MLB Player News

Kuhnel was designated for assignment by the Reds on Tuesday.

Kuhnel has allowed three earned runs on six hits and two walks in 3.1 innings (two relief appearances) this season at the major-league level. Daniel Duarte is grabbing the open 40-man roster spot as he reports to the Reds' bullpen Tuesday in Kansas City.

Duarte had his contract selected from Triple-A Louisville by the Reds on Tuesday.

Duarte will join the Reds in Kansas City ahead of the second contest of their three-game series with the Royals. The right-hander has produced a 3.49 ERA and 1.28 WHIP with 32 punchouts over 28.1 innings in 26 appearances with Louisville this season, and he'll slot in as an additional bullpen arm with Cincinnati. In order to make room on the 40-man roster for Duarte, Joel Kuhnel was designated for assignment Tuesday while Ricky Karcher was optioned to Triple-A to make space on the major-league roster.

Burdi (appendicitis) was transferred Tuesday from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day injured list, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Burdi can now be ruled out until at least late July as he recovers from a May 24 emergency appendectomy. Anthony Kay will fill the vacated 40-man roster spot and hop into the Cubs' bullpen Tuesday night against the Pirates.

The Cubs selected Kay's contract from Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Kay was showing a 4.50 ERA and 32:15 K:BB through 28 innings this season at the Triple-A level. The 28-year-old left-hander is presumably going to work in a low-leverage relief role for Chicago.

Estrada was optioned Tuesday to Triple-A Iowa, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Estrada had allowed eight earned runs over his last five appearances (2.2 innings) out of the Cubs' bullpen. Anthony Kay is getting the call to fill his roster spot.

Boxberger (forearm) threw live batting practice Monday, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Boxberger is currently working out at the Cubs' spring training complex in Arizona and could soon be cleared to embark on a minor-league rehab assignment. The reliever has been sidelined since mid-May due to a right forearm strain.

Hughes was placed on the 15-day injured list Tuesday, retroactive to June 12, with left knee inflammation, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

This is already the third IL stint of the year for Hughes, and they have all been related to left knee issues. He's struggled to a 7.24 ERA in 17 appearances for the Cubs when healthy.

Helsley (forearm) underwent a second round of imaging scans Tuesday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Jones notes that "concern is minimal" for Helsley's right forearm, but the Cardinals want to check all of the boxes with their hard-throwing closer to be sure there's nothing structurally wrong. He was placed on the 15-day injured list Monday and is in the midst of a 10-day shutdown period that will extend into next week. Giovanny Gallegos is expected to function as the primary closer in St. Louis while Helsley is sidelined.

Covey dropped to 1-2 after giving up two runs on two hits and one walk while striking out two in 1.1 innings of relief in Monday's 9-8 loss to the Diamondbacks.

With Matt Strahm working as the Phillies' opening pitcher on the night, Covey looked like a candidate to serve as a bulk reliever. However, manager Rob Thomson instead treated the series opener as more of a bullpen day, as five pitchers were used to cover eight innings. Since limiting this same Diamondbacks squad to one run over five innings in a starting role May 23, Covey has been used in relief in each of his last four appearances and hasn't covered more than two innings on any occasion. The Phillies are still running out a four-man rotation at the moment, but Covey doesn't look as though he'll be the clear-cut choice to pitch on days that a fifth starter is needed.

Karcher picked up the save in Monday's 5-4 victory over Kansas City, tossing a scoreless inning in which he allowed zero hits and one walk. He didn't record a strikeout.

Alexis Diaz worked the previous two days, and Buck Farmer pitched 1.2 innings to send the game into the 10th inning, so the freshly recalled Karcher got the save opportunity Monday in his first MLB appearance. The 25-year-old walked the first batter he faced but retired three straight to end the game. Karcher has electric stuff, but he's had trouble commanding it at Triple-A Louisville, posting a 9.27 ERA and 31:34 K:BB over 22.1 innings.