MLB Player News

May (triceps) is expected to begin a rehab assignment in the near future, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

Manager Buck Showalter said Friday that he believes May is close to starting a rehab assignment. The reliever has been out since early May while nursing a stress reaction in the lower portion of his humerus. Prior to getting hurt, May had struggled to a 8.64 ERA and 1.92 WHIP over 8.1 innings in eight appearances.

Rodriguez (elbow) has resumed throwing bullpens, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Rodriguez landed on the injured list April 14 due to a right elbow strain and doesn't yet have a timetable to return. Whether the right-hander joins the major-league roster when fully healthy likely depends on whether the Cubs deal some relievers at the trade deadline.

Alzolay (lat) has been throwing bullpen sessions at the Cubs' extended spring training facility in Arizona, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Alzolay has been on the injured list since late March due to a right lat strain that he sustained during spring training. While it's encouraging that the right-hander has resumed mound work, he doesn't yet have a timetable to return to game action. Alzolay will presumably require several rehab appearances before he's cleared to rejoin the Cubs.

Harvey was recalled from Triple-A Rochester on Friday, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Harvey was optioned to Rochester on the final day of the first half, but he was brought back to take the spot of Tyler Clippard (groin) and will resume working out of the bullpen for the big club.

Arano (knee) was activated from the injured list Friday, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Arano missed over six weeks of action with the injury, but he completed a rehab assignment and is ready to rejoin the Nationals' bullpen.

Phillips (4-3) earned the win over the Giants on Thursday, allowing one run on one hit and three walks while striking out one batter in one inning.

Phillips entered in the eighth inning and struggled with his control, throwing only 12 of 23 pitches for strikes and issuing multiple walks for the first time this season. However, he managed to get out of the frame having allowed just one run, and he was awarded a victory when Los Angeles posted four runs in the bottom of the inning. Phillips has emerged as one of the team's most reliable relievers this season, complementing his four victories with one save and 11 holds while posting a 1.70 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and 42:11 K:BB over 37 innings.

Ponce de Leon signed a minor-league contract with the Nationals on Friday, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

Ponce de Leon has spent time on minor-league deals with the Angels and Mariners this year, and he'll have a chance to carve out a role in the Nationals' system now that the All-Star break is over. The right-hander made 16 starts at Triple-A Tacoma earlier in the year and posted a 7.95 ERA and 1.67 WHIP in 71.1 innings.

Leone (3-2) allowed two runs on two hits and struck out one in two-thirds of an inning Thursday, taking the loss versus the Dodgers.

The Giants pulled ahead in the top of the eighth inning, but Leone couldn't protect the one-run advantage. He gave up a double to Gavin Lux and a triple to Trayce Thompson. Jarlin Garcia then gave up a three-run home run, with the decisive run charged to Leone. Between the start of June and the All-Star break, Leone posted a 3.68 ERA in 14.2 innings, but he's now started the second half in shaky form against a tough team. The right-hander has a 3.78 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, 36:12 K:BB, two saves, 10 holds and three blown saves through 33.1 innings this year.

Kimbrel earned a save over the Giants on Thursday, allowing one hit and striking out one batter over one inning.

After the Dodgers took a three-run lead in the bottom of the eighth inning, Kimbrel was called upon to shut the door. The right-hander allowed a bunt single but was otherwise spotless, closing out the contest on an efficient 12 pitches. KImbrel has bounced back from a rough patch to allow only one run over his past six appearances. During that stretch, he's picked up two wins, two saves and one hold while posting a 7:2 K:BB over 5.2 frames.

White didn't factor in the decision against San Francisco on Thursday despite allowing just one hit and two walks over five-plus scoreless innings. He struck out one batter.

White certainly pitched well enough to earn a win for the first time since mid-May -- in fact, he didn't give up his first hit until the opening batter of the sixth inning. It's doubtful that the right-hander would have been allowed a shot at history even if he had maintained the no-hitter since he had already thrown 78 pitches through five frames, but he was in line for the victory until the Los Angeles bullpen surrendered five runs in the seventh. White isn't certain to stick in the rotation once Andrew Heaney (shoulder) returns to action -- which could happen as soon as next week -- but White has fared well when called upon this season, logging a 3.78 ERA and 1.22 WHIP over 50 innings.