MLB Player News

Nardi (ribs) said Wednesday that he's about 2-to-3 weeks away from beginning a rehab assignment, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

It's unclear where Nardi is in his throwing program, but the reliever has progressed enough that he believes he's not far off from pitching in games. The lefty collected a 5.16 ERA and 27:11 K:BB over 22.2 innings before going down with a left ribcage stress reaction in late May.

Lange (1-6) blew the save and took the loss in Tuesday's 3-2 loss against the Twins. He allowed two runs on two hits and one walk while striking out one over two-thirds of an inning.

It's the third blown save in Lange's past five appearances, and he's also surrendered 15 runs over his last nine outings. Steven Cruz has picked up two saves in the past week and seems likely to get more opportunities going forward given Lange's 6.33 ERA, 1.55 WHIP and 5.1 BB/9 across 42.2 innings this year.

Sisk (elbow) will begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Indianapolis on Thursday, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.

Sisk has been shelved for the past month with left elbow inflammation, but he's progressed enough to pitch in games again. The southpaw reliever was terrific out of the Pirates bullpen before getting hurt, collecting a 2.23 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 43:13 K:BB in 36.1 innings.

Ribalta struck out two in a perfect inning of relief Tuesday to record his ninth hold of the season in a win over the Blue Jays.

The right-hander took the mound after Gus Varland failed to record an out to begin the eighth inning and allowed three runs, and Ribalta shut down Toronto's rally by retiring the visitors' 5-6-7 hitters. Ribalta has been tagged for earned runs in only one of his last eight appearances, posting a 2.45 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 12:2 K:BB over 7.1 innings during that stretch and providing a bit of stability to the league's worst bullpen.

Holmes (lower leg) tossed four scoreless innings in a rehab start for Single-A St. Lucie on Tuesday, giving up two hits and two walks while striking out three over 59 pitches (37 strikes).

The veteran right-hander made his first rehab start July 23 for Triple-A Syracuse, but weather concerns caused the Mets to shift his second outing to the Florida State League. Per Anthony DiComo of MLB.com, scouts from multiple teams were in attendance for Holmes' start as he topped out at 94.1 mph with his sinker and deployed all five of his pitches. His current schedule might allow him to come off the IL and make one big-league start for the Mets before Monday's trade deadline, assuming he isn't moved before then. Holmes' current contract includes a $12 million player option for 2027 that he's almost certain to decline after posting a 2.39 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 45:18 K:BB through his first 52.2 innings this season before a comebacker in a May 15 start fractured his right fibula.

Bednar secured the save in Tuesday's 3-2 win over the White Sox, giving up two runs on two hits and no walks while striking out three over one inning.

The 31-year-old entered for the ninth inning with a 3-0 advantage and needed all of that cushion, as Chase Meidroth launched a two-out, two-run home run. Bednar walked the tightrope Tuesday, with those runs being the first he has allowed since May 18 against Toronto. His scoreless streak lasted 21 appearances and saw him give up just eight hits with a 25:5 K:BB. Bednar is 22-for-24 in save chances and has settled in nicely after a shaky start to the year that resulted in a 5.14 ERA through his first 21 outings.

The Pirates optioned Mattson to Triple-A Indianapolis on Wednesday, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.

Mattson (1.2 innings, 39 pitches) and Brandon Eisert (2.1 innings, 41 pitches) both saw heavy usage out of the bullpen in Tuesday's 8-7 loss to Arizona in 12 innings, so Pittsburgh will call up a pair of fresh relief arms from Triple-A (Noah Murdock and Hunter Barco) to replace them ahead of Wednesday's series finale. During his six-plus-week stay in the majors, Mattson appeared in 13 games and turned in a 6.39 ERA, 1.74 WHIP and 15:4 K:BB across 12.2 innings.

The Pirates optioned Eisert to Triple-A Indianapolis on Wednesday, Jason Mackey of MLB.com reports.

Eisert was needed for 2.1 innings and 41 pitches in Tuesday's extra-innings loss to the Diamondbacks, so he's being replaced by a fresh arm. The lefty holds a 6.29 ERA and 40:12 K:BB over 34.1 innings between the White Sox and Pirates this season.

The Pirates recalled Murdock from Triple-A Indianapolis on Wednesday.

Murdock has previously been up with the Pirates on two occasions as the 27th man during a doubleheader, but he has yet to make his team debut. The righty will give Pittsburgh a fresh bullpen arm after it went extra innings in each of the first two games of the series against the Diamondbacks.

The Mets recalled Pintaro from Triple-A Syracuse on Wednesday.

Pintaro will serve as the 27th man on the roster for Wednesday's doubleheader versus Atlanta. The right-hander has made five relief appearances for the Mets this season, allowing seven runs with a 12:3 K:BB over 12.1 frames. Pintaro will provide the bullpen with some length.