MLB Player News

The Brewers optioned Koenig to Triple-A Nashville on Friday.

He's being dispatched to the minors in order to clear a spot on the active roster for Lance McCullers. Koenig was roughed up for five runs without recording an out in his final appearance before the All-Star break Sunday versus the Pirates.

Holmes (fibula) will begin a rehab assignment with High-A Brooklyn on Saturday.

Holmes has been ramping his throwing program up and has been cleared to try things out in a game. The veteran hurler posted a 2.39 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 45:18 K:BB through 52.2 innings before going down in mid-May with a fractured right fibula. Holmes is a trade candidate and should be able to return to make at least one start before the Aug. 3 deadline.

Martinez (elbow) will throw a live batting practice session soon, Alex D'Agostino of SI.com reports.

Martinez has been progressing with his bullpen sessions and is nearly ready to face hitters for the first time since he underwent Tommy John surgery on his right elbow last July. If he continues his recovery at his current pace, Martinez could be ready to rejoin the Arizona bullpen sometime in August.

Williams secured the save Thursday against the Phillies, throwing a clean ninth inning with one strikeout.

After blowing back-to-back saves going into the All-Star break, Williams got back on track Thursday and recorded career save No. 100 in the process. The 31-year-old right-hander, who has remained New York's closer despite shaky results in 2026, could see his hold on the ninth-inning role strengthen if the Mets choose to eventually offload setup man Luke Weaver, who's a rumored trade candidate ahead of the Aug. 3 deadline. Through 32.2 innings, Williams has a 4.68 ERA, 1.65 WHIP and 45:19 K:BB with 14 saves in 17 chances.

The Phillies recalled Johnson from Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Thursday.

With Brad Keller surely out for the season after being diagnosed with a UCL tear, Johnson will come up from the minors to replenish the Phillies' bullpen depth. The 27-year-old owns an 8.20 ERA and 1.71 WHIP over 26.1 innings in his MLB career and hasn't been much better in the big leagues this year, conceding nine earned runs in just 11.1 frames. He'll likely be limited to a low-leverage relief role.

The Phillies placed Keller on the 15-day injured list Thursday with a torn UCL in his right elbow.

Keller returned from the injured list July 8 after missing nearly a month due to forearm tendinitis, but he'll now likely miss the remainder of the season because of his latest injury. If he decides to undergo surgery to address the issue, he would likely miss most, if not all, of the 2027 campaign, as well. Seth Johnson will come up from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to fill the vacancy in Philadelphia's bullpen.

The Giants outrighted Cerantola to Triple-A Sacramento on Wednesday.

Cerantola was a waiver claim of the Giants earlier this month. He is no longer on the 40-man roster but remains in the organization as relief depth. Cerantola has given up six runs with a 7:10 K:BB over 5.1 frames at the big-league level this season.

The Brewers transferred Zastryzny (shoulder) to the 60-day injured list Wednesday.

Milwaukee needed to free up a spot on its 40-man roster following the acquisitions of Lance McCullers (shoulder) and Colton Gordon from the Astros. The transaction does not alter Zastryzny's timeline, as he's been out all season with shoulder and intercostal injuries. Zastryzny has made three appearances after resuming his rehab assignment earlier this month, but it's unclear when or if he will return to the Brewers' active roster.

Blewett has exercised an opt-out clause in his minor-league contract with the Cardinals, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

The Cardinals now have the choice of either adding him to their 40-man roster or letting him depart as a free agent. Blewett has spent the entire season at Triple-A Memphis, holding a 5.18 ERA and 63:19 K:BB over 48.2 innings.

Morgan (knee) began a rehab assignment at the rookie-level Arizona Complex League on Wednesday, yielding one hit and two walks with one strikeout in one-third of an inning, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

It's the first game action since late June for Morgan, who is coming back from left knee inflammation. If all goes well, the reliever could make a few more rehab appearances before rejoining the Padres' bullpen at some point in the latter portion of July.