MLB Player News

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.

The Cardinals recalled Roycroft from Triple-A Memphis on Friday, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Roycroft has been unscored upon in seven of his last eight outings at Memphis while showing an uptick in velocity, having averaged 96.8 mph with his sinker in his last appearance. He'll operate in middle relief for St. Louis.

Banks will serve as the Phillies' opening pitcher in Friday's game versus the Brewers, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

Banks holds a 6.08 ERA on the season, but a 2.75 FIP and 27 strikeouts over 23.2 innings point to some bad luck. He'll handle the first inning or two for the Phillies before turning things over to bulk reliever Andrew Painter.