MLB Player News

General manager Mike Elias confirmed Monday that Bautista (elbow) is dealing with a partial tear of his UCL, but the Orioles maintain hope that the right-hander will be able to pitch again in 2023, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Though the Orioles plan to take a conservative approach with Bautista's recovery from the acute ligament injury, he's already resumed playing catch and hasn't required any platelet-rich plasma injections for his right elbow, per Nathan Ruiz of The Baltimore Sun. Elias suggested that the Orioles will continue to see how Bautista's elbow responds as the All-Star closer gradually ramps up the intensity of his throwing, but the 28-year-old is without a clear target date to return from the 15-day injured list. Additionally, Elias noted that surgery isn't necessarily off the table for Bautista, but the Orioles are likely to wait until the offseason before exploring any potential procedure.

The White Sox optioned Navarro to Triple-A Charlotte on Monday.

Navarro will head back to the minors while the White Sox make room in their bullpen for right-hander Deivi Garcia, who was recalled from Charlotte in a corresponding move. Over eight appearances with Chicago this season spanning 8.2 innings, Navarro has given up seven earned runs on 11 hits and two walks while striking out nine.

The Blue Jays activated Swanson (back) from the 15-day injured list Monday.

As anticipated, Swanson will rejoin the Toronto bullpen after a minimum-length stay on the shelf while he recovered from thoracic spine inflammation. Swanson delivered a perfect inning of relief in his lone rehab appearance at Triple-A Buffalo over the weekend and should be ready to step back into a key setup role in front of closer Jordan Romano.

Garcia was recalled from Triple-A Charlotte on Monday.

Garcia has allowed two earned runs with a 17:6 K:BB across nine innings for Charlotte after being claimed off waivers from the Yankees a month ago. The former top prospect has been used almost exclusively in relief in 2023 and will presumably work as a multi-inning option out of the bullpen during his upcoming stint with the White Sox.

Curry made a relief appearance in Saturday's 6-2 loss to the Angels, giving up two earned runs on three hits and one walk over one inning while failing to strike out a batter.

Curry had started in nine of his previous 11 appearances, but it looks like he'll shift back into a bullpen role moving forward after Cleveland recently bolstered its rotation with the waiver-wire pickup of Lucas Giolito, who drew the start Saturday. The Guardians are expected to get Triston McKenzie (elbow) and Shane Bieber (elbow) back from the 60-day injured list later this month, so Curry may not have a path back to the rotation even if Cleveland loses another starting pitcher to an injury at some point in September.

Clarke (2-5) allowed a run on one hit and struck out one over one inning to take the loss Sunday versus the Blue Jays.

Clarke surrendered the tiebreaking solo home run to Kevin Kiermaier in the seventh inning. Over 6.2 innings since he returned from an elbow injury, he's allowed two runs on seven hits and a walk while striking out eight. It's one of his better stretches of a rough campaign in which he's posted a 5.47 ERA, 1.59 WHIP and 57:22 K:BB while adding 11 holds and two blown saves.

Swanson (back) is expected to be activated from the 15-day injured list Monday, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Swanson spun a scoreless frame in his lone rehab appearance with Triple-A Buffalo and looks ready to return following a minimum-length stay on the IL with thoracic spine inflammation. He'll likely return to a setup role once Toronto activates him ahead of its four-game set with the Rangers that begins Monday.

Jackson will be optioned to Triple-A Buffalo on Monday, Blake Murphy of Sportsnet reports.

He'll lose his spot on the 28-man active roster as the Blue Jays make room for Erik Swanson's (back) return from the 15-day injured list. Jackson has been up and down between the majors and minors this season but has pitched well when with the big club, holding a 2.36 ERA and 25:8 K:BB over 26.2 frames.

Fairbanks picked up the save Sunday against Seattle, striking out three over a perfect inning.

Fairbanks closed the door on a 6-3 Tampa Bay win, striking out the side in the ninth to earn his 22nd save. It's been an impressive stretch for the 29-year-old Fairbanks -- he's converted his last four save opportunities over five scoreless appearances (4.2 innings) while adding 11 strikeouts in that span. His ERA is down to 2.29 on the season with a 0.97 WHIP and 57:16 K:BB across 39.1 innings.

Rodriguez (shoulder) began a rehab assignment with Single-A Inland Empire on Sunday, striking out two while yielding two runs on three hits and no walks.

The appearance was Rodriguez's first at any level since 2021. The 25-year-old underwent surgery in November 2021 to repair a torn shoulder capsule and had been expected to be fully healthy early in the 2023 season, but he suffered a setback in the spring that pushed back his timeline for a return. Rodriguez will require several more rehab appearances in the minors before potentially emerging as an option to return from the 60-day injured list to join the Anaheim bullpen in the final couple weeks of the season.