MLB Player News

The Reds reinstated Moreta (illness) from the COVID-19-related injured list Wednesday, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.

Ryan Hendrix, who was summoned from the minors as a replacement player when Moreta went on the IL last weekend, was returned to Triple-A Louisville to open up a spot on the 26-man active roster. Before he hit the shelf after apparently testing positive for the virus, Moreta had compiled a 7.09 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 29:9 K:BB across 26.2 innings out of the Cincinnati bullpen this season.

The Giants acquired Young from the Guardians on Monday in exchange for cash considerations, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

After he was designated for assignment Thursday, Young will head to a new home after he was dealt to the Giants on Monday. He will report to Triple-A Sacramento when he joins the organization. The reliever has a 3.77 ERA this season while pitching in Triple-A and could find himself with the Giants in the coming months.

Finnegan struck out one in a perfect ninth inning Sunday in a win over Atlanta.

The right-hander was warming up in the bottom of the eighth inning to get ready for his first save chance since moving into the closer role, but a Juan Soto solo shot bumped the Nationals' lead to four runs and erased the opportunity. Finnegan doesn't have elite numbers by any means -- 3.93 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and a 28.3 percent strikeout rate through 36.2 innings on the year -- but he is manager Dave Martinez's first choice to close with Tanner Rainey (elbow) out for the year, even if a Nats squad on pace for almost 110 losses doesn't wind up providing him with many save chances the rest of the way.

Junis tossed two innings out of the bullpen in Sunday's 9-5 win over the Brewers, giving up three earned runs on five hits and no walks while striking out two.

Before landing on the injured list in mid-June with a Grade 2 hamstring strain, Junis had been working as a starter, but the Giants chose to ease him back in a relief role after he was activated Saturday. Though Junis struggled in his appearance out of the bullpen, he should be the leading candidate to jump back into the rotation when the Giants first require a fifth starter coming out of the All-Star break. Through 10 appearances (seven starts) for the big club in 2022, Junis has posted a 3.06 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 42:10 K:BB in 50 innings.

Robertson pitched a scoreless ninth inning, giving up only a hit while striking out none, to earn the save in a 3-2 win over the Mets on Sunday.

Robertson continues to perform well for the Cubs this season and the scoreless appearance lowered his ERA to 1.93. The 37-year-old veteran reliever now has 13 saves on the year. Unless his closer role with the Cubs is affected by a trade to another team before the deadline, his fantasy value should remain relatively consistent over the second half of the season.

Melancon earned the save during Sunday's 3-1 win against the Padres, striking out one in a 1-2-3 ninth inning.

Melancon retired the heart of San Diego's order on 16 pitches to earn only his second save since June 3, though both have come this week. Despite the two saves, the 37-year-old also has two losses in six appearances this month, though his seven strikeouts in 5.1 July innings matches his season high for a month already. Melancon concludes the first half with a 5.12 ERA and 1.55 WHIP with 22 strikeouts in 31.2 innings across 36 appearances.

Alvarado recorded two outs, including one strikeout, and earned a save against Miami on Sunday.

Alvarado entered the game with two on and one out in the ninth inning and needed just eight pitches to extinguish the threat from the Marlins. It was his first save opportunity since blowing a chance against the Nationals on June 17. The 27-year-old is now sporting a 41:18 K:BB with a 4.39 ERA through 26.2 frames.

Wilson didn't factor into the decision during Sunday's 8-3 victory over Colorado, allowing two runs on four hits with three strikeouts in 3.1 innings.

Wilson surrendered one run two batters into the game but was able to keep Colorado's offense in check until the fourth inning, when he departed with one out and two on. The bullpen let an inherited runner score, but the 24-year-old's three-start streak of allowing two runs or fewer remains alive. During the stretch, Wilson has pitched to a 2.81 ERA with 11 strikeouts in 16 innings, though he owns a poor 6.52 ERA in 49.2 innings on the season.

Blach was optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque on Sunday.

He last appeared in Friday's game, tossing a clean inning of relief. Blach has a 5.73 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 20 strikeouts in 37.2 innings in the big leagues this season.

Abbott was optioned to Triple-A Rochester after Sunday's game against Atlanta, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

He did not pitch in the game despite being promoted just ahead of the contest. Abbott has given up one run while striking out four in three innings in the majors and has a 5.34 ERA, 1.55 WHIP and 37 strikeouts in 30.1 innings at Triple-A.