MLB Player News

Leiter (forearm) began a throwing program Friday, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports.

Manager Craig Counsell said Leiter is slated to throw again Saturday as the right-hander begins his ramp-up process. It's certainly is a positive sign that the 33-year-old was able to start a throwing program just five days after landing on the IL with a strain in his right (throwing) forearm. He'll still most likely remain on the injured list for more than a minimum-length stay, but a return before the All-Star break hasn't been ruled out yet.

Manager Craig Counsell said Saturday that Brown (neck) will throw a bullpen session Saturday, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports.

Brown was cleared to resume throwing last week, and Saturday will mark his first time working off a mound since he landed on the injured list June 11 with a left neck strain. The 24-year-old righty remains without a firm return timeline, though he will likely require another bullpen session or two before moving on to facing live hitters.

The Diamondbacks optioned Hughes to Triple-A Reno on Saturday.

Hughes owns a 2.00 ERA through 27 frames at Triple-A, but he allowed four earned runs in 3.1 innings after joining the Diamondbacks' bullpen Sunday. He'll now be sent back to Triple-A to make room for Zac Gallen (hamstring), who was reinstated from the IL in a corresponding move.

The Brewers selected Zastryzny's contract from Triple-A Nashville on Saturday.

Zastryzny has spent all season with Nashville after signing a minor-league deal with Milwaukee during the offseason, putting up a 3.18 ERA and 0.93 WHIP alongside a 38:8 K:BB through 28.1 innings. The 32-year-old southpaw will now join the Brewers to replace Jared Koenig (forearm), who landed on the injured list, and Zastryzny will presumably work in middle relief during his stint with Milwaukee. Chris Roller was designated for assignment in order to open up a 40-man roster spot.

The Brewers placed Koenig on the 15-day injured list Saturday with left forearm tendinitis.

Koenig threw 1.1 scoreless innings and struck out three batters during his appearance Friday versus the Cubs, but he seems to have come away from his outing with an injury. The 30-year-old southpaw has been one of the Brewers' more surprising finds of the season, posting a 1.66 ERA and 1.00 WHIP through 38 innings. Rob Zastryzny was selected from Triple-A Nashville to replenish Milwaukee's bullpen depth.

Kolek (2-0) earned the win over Boston on Friday, allowing one hit and striking out two batters over two scoreless innings.

Kolek was sharp in the relief outing, throwing 16 of 22 pitches for strikes and recording a first-pitch strike to six of the eight batters he faced. The right-hander has been used almost exclusively in lower-leverage situations this season, picking up just two holds across 33 appearances. Kolek has recorded more than three outs in 12 of those outings and has registered a 4.74 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 32:10 K:BB over 38 innings on the campaign.

Thompson (3-3) allowed three runs on three hits and one walk while striking out one over 1.1 innings, picking up the loss to Oakland on Friday.

Thompson got the final out of the seventh inning of a tie game and was the pitcher of record when the Diamondbacks took the lead. Usually, that means game over -- Thompson holds the lead then Paul Sewald closes it -- but that was not the case Friday. Thompson, who had allowed just four runs over 32 innings and leads Arizona with 11 holds, was roughed up in the eighth. He told Steve Gilbert of MLB.com that he couldn't find the right adjustment to avoid throwing very hittable strikes.

Lopez worked around a hit to toss a scoreless inning of relief in Friday's 4-2 loss to the Brewers.

Lopez had his contract selected from Triple-A Iowa before the game, and he proceeded to make his team debut right away. The righty was dumped by the Mets earlier this year, and he struggled to a 5.95 ERA last season with three different teams, but he was an effective reliever as recently as 2022. If Lopez can get back to that form with the Cubs, he could establish a regular role in their bullpen.

Doval (3-1) allowed a run on one hit and struck out one over over inning, blowing a save but earning the win Friday over the Dodgers.

Doval allowed a triple to Andy Pages, who came home on a Jason Heyward sacrifice fly that tied the game at 3-3 in the ninth inning. The Giants then got a walk-off home run from Brett Wisely to make Doval the pitcher of record despite his poor outing. He's given up nine runs over nine innings in June, though a pair of four-run meltdowns account for much of that damage. He hasn't been dominant this season with a 4.55 ERA, 1.58 WHIP and 39:21 K:BB while converting 14 of 17 save chances over 31.2 innings.

Miller will serve as the Giants' opening pitcher in Saturday's game against the Dodgers, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Miller will serve as an opener for the eighth time this season, and he's fared well in the role thus far, giving up just one earned run in 7.2 innings across his first seven starts. He'll likely work no more than inning or two before giving way to the bullpen, with right-hander Spencer Howard being the most likely candidate to handle the bulk of the innings.