MLB Player News

Bachar will serve as the Marlins' opening pitcher for Saturday's game against the Pirates, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

The Marlins will be relying on their bullpen to get through Saturday's contest, and it will be Bachar taking the mound to begin the game. The 31-year-old fared well during his latest opening assignment last Saturday against the Rays, striking out three batters across three perfect innings. He'll likely be asked to give the Marlins around 3-to-4 innings and 50 pitches in Pittsburgh.

Megill (oblique) gave up one hit and struck out two batters during a scoreless inning Wednesday against the Athletics.

Megill had been unavailable out of the bullpen earlier in the week due to oblique tightness, but a few days of rest were all he needed to return to full health. The 32-year-old reliever owns a 4.50 ERA and 1.13 WHIP through 24 frames this season, but he's given up just two runs and struck out 12 batters in his last nine innings.

The Cubs optioned Ferguson to Triple-A Iowa on Friday.

Ferguson gave up one earned run and struck out three batters in 1.1 innings during his lone appearance after joining the big-league bullpen Tuesday. He'll be sent back to Triple-A now that Trent Thornton has returned from paternity leave, but Ferguson could be an option to return to Chicago later in the year to provide the Cubs with a fresh arm.

Garcia (elbow) will continue his rehab assignment with Triple-A Buffalo on Saturday and is closing in on being reinstated from the 60-day injured list, Mitch Bannon of The Athletic reports.

Garcia hasn't had the best stats across five minor-league rehab games, allowing five runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out three across four innings. However, the important thing for Garcia is that he hasn't hit any setbacks during his rehab assignment, and if that trend continues, then the right-hander could make his 2026 regular-season debut with the Blue Jays by the end of June. He is in the final stages of his recovery from a cleanup procedure that he underwent on his right elbow in September.

The Cubs reinstated Thornton from the paternity list Friday.

Thornton will return to the Cubs' bullpen after spending the past three days welcoming a new addition to his family. Tyler Ferguson was optioned to Triple-A Iowa in a corresponding move.

The Brewers recalled Yoho from Triple-A Nashville on Friday.

Yoho will return to the Brewers' bullpen to fill the void left by Coleman Crow, who landed on the injured list Friday with a forearm strain. Yoho has allowed one run and struck out five batters in three innings with the big club this season and will likely work in middle relief as long as he's in the majors.

The Royals recalled Morgan from Triple-A Omaha on Friday.

The move corresponds with the Royals placing Seth Lugo on the 7-day concussion list. Morgan has split his time somewhat evenly between the majors and the minors this season. He's appeared in 13 games for the Royals and has a 5.51 ERA, 1.90 WHIP and 15:8 K:BB across 16.1 innings. Morgan could just be a placeholder in the bullpen until the Royals need to call up a starter to replace Lugo in the rotation.

The Nationals designated Fernandez (undisclosed) for assignment Friday.

The right-hander has been on the 7-day injured list at Triple-A Rochester with an unspecified injury for nearly a month, and he's now lost his place on the 40-man roster. Fernandez made three appearances with Washington early this season and gave up one earned runs with a 3:2 K:BB across four innings.

The Diamondbacks paused Puk's (elbow) rehab Friday due to left shoulder discomfort, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.

Puk has spent the entire season working his way back from an internal brace procedure he received last June and was cleared to begin a rehab assignment in late May. However, he hasn't pitched in a game since last Friday and is now slated for an MRI on his shoulder following a setback. An updated timeline for his return will likely be available once his test results come back.

The Tigers optioned Hanifee to Triple-A Toledo on Friday.

Both Hanifee and Beau Brieske will head down to Toledo in order to make room on the Tigers' 26-man roster for Kenley Jansen and Jacob Waguespack. Hanifee has appeared in 14 games (two starts) for the Tigers this season and has a 3.29 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and two holds over 13.2 innings. He could get another crack at major-league action should Detroit need right-handed depth out of the bullpen.