MLB Player News

Megill (0-2) was charged with a blown save and the loss Saturday versus the Nationals after he allowed two runs on two hits over 1.1 innings. He struck out two and walked none.

The right-hander entered with two outs in the eighth inning and stranded a pair of runners with a strikeout, but he was unable to maintain a one-run lead in the ninth as CJ Abrams clubbed a two-run homer. The blown save ends a stretch of 12 straight conversions for Megill, who also hadn't given up a run in his previous 10 outings. The 30-year-old remains locked in as Milwaukee's closer for now, but Devin Williams (back) began a rehab assignment Saturday and should reclaim the job early in the second half.

Wesneski (3-6) took the loss in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Cardinals, surrendering 11 runs (four earned) on 10 hits and a walk over four innings. He struck out four.

The right-hander's own errors during a nightmarish nine-run first inning prevented more damage to his ERA, but it was still a poor outing for Wesneski at the worst possible time, as it put extra pressure on the Cubs' bullpen ahead of the nightcap. In four starts since rejoining the rotation in late June, he's posted a 5.59 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 20:6 K:BB in 19.1 innings while serving up five homers, including a three-run blast by Alec Burleson on Saturday.

The Cubs recalled Palencia from Triple-A Iowa on Saturday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.

Palencia will join the big-league roster ahead of the second half of Saturday's twin bill against the Cardinals. The right-hander has been with Iowa since being activated from the IL on June 3. Ethan Roberts, who pitched two innings in Game 1, was optioned to Iowa in a corresponding move.

The Cubs optioned Roberts to Triple-A Iowa on Saturday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Roberts threw two scoreless innings and struck out three batters during a loss to the Cardinals in Game 1 of Saturday's twin bill, and he'll now be sent back to the minors between games. Daniel Palencia was recalled from Iowa in a corresponding move.

Ortiz did not factor into the decision in Saturday's 6-2 win over the White Sox, allowing one run on four hits and one walk with five strikeouts over 5.2 innings.

Ortiz tossed five scoreless innings before allowing an RBI single in the sixth. He was pulled just shy of a quality start at 94 pitches and has now yielded a total of two earned runs in his three opportunities to start this season. While it is unclear if the 25-year-old will remain in the rotation after the All-Star break, he has likely earned additional starting opportunities by posting a 2.84 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 57:19 K:BB across 66.2 innings this season.

Phillips blew a save in Saturday's 11-9 extra-inning loss to the Tigers, allowing two runs on three hits while striking out one in the ninth inning.

Phillips was called upon to protect a 9-6 lead with a runner on second and no outs in the ninth inning, but he allowed the Tigers to tie the game on an RBI single and a two-run home run. The righty has struggled in July, yielding four earned runs and blowing two saves in five appearances while not always working the ninth inning. On the year, he is 14-for-16 in save chances with a 2.73 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 32:8 K:BB across 29.2 innings.

The Giants reinstated Warren (elbow) from the 60-day injured list Saturday and optioned him to Triple-A Sacramento, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Warren has been on the injured list all season while working his way back from the Tommy John procedure he underwent in May 2023. He has been playing in rehab games at Triple-A since June 18, and he'll essentially continue that rehab with Sacramento after allowing 10 runs (nine earned) in his first 8.1 innings. He will reclaim a spot on the 40-man roster, though he'll likely need to turn in better results in the minors before having a chance to join San Francisco.

The Nationals recalled Salazar from Triple-A Rochester on Saturday.

Washington claimed Salazar off waivers from Seattle on June 13 and will now give him an opportunity with the big-league club a month later. The righty reliever has posted an excellent 0.84 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 15:2 K:BB over 10.2 frames with Rochester since joining the Nationals organization. Pitcher Jackson Rutledge was optioned to Triple-A in a corresponding move.

The Rockies recalled Chivilli from Double-A Hartford on Saturday, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports.

Chivilli got his first major-league opportunity in June but struggled to an 8.44 ERA and 1.50 WHIP over 5.1 innings. He served up three long balls and struck out only two batters, though he didn't walk anybody. Chivilli has enjoyed success at Double-A this season with a 2.49 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 37:12 K:BB across 25.1 frames. He'll likely serve in a low-leverage bullpen role while with the big club.

Cincinnati selected Santillan's contract from Triple-A Louisville on Saturday.

The Reds placed starter Carson Spiers (shoulder) on the injured list Saturday and called up Santillan to take Spiers' roster spot, opting to add a reliever with the All-Star break looming. Santillan has logged a 3.38 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 53:24 K:BB over 40.0 innings in the minors this season. He got into three games with the Reds last year, allowing one run on four hits while posting a 5:1 K:BB over 3.1 frames. He'll like serve in a low-leverage role while with the big-league club.