MLB Player News

Vest (forearm) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Toledo on Friday, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.

Vest was placed on the 15-day injured list with forearm inflammation earlier this month and started throwing off a mound again earlier this week. Assuming everything goes well with his rehab assignment, Vest should rejoin the Detroit bullpen next week. He has a 6.17 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 13:6 K:BB across 11.2 innings this season.

The Tigers optioned Vanasco to Triple-A Toledo on Friday, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.

With Connor Seabold (ankle) back from the injured list, Vanasco will head back to the minors. He pitched in four games out of the Detroit bullpen, logging an unsightly 14.54 ERA, 3.23 WHIP and 3:4 K:BB across 4.1 innings.

The Tigers activated Seaboard (ankle) from the 15-day injured list Friday, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.

Seabold is returning from left ankle inflammation and has been sidelined since April 25. He pitched in two games on a rehab assignment and is ready to return to the Detroit bullpen. Seabold has produced a 4.09 ERA, 1.55 WHIP and 11:5 K:BB across 11 innings this season.

The Orioles acquired Nunez from the Athletics in exchange for cash considerations Friday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Baltimore has optioned Nunez to Triple-A Norfolk. The 26-year-old was designated for assignment by the Athletics earlier this week and quickly finds work elsewhere after recording a 4.61 ERA, 1.83 WHIP and 17:11 K:BB across 13.2 innings in the minors this season. Nunez was in the 95th percentile with his 98.1 mph fastball across 12.2 innings with the Padres and Athletics last regular season.

Erceg allowed one run on two hits and no walks with a strikeout over one inning in Thursday's 6-2 loss to the White Sox.

Erceg, who had not pitched over the previous five days, entered with the Royals trailing in the eighth inning and surrendered an RBI single to Derek Hill to widen the deficit. Thursday's outing snapped a streak of eight consecutive scoreless innings for Erceg, who had also recorded five saves during that stretch. The right-hander owns a 3.63 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 15:12 K:BB with 10 saves across 17.1 innings and figures to continue operating as Kansas City's closer with Carlos Estevez (foot/shoulder) not close to returning from the injured list.

Leiter threw a perfect inning while striking out two Thursday against the Cardinals.

Leiter was called upon to pitch the seventh inning and did so without issue, retiring the side in order. It marked the third consecutive scoreless outing for the right-hander, who has struggled mightily at times during his first season with the Athletics. Leiter has allowed multiple runs in four of his 20 appearances this year, contributing to a 7.64 ERA and 1.70 WHIP across 17.2 innings.

Hanifee will serve as the Tigers' opening pitcher in Friday's game against the Blue Jays, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.

The 27-year-old reliever has yielded just one run with a 4:1 K:BB over 8.1 frames for the Tigers this season, but that run came in Hanifee's last appearance Thursday, when he served up a solo shot to the Mets' Juan Soto. Ty Madden is expected to serve as the bulk reliever for Detroit on Friday.

Lopez did not factor into the decision Thursday against the Cardinals, allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits and three walks while striking out two over five innings.

Lopez was effective through the first four innings, allowing just one hit before trouble arrived. Victor Scott tied the game with a solo homer in the fifth, and Jordan Walker added another solo shot an inning later before a throwing error helped bring home an additional run that ended Lopez's outing. The left-hander threw 56 of his 86 pitches for strikes but continued to struggle with keeping the ball in the yard, as he's now allowed multiple homers in three straight appearances. Lopez also has yet to complete six frames in a start this season. He owns a 5.80 ERA, 1.71 WHIP and 30:27 K:BB across 40.1 innings and is slated to face the Angels in his next turn through the rotation.

Newcomb notched a save against the Royals on Thursday, allowing one hit and striking out one batter over two scoreless innings.

Newcomb entered in the eighth inning with Chicago holding a three-run lead. He tossed a scoreless frame, then saw the White Sox tack on a run in the bottom of the inning. Newcomb returned for the ninth and retired the side in order to lock down the save. Primary closer Seranthony Dominguez pitched each of the previous two days, and it's unclear if he would have been called upon in the ninth anyway since the White Sox held a four-run lead. Dominguez remains the team's clear top ninth-inning option, so fantasy managers probably shouldn't expect Newcomb to see many additional save chances going forward.

Kay (3-1) earned the win over Kansas City on Thursday, allowing two runs on six hits and two walks while striking out four batters over six-plus innings.

Kay gave up a run in the first inning but then tossed five straight scoreless frames. He departed after giving up a leadoff triple in the seventh, and though that runner eventually came around to score, Kay ended with both a quality start and a victory. The southpaw has shown improvement on the mound of late -- after failing to complete five innings in five of his first six starts and posting a 6.12 ERA over that span, he's tossed at least five frames in each of his past three starts and has given up just four earned runs while notching a 14:5 K:BB across 16 innings during that stretch. Kay is projected to next take the mound next week in Seattle.