MLB Player News

Alzolay (forearm) will throw live batting practice Friday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Alzolay threw a 30-pitch bullpen session Tuesday and is set to face batters for the first time since being placed on the injured list in mid-May. The 29-year-old has been rehabbing at the Cubs' Arizona complex, and he'll likely require a handful of minor-league rehab outings before being activated.

Merryweather (ribs) is scheduled to pitch for Triple-A Iowa on Friday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Merryweather fanned two across a perfect inning in his first rehab appearance Tuesday. The 32-year-old should rejoin the big-league bullpen on the other side of the All-Star break.

Manager Dave Roberts said Friday that Graterol (shoulder) could be activated off the 60-day injured list by the end of July, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Graterol has been on the shelf the entire season due to right shoulder inflammation, but the 25-year-old right-hander has been progressing through his rehab program and was added to the roster of the Dodgers' Arizona Complex League affiliate Friday, per Eric Stephen of SBNation.com. Graterol appeared in 68 games for the Dodgers last season, posting a 1.20 ERA and 0.97 WHIP over 67.1 innings while recording seven saves.

Reid-Foley (shoulder) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Saturday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Saturday's activities will mark Reid-Foley's first time throwing off a mound since being placed on the injured list June 22 with a right shoulder impingement. While the 28-year-old may not be ready to bolster the Mets' bullpen immediately after the All-Star break, a July return isn't out of the picture. In 21.2 innings, Reid-Foley has posted a 1.66 ERA with 25 strikeouts.

The Nationals recalled Rutledge from Triple-A Rochester to start Friday's game against the Brewers.

Rutledge will make his first MLB start of 2024, with his only other appearance with the Nationals this season coming May 14 out of the bullpen. The 25-year-old owns a 6.66 ERA across 71.2 innings with Triple-A Rochester and has allowed 10 runs (nine earned) over his last 7.1 innings.

The Pirates reinstated Bednar (oblique) from the 15-day injured list Friday.

The right-hander delivered a scoreless frame in his lone rehab appearance with Double-A Altoona on Tuesday, and that's apparently all the Pirates needed to see before bringing him back from the injured list. Bednar missed about three weeks due to an oblique strain, and he should reclaim closing duties from Aroldis Chapman now that he's healthy.

The Pirates optioned Ryan to Triple-A Indianapolis on Friday.

Ryan will make room for David Bednar (oblique) on the active roster. Since being called up Saturday, Ryan appeared in two games and allowed five runs over four innings. The 29-year-old has generated a 4.09 ERA over 22.0 innings with Indianapolis this season.

The Pirates designated Honeywell for assignment Friday, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Pittsburgh selected the 29-year-old's contract last weekend, but he won't stick in the big leagues after he allowed one earned run with a 1:2 K:BB over 3.1 frames in two appearances. Honeywell could return to Triple-A Indianapolis, where he has a 4.85 ERA in 31 outings this year, if he goes unclaimed on waivers.

Sewald picked up the save over Atlanta on Thursday, allowing one hit in a scoreless ninth inning while striking out one.

Sewald entered the game with a one-run lead in the ninth and retired the first two batters before coughing up a single to Marcell Ozuna. However, the reliever was able to quickly put out the fire, getting Adam Duvall to ground out. The save was Sewald's 13th of the season and he's now converted each of his last two save opportunities after previously blowing three straight.

Jameson (elbow) will throw another bullpen session Friday, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.

Jameson is set to throw his third bullpen session since July 5. He's been ruled out for the rest of 2024, though his progress bodes well for his availability to begin 2025.