MLB Player News

Beede (elbow) gave up five runs (one earned) on five hits and three walks while striking out three in three innings in his most recent rehab start Monday at Triple-A Sacramento.

Beede, who is returning from March 2020 Tommy John surgery, has now made 10 rehab appearances for Sacramento. Though he appears to be sufficiently built up for starting duty -- he tossed 83 pitches Monday -- Beede's poor results during the rehab assignment may take him out of consideration for joining the big-league rotation once he's activated from the 60-day injured list. Across 27.1 innings at Triple-A this season, Beede has posted a 7.84 ERA, 1.87 WHIP and 32:25 K:BB.

Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczak said Wednesday that he expects Howard (knee) to throw off the slope of a mound by the end of the week, Mike Persak of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Pittsburgh isn't envisioning a long-term stay on the injured list for Howard, who was deactivated Sunday due to right knee tendinitis. Before the injury played a factor in Howard surrendering six runs while recording just two outs in a June 18 outing versus Cleveland, he had posted a 2.45 ERA and 1.05 WHIP across his first 32 appearances out of the Pittsburgh bullpen.

Melancon registered a save Tuesday against the Dodgers despite allowing one run on two hits across one inning,

Melancon entered the game in the ninth inning with a two-run lead and while he allowed a home run against pinch hitter Austin Barnes, he still slammed the door en route to his 22nd save of the campaign. The veteran has gone 22-for-25 in save chances this season and owns an excellent 1.97 ERA across 32 innings (31 appearances).

Moore (back) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list Wednesday.

Moore spent just over a month on the injured list due to lower-back spasms, but he made four rehab appearances for Triple-A Lehigh Valley and built up to 91 pitches in his most recent appearance Friday. The southpaw will likely be available out of the bullpen, but he could also be an option to take on a rotation role if Spencer Howard struggles in the near future.

Ponce de Leon (shoulder) was placed on the 10-day injured list Wednesday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Ponce de Leon left Tuesday's game against the Tigers with right shoulder discomfort, and it appears to be a similar injury to the one that kept him out for approximately three weeks in May. It's not yet clear whether he'll be forced to spend more than the minimum of 10 days on the injured list this time around, but right-hander Seth Elledge was recalled in a corresponding move.

Garcia (3-6) took the loss Tuesday as the Marlins fell 2-1 to the Blue Jays, giving up one run on two hits in the ninth inning. He struck out two.

Entering a 1-1 game at home with a save situation no longer on the table, Garcia couldn't send the affair to extra innings and instead served up back-to-back doubles to Cavan Biggio and Lourdes Gurriel. The Miami closer has been struggling lately, getting tagged with four losses and two blown saves in four chances over his last nine appearances with a 7.36 ERA, 1.64 WHIP and 6:4 K:BB through 7.1 innings. His overall numbers on the season are still solid, but the Marlins could begin looking at other ninth-inning options if Garcia can't right the ship soon.

Diaz (0-1) took the loss Tuesday as the Mets were downed 3-0 by Atlanta, giving up three runs on three hits and two walks over two innings of relief. He struck out three.

Pressed into service in the second inning after Marcus Stroman exited due to a hip issue, Diaz served up a three-run shot to Dansby Swanson in the third that proved to be the only offense of the night. The runs were the first the right-hander has allowed in four big-league appearances this season, but even if Stroman misses additional time, Diaz will likely remain in a long-relief role if he doesn't get shuttled back to Triple-A Syracuse.

Smith gave up a hit in a scoreless ninth inning Tuesday to record his 15th save of the season in a 3-0 win over the Mets.

The veteran closer has pitched three straight days and picked up saves each time, leaving him almost certainly unavailable Wednesday should Atlanta have another late lead. Smith is having a solid June overall, posting a 3.37 ERA, 0.84 WHIP and 13:2 K:BB through 10.2 innings while converting six of seven save chances.

Bukauskas (elbow) threw one inning and 23 pitches in a live batting practice/simulated game environment Tuesday.

Bukauskas, who has been sidelined since May 15 with a flexor strain, continued a throwing program that began June 11.

Kinley (1-2) was tagged with the loss in relief Tuesday against the Mariners after giving up one run on one hit while fanning one across his lone inning of work.

Kinley pitched the eighth inning but gave up the decisive hit of the game on a homer from Shed Long. The right-hander has given up runs in four of his last seven outings while allowing homers in three of those appearances, including each of the last two. He owns a 5.87 ERA across nine outings (9.2 innings) this month.