finally decided to put him on the IL. The reliever will be eligible to return May 5, though it's unclear whether the Rangers expect him to be ready by that time. Jakob Junis has been serving as the Rangers' primary closer this season, and that should continue while Garcia is sidelined.