MLB Player News

The Nationals optioned Poulin to Triple-A Rochester following Wednesday's 3-2 loss to the Guardians.

For the seventh time this season, Poulin served as an opener for Washington during Wednesday's contest. The lefty struck out a batter and gave up no hits and one walk over a scoreless frame before Miles Mikolas took over in bulk relief. Washington didn't announce a corresponding transaction but will add another player to the active roster as a replacement for Poulin prior to Friday's game against the Padres.

Whitlock has been unavailable to pitch since tweaking his left knee on a wet mound in his last appearance Sunday against the Twins, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.

Whitlock underwent an MRI, which came back negative. The Red Sox do not anticipate the reliever requiring a stint on the injured list, but they would like to avoid using Whitlock for a few more days to allow for additional rest. Whitlock has collected a 3.20 ERA, nine holds and a 25:6 K:BB over 19.2 innings in a setup role for Boston this season.

Alvarez will start Friday's game against the Padres, Kyle Williams of TheBanner.com reports.

He's taking the rotation spot vacated by the injured Jake Irvin (shoulder). Alvarez has been terrific in a long-relief role so far for the Nationals, contributing a 2.84 ERA and 16:3 K:BB over 12.2 innings. The left-hander hasn't thrown more than 56 pitches in any of his relief outings this month but exceeded 90 pitches on two occasions at Triple-A Rochester in early May, so Alvarez should be capable of providing some length.

The Rays optioned Martin to Triple-A Durham on Wednesday.

Tampa Bay recalled Martin from Triple-A on May 15, but he went unused out of the bullpen for more than a week and a half before making a three-inning long-relief appearance in Tuesday's 6-1 loss to Baltimore after starter Griffin Jax (back) made an early exit. Since Martin was unlikely to be available for another day or two after the 52-pitch outing, the Rays opted to swap him off the 26-man active roster in favor of a fresh relief arm in right-hander Jonathan Heasley, who was called up from Durham.

The Rays selected Heasley's contract from Triple-A Durham on Wednesday.

Heasley had been serving as a swingman at Durham this season, making seven appearances (four starts) while logging a 3.90 ERA and 1.21 WHIP across 27.2 innings. Though he could eventually be an option in the Tampa Bay rotation, for the time being, Heasley is expected to settle into a bullpen role. He'll give the Rays another arm who's capable of covering multiple innings after Tampa Bay placed Jesse Scholtens (wrist) on the 15-day injured list Tuesday.

Double-A Reading reinstated Pan (elbow) from its 7-day injured list May 19 and assigned him to High-A Jersey Shore.

Pan has completed his recovery from Tommy John surgery, which he underwent in November 2024. The right-hander could eventually move up to Reading, but he'll stick around for the time being at Jersey Shore, with whom he's struck out four over five scoreless frames in four appearances.

The Blue Jays acquired Seabold from the Tigers on Wednesday in exchange for Juanmi Vasquez.

Seabold had been designated for assignment by Detroit and is now headed to a new organization. He was with the Blue Jays during spring training but was a late roster cut before linking up with Detroit. The 30-year-old held a 3.45 ERA and 14:5 K:BB over 15.2 innings out of the Tigers' bullpen and will give the Blue Jays some additional length in their relief corps.

Kittredge threw a clean inning Tuesday against the Rays. He struck out one.

The 36-year-old right-hander is continuing to recover from a brutal May 3 outing against the Yankees, when he was torched for seven runs while recording just one out. Kittredge has turned in nine outings with no earned runs allowed among his 12 appearances but nonetheless holds a dismal 8.38 ERA, 1.86 WHIP and 9:4 K:BB across his first 9.2 innings after beginning the year on the injured list.

The Orioles optioned Raquet to Triple-A Norfolk on Wednesday.

He's clearing out to make room on the roster for Trey Gibson, who will be the Orioles' starting pitcher for Wednesday's game against the Rays. Raquet had just been recalled Tuesday and did not make an appearance during this stint with Baltimore.

Winn allowed one unearned run on two hits while striking out one across one inning in Tuesday's 7-5 loss to the Diamondbacks.

Winn entered in the sixth inning and surrendered back-to-back singles to begin the frame, and the first runner eventually scored after reaching third on a throwing error. The right-hander hasn't allowed an earned run in any of his last eight appearances, giving up six hits and two walks while striking out nine in nine innings during that span. He now owns a 1.85 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and 22:8 K:BB across 24.1 innings in 24 outings this season.