MLB Player News

Castillo (hamstring) will begin his rehab assignment Saturday with Triple-A El Paso, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

The right-hander was sent to the 10-day disabled list July 7 with a right hamstring strain and will initiate his rehab assignment in the Pacific Coast League. Castillo sports a 2.84 ERA, 0.79 WHIP, 18 strikeouts and four walks in 12.2 innings during his ascension into a reliable relief role with the big club, and if all goes well, he should start building on those numbers as a Padre sometime in the coming week.

Sewald was called up to the majors Saturday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Sewald has a 5.05 ERA in 41 innings for the Mets this season. His 24.1 percent strikeout rate and 7.5 percent walk rate are each solid, but he barely gets any grounders (27.1 percent). He'll fill the bullpen spot vacated by Jeurys Familia, who was traded to the Athletics on Saturday.

Bowman was optioned to Triple-A Memphis on Saturday, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Bowman was shipped back to Memphis after pitching 1.2 innings of relief during Friday's victory. The right-hander also tossed an inning of work Thursday, and wound up allowing three earned runs off six hits over both of those outings. Look for him to return to the fold once the Cardinals need a replenishment in the bullpen.

Brebbia was recalled from Triple-A Memphis on Saturday, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Brebbia will be available out of the bullpen for both games of Saturday's doubleheader against the Cubs. Across 27 appearances with the Cardinals this year, he's logged a 4.13 ERA and 1.22 WHIP with 36 strikeouts in 32.2 innings of relief.

Chavez is with the Cubs for the team's Saturday doubleheader against the Cardinals, Carrie Muskat of MLB.com reports.

Chavez was acquired by the Cubs on Thursday and figures to make his team debut soon in a long-relief role. Prior to arriving in Chicago, the 34-year-old righty had been having a nice season in Texas, tossing 56.1 innings in relief with a 3.51 ERA. With Brandon Morrow, Justin Hancock and Anthony Bass all currently on the disabled list, the Cubs' bullpen could certainly use a boost from Chavez.

Bass was placed on the 10-day disabled list with a back strain prior to Saturday's doubleheader against St. Louis, Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Bass will be eligible to return July 31. The Cubs are officially calling his injury a "right mid-thoracic strain." In his place, Dillon Maples was called up from Triple-A Iowa.

Ottavino yielded an unearned run on two hits and a walk and notched a strikeout en route to recording his third save of the season Friday in the Rockies' 11-10 win over the Diamondbacks.

According to Thomas Harding of MLB.com, regular closer Wade Davis was unavailable for the series opener due to a stomach ailment, paving the way for Ottavino to pick up the save chance. Though he has been one of baseball's top setup men this season, Ottavino was shaky upon being summoned with two outs in the eighth inning. He threw a wild pitch that allowed a run to score and then put back-to-back hitters on base before inducing an inning-ending popout. Then, with the Rockies holding a two-run lead in the bottom of the ninth and two men in scoring position, Ottavino needed a diving catch from center fielder Charlie Blackmon to rob Alex Avila of what would have been a game-tying base hit. Despite his less-than-sharp showing Friday, Ottavino should be the top choice to close if Davis requires a trip to the disabled list, though that isn't expected to be the case.

Melancon was struck in the foot with a comebacker Friday, but he appears to be fine after staying in the game to finish his frame, Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Melancon's lone hit allowed over his scoreless inning was the result of a Marcus Semien comebacker that struck him in the foot and ricocheted into left field for a double. The veteran reliever stayed in the game after trainers checked on him, and he appears to have avoided injury for the time being. Melancon was unlikely to be available Saturday anyway, as he has yet to pitch in consecutive contests since returning from an elbow injury June 3. The 33-year-old owns a 2.25 ERA with 11 strikeouts and one save over 16 innings this season.

Jansen picked up his 28th save after giving up a hit and striking out two over a scoreless inning in Friday's 6-4 win over the Brewers.

Jansen began the second half of the season the same way he ended the first half, with another save. The dominant closer technically gave up a two-run double upon entering the contest, but both baserunners were inherited, allowing his ERA to remain unscathed while also creating a save opportunity despite entering with a four-run lead. Jansen should receive plenty of chances to build on his 28 saves, as the Dodgers appear primed to make a big second-half run following their acquisition of Manny Machado over the All-Star break.

Rodriguez (5-1) got the win against the Athletics on Friday, giving up one earned run on three hits over 6.1 innings, striking out five with no walks in San Francisco's 5-1 victory.

Rodriguez stayed hot, as this marked his fourth win in a row, a stretch where he's posted a 26:7 K:BB and lowered his ERA to a solid 2.72 over 53 innings. He'll look to keep things going in his next start, which will pit him against the Brewers next Thursday.