MLB Player News

Baker (1-1) allowed three runs on a hit and two walks while striking out two over two-thirds of an inning, taking the loss Thursday versus the Mariners.

Baker loaded the bases in the seventh inning, and Keegan Akin couldn't prevent J.P. Crawford from unloading them with a three-run double. The Orioles didn't recover from that, sending Baker to his first loss of the season. The right-hander posted a five-inning scoreless streak upon his promotion from Triple-A Norfolk, but he's since given up seven runs over his last 5.2 innings. He's added three holds and an 8:3 K:BB this season, but he's unlikely to fill anything more than a middle-relief role.

Contreras (1-1) allowed three runs (two earned) on three hits and three walks while striking out one across 2.2 innings to take the loss versus the Athletics on Thursday.

Contreras lasted three frames in his previous start, also against Oakland, but he ran into trouble in the third frame Thursday. The right-hander has pitched to a 3.72 ERA and 1.29 WHIP over 19.1 innings across 11 appearances with the Angels, though none of those outings have been longer than three innings. He's started his last two games since the Angels lack few in-house options for their rotation. Overall, he's at a 4.04 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 32:18 K:BB through 35.2 innings between the Angels and the Pirates this year. If he receives another start, it's projected to be at home versus the Rangers early next week.

Dubin will start Friday's game in Minnesota, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

The 28-year-old threw 55 pitches over 3.1 innings in a start against the Mets over the weekend, but that was his first start in either the majors or minors this season. Though Dubin will be making a second straight turn through the rotation, he still could be hard pressed to reach the five innings he would need to qualify for a win.

Garcia (elbow) felt good following Wednesday's bullpen session and will begin a rehab assignment Saturday with Triple-A Buffalo, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.

The right-hander will need at least a couple appearances in the minors before being cleared to rejoin the Blue Jays. Chad Green is currently operating as Toronto's closer since Jordan Romano (elbow) is out indefinitely after elbow surgery, but Garcia could be the favorite for saves once reinstated.

Zimmermann (hamstring) allowed a run on two hits and two walks while striking out four over three innings for Triple-A Norfolk in its game versus Durham on Wednesday.

Zimmermann missed nearly two months with the injury. The 29-year-old southpaw has pitched exclusively in the minors this year, though he could be an option for the Orioles in the second half, as the major-league club is in need of pitching help. Zimmermann has a 4.25 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 38:15 K:BB over 42.1 innings with Norfolk and could be a spot starter or long reliever if he gets back to the majors this season.

The Rangers recalled Anderson from Triple-A Round Rock on Thursday.

Anderson will provide the Rangers' bullpen with a fresh relief arm. The right-hander has been torched for 18 runs over 17 innings for Texas in 2024.

Santos (lat) fired a scoreless inning during Triple-A Tacoma's win over Salt Lake on Tuesday, allowing a hit and recording a strikeout.

Santos' long-awaited return to game action consisted of 13 pitches, nine which he located for strikes. Per reports from Triple-A Tacoma play-by-play announcer Mike Curto relayed by MLB.com, Santos' fastball was regularly at 97-99 mph during the outing, while his slider clocked in the 87-90 mph range. Santos is slated to make at least a couple of more rehab appearances before activation is considered, and he's expected to be handled with caution once he does return to the big-league roster. "We're going to have to be very guarded on how we use him and kind of build him up," manager Scott Servais said. "It'll be an inning at a time here or there. There will be some days off in between."

McArthur picked up his 15th save of the season in Wednesday's win over the Rays, allowing a hit and no walks while striking out one in 1.2 innings.

McArthur entered in the eighth with two runners on and one out with the Rays already having scored a run in the inning. He was able to navigate through the traffic and then pitched around a leadoff single in the ninth to lock down the save. McArthur has been lights-out of late, throwing eight scoreless innings over his last eight appearances since June 13, and he's converted each of his last four save chances.

Muller (shoulder) started Triple-A Las Vegas' loss to Oklahoma City on Tuesday, allowing two earned runs on two hits and a walk over 2.2 innings. He struck out five.

While he had his share of trouble, Muller encouragingly worked up to 42 pitches during the outing, locating 32 of those offerings for strikes. Per the Associated Press, Muller returned to Oakland on Wednesday, and he and manager Mark Kotsay were slated to discuss how the veteran southpaw felt following the most voluminous of his three rehab appearances before making a decision on whether Muller would be activated at some point during the upcoming weekend series against the Orioles.

The Guardians optioned Morgan to Triple-A Columbus on Thursday.

Morgan holds a 1.98 ERA but just a 10:5 K:BB over 13.2 innings this season and has missed time with a pair of arm issues. David Sandlin (back) has returned from the injured list to take Morgan's spot in the Guardians' bullpen.