MLB Player News

Ponce de Leon cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Memphis on Wednesday.

Ponce de Leon was designated for assignment Monday, but he'll remain in the organization after he went unclaimed on waivers. The right-hander posted a career-worst 6.21 ERA in 33.1 innings with the major-league club this year but has tossed nine scoreless innings across five starts in Memphis this year.

Lambert (elbow) will start Friday's game at home against the Giants, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports.

Lambert's rehab shifted to Triple-A Albuquerque last week, and he'll be activated from the 60-day injured list Friday to make his first major-league start since 2019 in the Rockies' opener against the Giants. The right-hander made seven appearances during his rehab assignment and posted a 3.94 ERA and 1.38 WHIP in 16 innings.

The Cardinals announced Wednesday that Hicks (elbow) will be one of the players the organization sends to the Arizona Fall League, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

After sitting out the entire 2020 campaign following his July 2019 Tommy John procedure, Hicks was expected to hold down a key role in the St. Louis bullpen in 2021. However, he made just 10 appearances before being shut down in May with right elbow inflammation, and his slow recovery from the injury has prompted the Cardinals to keep him on the shelf for the remainder of the season. Hicks has at least resumed throwing since being shut down in May, and he looks like he'll be ready to prove his health by the time the AFL begins. With a strong showing in Arizona, Hicks should put himself in position to open 2022 with the big club.

Jansen (3-4) picked up the win against the Rockies on Tuesday, pitching a scoreless ninth inning during which he walked two and struck out one.

It wasn't the most efficient of outings for Jansen -- he threw only nine of 20 pitches for strikes and put the winning run in scoring position with a pair of free passes -- but the right-hander was able to keep Colorado off the scoreboard. He earned the victory as a result of Los Angeles tallying one run in the top of the 10th. The veteran closer has notched two wins and 12 saves since the start of August, posting a 1.54 ERA, 0.69 WHIP and 29:8 K:BB across 23.1 innings over that stretch.

Moreta's contract was selected from Triple-A Louisville on Wednesday.

Moreta has been dominant in Louisville this season, and he began serving as the team's closer in August. The right-hander posted a 0.68 ERA and 0.65 WHIP in 26.1 innings across 24 relief appearances at the Triple-A level this year and will now be available to make his major-league debut.

Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Wednesday that Wilson (hamstring) will face a 2-to-4-week recovery timeline, Mike Persak of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Though Wilson looks like he'll be in store for a relatively normal offseason once he's cleared to resume full activities in October, he won't pitch again for the Pirates in 2022. After coming over in a deadline deal with Atlanta, Wilson made eight starts for Pittsburgh, posting a 4.91 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 23:10 K:BB in 40.1 innings. The 23-year-old righty should have an inside track to a back-end spot in the Pirates' 2022 Opening Day rotation.

Pirates director of sports medicine said Wednesday that Bednar (oblique) will throw live batting practice soon, Mike Persak of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Bednar has been sidelined for just over a week due to a right oblique strain, but he's ahead of schedule in his recovery. Assuming his upcoming throwing session goes well, Tomczyk is optimistic that the right-hander will be cleared to rejoin the Pirates for the final few games of the regular season.

Atlanta selected Lee's contract from Triple-A Gwinnett ahead of Wednesday's game against the Diamondbacks.

He'll assume the active roster spot of fellow reliever Edgar Santana, who was placed on the paternity list in a corresponding move. After Atlanta used six relievers to cover nine frames in a bullpen game in Tuesday's 6-1 win, Lee could be needed to eat innings in Wednesday's series finale if starter Ian Anderson is knocked out of the contest early. Over 45.2 innings at Triple-A this season, the 27-year-old lefty has posted a 1.58 ERA, 0.77 WHIP and 52:6 K:BB.

Antone (forearm) was transferred to the 60-day injured list Wednesday.

Antone's move to the 60-day IL is simply procedural since he underwent Tommy John surgery in late August and will miss most or all of the 2022 campaign as a result. The transaction frees up a spot on the 40-man roster for Tyler Stephenson (undisclosed), who was reinstated from the COVID-19 injured list Wednesday.

Vesia retired the only batter he faced Tuesday against the Rockies to earn his first major-league save.

In the top of the 10th inning, Los Angeles took a one-run lead on an RBI single by Albert Pujols. The Dodgers turned to Brusdar Graterol to open the bottom of the frame, then asked Vesia to record the final out with runners on the corners. The left-hander was successful in the opportunity, inducing a flyout to center field to end the contest. Vesia has been an excellent addition to the Dodgers bullpen, posting a 2.45 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, three wins, eight holds and a 49:19 K:BB across 36.2 innings. He has not allowed an earned run in his past eight appearances.