MLB Player News

Assad (4-1) allowed three hits and a walk while striking out five over six scoreless innings to earn the win over the Giants on Friday.

Assad received a favorable matchup for his return to the Cubs' rotation, and he made good on it. He's tossed 12.1 scoreless innings against the Giants over his last two appearances since rejoining the big club June 6. The right-hander looks poised to get a stretch of starts while Jameson Taillon (hamstring) and Matthew Boyd (knee/shoulder) remain out. Over 10 appearances (four starts) this season, Assad has a 3.99 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 24:9 K:BB through 38.1 innings. Assad is penciled in for a home start versus the Rockies next week.

The Nationals optioned Cornelio to Triple-A Rochester on Friday.

Cornelio will head back to the minors after allowing four earned runs in 6.1 innings across his two appearances since joining the big club Sunday. He now owns a 6.48 ERA and 1.92 WHIP with the Nationals but remains an option to make a spot start or provide length out of the bullpen later this summer.

Bachar will serve as the Marlins' opening pitcher for Saturday's game against the Pirates, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

The Marlins will be relying on their bullpen to get through Saturday's contest, and it will be Bachar taking the mound to begin the game. The 31-year-old fared well during his latest opening assignment last Saturday against the Rays, striking out three batters across three perfect innings. He'll likely be asked to give the Marlins around 3-to-4 innings and 50 pitches in Pittsburgh.

Megill (oblique) gave up one hit and struck out two batters during a scoreless inning Wednesday against the Athletics.

Megill had been unavailable out of the bullpen earlier in the week due to oblique tightness, but a few days of rest were all he needed to return to full health. The 32-year-old reliever owns a 4.50 ERA and 1.13 WHIP through 24 frames this season, but he's given up just two runs and struck out 12 batters in his last nine innings.

The Cubs optioned Ferguson to Triple-A Iowa on Friday.

Ferguson gave up one earned run and struck out three batters in 1.1 innings during his lone appearance after joining the big-league bullpen Tuesday. He'll be sent back to Triple-A now that Trent Thornton has returned from paternity leave, but Ferguson could be an option to return to Chicago later in the year to provide the Cubs with a fresh arm.

The Cubs reinstated Thornton from the paternity list Friday.

Thornton will return to the Cubs' bullpen after spending the past three days welcoming a new addition to his family. Tyler Ferguson was optioned to Triple-A Iowa in a corresponding move.

The Brewers recalled Yoho from Triple-A Nashville on Friday.

Yoho will return to the Brewers' bullpen to fill the void left by Coleman Crow, who landed on the injured list Friday with a forearm strain. Yoho has allowed one run and struck out five batters in three innings with the big club this season and will likely work in middle relief as long as he's in the majors.

The Nationals designated Fernandez (undisclosed) for assignment Friday.

The right-hander has been on the 7-day injured list at Triple-A Rochester with an unspecified injury for nearly a month, and he's now lost his place on the 40-man roster. Fernandez made three appearances with Washington early this season and gave up one earned runs with a 3:2 K:BB across four innings.

The Diamondbacks paused Puk's (elbow) rehab Friday due to left shoulder discomfort, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.

Puk has spent the entire season working his way back from an internal brace procedure he received last June and was cleared to begin a rehab assignment in late May. However, he hasn't pitched in a game since last Friday and is now slated for an MRI on his shoulder following a setback. An updated timeline for his return will likely be available once his test results come back.

Stewart (foot) will begin a rehab assignment at Single-A Ontario on Friday.

Stewart began facing live hitters in batting practice last weekend, and he's now been cleared to return to a competitive setting as he enters the final stretch in his recovery from a bone spur in his left foot. It's unclear exactly how long the Dodgers plan to keep the right-hander in the minors, but he could require a handful of rehab appearances after sitting out more than a month.