MLB Player News

Sanchez (shoulder) has joined the Marlins in Kansas City and could be cleared to throw a bullpen session in a few days, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

Sanchez began throwing on flat ground a week ago and might be ready to try things from the bump soon. The right-hander has been out for most of June with shoulder inflammation and will probably require a rehab assignment before being activated. Given the state of the Marlins' injury-riddled rotation, Sanchez will probably be needed to start some games once he's deemed ready.

Major League Baseball suspended Diaz for 10 games Monday for violating prohibitions on foreign substances, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

Diaz was ejected from Sunday's 5-2 win over the Cubs after failing the "sticky substance" test from the crew chief upon entering the game in the bottom of the ninth inning. The suspension will go into effect beginning with Tuesday's game against the Yankees, and assuming he elects not to appeal the ban, the 30-year-old closer won't be eligible to pitch until July 6 against the Pirates. Adam Ottavino and Reed Garrett will be the likely candidates to step in for save opportunities during Diaz's absence.

The Giants selected Burgos' contract from Triple-A Sacramento on Monday.

The move corresponds with the Giants designating Trenton Brooks for assignment. In nine games with Sacramento this season, Burgos has a 1.64 ERA, 0.82 WHIP and 23:2 K:BB over 22 innings. The 25-year-old southpaw will work out of the Giants' bullpen, likely as a multi-inning reliever.

Clarke was placed on the 7-day injured list at Triple-A Nashville on Monday with a toe injury, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Clarke began the season on the injured list after undergoing surgery in late March to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee. He joined Triple-A Nashville after being removed from the injured list May 15, and the 31-year-old right-hander was being stretched out as a possible starting option for the Brewers. Clarke has started in seven of nine games in the minors, holding a 1-0 record with a 3.46 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 21:6 K:BB over 26 innings. Brewers manager Pat Murphy said Monday that it isn't a season-ending injury for Clarke, but the exact timeline for the pitcher's return is still being determined.

Atlanta voided Kerr's option to Triple-A Gwinnett and placed him on the 15-day injured list with a left elbow UCL injury.

Kerr had been sent down to Triple-A on June 15, but he never made an appearance for Gwinnett following the demotion, so the transaction has been rescinded. Atlanta hasn't provided much detail regarding Kerr's injury, but UCL damage is often a precursor to Tommy John surgery.

The Cardinals activated Robertson (elbow) from the 15-day injured list and optioned him to Triple-A Memphis on Monday.

Robertson has moved past the right elbow injury that sent him to the IL a month ago, but he'll remain at Memphis, where he had been on a rehab assignment. The right-hander holds a 4.38 ERA and 14:2 K:BB over 12.1 innings during his time in the majors this season.

Howard is expected to serve as the Giants' primary pitcher out of the bullpen in Monday's game against the Cubs, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Left-hander Erik Miller will serve as the Giants' opening pitcher but isn't likely to work more than an inning or two before turning the game over to Howard, who is expected to eat up the bulk of the innings. Howard covered just one frame in his last appearance, but prior to that, he averaged nearly four innings and more than 60 pitches in his first four outings for the Giants following his May 28 call-up from Triple-A Sacramento.

Miller will serve as the Giants' opening pitcher for Monday's game against the Cubs, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Miller has taken to the opener role quite well, allowing two runs (one earned) with an 8:4 K:BB over 6.2 innings covering his first six opener assignments. Spencer Howard is in line to follow Miller as the Giants' primary pitcher.

Garrett gave up a hit and struck out one in a scoreless eighth inning Sunday to record his seventh hold of the season in a win over the Cubs.

Edwin Diaz came on the ninth but got ejected for a foreign substance, and Jake Diekman wound up getting a one-out save as Mets manager Carlos Mendoza scrambled to fill in for his closer. Diaz is facing a 10-game suspension, and based on Mendoza's bullpen usage while the right-hander was out injured, Garrett should be viewed as the favorite to handle any save chances during that time. Diekman, Adam Ottavino, Drew Smith and even potentially Dedniel Nunez could all be factors in the ninth as well, however.

Puk (1-8) was credited with the win Sunday over the Mariners, striking out two batters in two perfect innings of relief.

The left-hander took over from Kyle Tyler to begin the fifth inning with the Marlins ahead 6-2, and Puk needed only 20 pitches (14 strikes) to rack up six outs and become the pitcher of record. He appears to be regaining his prior form now that he's no longer in the rotation -- through 10.2 innings in June, Puk sports a 3.38 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 10:1 K:BB. Should closer Tanner Scott be dealt by the trade deadline, Puk would be a candidate for saves given his experience in the role last year.