MLB Player News

Arano (knee) tossed 20 pitches Monday in what Nationals manager Dave Martinez described as a "light" bullpen session, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

Arano should ramp up the intensity of his throwing in his subsequent workouts, but his ability to get back on the mound in any capacity is a good sign after he had been shut down from throwing for about two weeks due to the inflammation and bone bruise in his left knee. Before the injury shelved him, Arano had started to gain traction in the late innings for Washington. He maintains an unremarkable 5.01 ERA on the season, but a 22.1 K-BB% and 2.41 SIERA are better indicators of how well he's pitched across his 24 relief appearances.

The Mets reinstated Holderman (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list Monday and optioned him to Triple-A Syracuse, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

New York saw enough from Holderman during his one-inning rehab appearance Sunday with Syracuse to deduce that he was healthy, but the big club apparently doesn't have a spot available in the bullpen for the right-hander at the moment. After providing a 3.18 ERA while striking out 14 over 11.1 innings for New York prior to landing on the IL on June 11, Holderman should be first in line for a call-up if the Mets require an extra relief arm at any point.

The Nationals optioned Perez to Triple-A Rochester on Monday.

The 24-year-old will surrender his spot on the 26-man active roster and in the Washington bullpen to lefty Sam Clay, who was called up from Triple-A in a corresponding move. During his two-week stint in the majors, Perez appeared in four games and gave up four earned runs on seven hits and three walks over 3.1 innings.

The Pirates designated Banda for assignment Monday.

Banda was booted off the 40-man roster and 26-man active roster with the Pirates needing to clear room for right-hander Miguel Yajure, who was called up from Triple-A Indianapolis to start Monday's game in Washington. Over his 23 appearances with Pittsburgh this season, Banda had languished in a middle-relief role, turning in a 6.41 ERA and 1.98 WHIP in 19.2 innings.

The Cardinals selected Naile's contract from Triple-A Memphis on Monday.

St. Louis had an open spot for Naile on the 40-man roster with lefty reliever T.J. McFarland (illness) residing on the COVID-19-related injured list, but the team had to place Jack Flaherty (shoulder) on the 15-day IL to create room on the 26-man active roster. While he's up with the parent club for the first time in his career, Naile is expected to work as a multi-inning option out of the bullpen, with most of his initial usage likely to come in lower-leverage scenarios.

Thompson (1-1) took the extra-inning loss Sunday versus the Cubs. He allowed an unearned run on three hits and struck out two over 1.2 innings without walking a batter.

Thompson was responsible for an RBI single from Willson Contreras, and the Cardinals couldn't get even in the bottom of the 10th inning. With Genesis Cabrera on the COVID-19 injured list, Thompson is expected to fill a multi-inning role in critical spots in games in the short term. He has a 3.31 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 13:5 K:BB in six appearances (one start) spanning 16.1 innings this year. Jack Flaherty (shoulder) made an early exit Sunday, and if he's forced to miss time again, Thompson would be among the shortlist of options to join the rotation.

Lee gave up a hit and struck out one in two-thirds of an inning in Sunday's extra-innings loss to the Dodgers.

The left-hander took over for Spencer Strider to begin the seventh inning and retired the first two batters he faced before giving up a single to Chris Taylor and getting the hook. Lee remains third in the pecking order among southpaws in the Atlanta bullpen behind Will Smith and A.J. Minter, but that hasn't stopped him from posting a 0.59 ERA, 0.85 WHIP and 13:2 K:BB through 15.1 innings over 11 appearances since rejoining the big-league roster in late May.

Chavez walked one and struck out one in one-third of an inning Sunday to record his third hold of the season in an extra-innings loss to the Dodgers.

Entering the game with two outs in the seventh inning and a runner on first base, Chavez walked Trayce Thompson before fanning Trea Turner. The right-hander appears to have moved into a higher-leverage role in the Atlanta bullpen, as all three of his holds have come in his last four appearances -- part of a 10-game scoreless streak that has seen Chavez post a 0.89 WHIP and 14:4 K:BB over his last 12.1 innings.

The Cardinals plan to select Naile's contract from Triple-A Memphis on Monday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

St. Louis will make the transaction official shortly before Monday's series opener. versus the Marlins once the team determines who will come off the 26-man active roster to open up a spot for Naile, who is projected to serve as a multi-inning relief arm out of the bullpen in his first stint in the majors. If the Cardinals opt to delay placing Jack Flaherty (shoulder) on the 15-day injured list, Naile could replace either Zack Thompson or Packy Naughton, both of whom worked in long relief during Flaherty's injury-shortened start in Sunday's 6-5 loss to the Cubs. Over 27 appearances with Memphis on the season, the 29-year-old Naile has compiled a 3.28 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 42:11 K:BB in 46.1 innings.

Rainey got three outs in the bottom of the ninth while striking out one to earn his 10th save of the season.

Rainey got three outs to close the game and move to double-digit saves on the year. The Nationals didn't expect to need Rainey in this contest, but Francisco Perez gave up three runs without recording an out in the ninth to make it a save situation before being pulled from the game. The Nationals don't have many bullpen options, so Rainey should continue to see the team's highest-leverage situations despite posting a 4.70 ERA in June.