MLB Player News

Brigham is expected to be recalled from Triple-A Jacksonville on Friday, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

Brigham was sent down to Jacksonville in mid-August but is set to rejoin the big-league club Friday. The 30-year-old has appeared in five MLB games this season and has given up four runs with a 10:4 K:BB over 9.2 frames.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that he has "moderate concern" about Graterol's inflamed right elbow, which landed him on the 15-day injured list Thursday, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

Though Roberts said he's hopeful Graterol is ready to return from the IL by mid-to-late September, the right-hander's MRI on Friday will likely give the Dodgers a clearer idea of a recovery timeline. Given that Graterol had already been sidelined for most of the past six weeks due to an inflamed right shoulder, it's a less-than-ideal development that he's dealing with another arm-related injury. While the 24-year-old is out of the Dodgers' late-inning mix, Evan Phillips looks like the clear-cut top candidate to potentially overtake the embattled Craig Kimbrel as the team's closer.

Nittoli's contract was selected from Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Thursday.

Nittoli was on track to opt out of his minor-league contract with the Blue Jays over the weekend, but he was traded to the Phillies on Wednesday and will join the major-league club since active rosters expanded to 28 players Thursday. The right-hander has made just one career big-league appearance, but he posted a 3.30 ERA and 0.99 WHIP in 46.1 innings over 32 appearances (four starts) at the Triple-A level to begin the 2022 campaign. He'll likely pitch mainly in low-leverage situations for Philadelphia.

The Giants outrighted Vasquez to Triple-A Sacramento on Thursday.

He'll remain in the organization after going unclaimed off waivers when the Giants designated him for assignment earlier this week. Vazquez has also spent time with the Blue Jays and Phillies organizations in 2022, but his only big-league action came in Toronto, with whom he made nine relief appearances.

Scott (finger) began a rehab assignment with Triple-A El Paso on Tuesday, per MLB.com.

Scott hasn't pitched in a big-league game since Aug. 12 and is recovering from a finger laceration suffered while walking past a table in his hotel room. The righty reliever struggled in his first rehab outing Tuesday, allowing three runs (two earned) on three hits over two-thirds of an inning. Scott probably won't need a lengthy rehab, but it's unclear if he has a spot waiting for him in San Diego's bullpen when he's healthy enough to return.

Smith was recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque on Thursday.

Smith has had brief stints with the big-league club this season and will rejoin the Rockies' bullpen since active rosters expanded to 28 players Thursday. He's posted a 3.09 ERA and 1.09 WHIP in 35 innings over 32 appearances at the Triple-A level this year but should serve mainly as a middle reliever now that he's back in the majors.

Garcia picked up a hold against San Francisco on Wednesday, striking out the only batter he faced in the eighth inning.

When Josh Hader was demoted from the closer role nearly two weeks ago, Garcia was called upon for the Padres' next save chance. He converted that opportunity successfully, but Nick Martinez subsequently took over closing duties and notched the team's next four saves. With Martinez unavailable Wednesday, Garcia was used to face just one batter in the eighth frame while Hader closed out the game and picked up the save. It's unclear how Martinez and Hader will share ninth-inning duties moving forward, but it seems apparent that Garcia's role will be almost exclusively in a setup capacity. He's notched 20 holds and posted a 10.1 K/9 on the campaign, making him a solid target in fantasy leagues that count holds.

The Cubs returned Estrada to Triple-A Iowa on Thursday.

Estrada and fellow reliever Brendon Little were both added to the 40-man roster and 26-man active roster as replacement players earlier this week, when starters Justin Steele and Adrian Sampson were placed on the restricted list for the Cubs' series in Toronto. With both Steele and Sampson now having been formally reinstated, Estrada will lose his spot on major-league roster, but he'll remain on the 40-man roster since Chicago selected his contract. He made his MLB debut in Tuesday's 5-3 loss, striking out two and working around a walk in a scoreless inning out of the bullpen.

The Mets recalled Medina from Triple-A Syracuse on Thursday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Over his previous 13 appearances in the majors this season spanning 23.1 innings, Medina has struck out 17 while posting a 4.63 ERA and 1.29 WHIP. He's likely to be used mostly in lower-leverage spots out of the bullpen while he's up with the Mets.

The Nationals recalled Thompson from Triple-A Rochester on Thursday, Jessica Camerato of MLB.com reports.

Thompson is back for his third stint of the season with the Nationals. Over his previous nine appearances out of the bullpen with the big club, Thompson has looked sharp while accruing a 1.13 WHIP and 1.00 WHIP across eight innings.