MLB Player News

Backhus (elbow) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Tuesday.

Backus has been sidelined since late April with left elbow inflammation but is finally ready to test things out in a game setting. Given how much time he's missed, the lefty reliever is likely to require a handful of rehab outings before rejoining the Phillies' bullpen.

Watson is on the 7-day injured list at Double-A Binghamton with an oblique injury, Matt Eddy of Baseball America reports.

Watson left his May 5 start with the injury after recording two outs (zero strikeouts) and surrendering four earned runs. The 23-year-old righty has an 8.55 ERA, 1.90 WHIP and 19:12 K:BB in 20 innings across six starts this season.

The Rockies sent Herget (shoulder) to Triple-A Albuquerque on Tuesday to begin a rehab assignment.

Herget has been out for nearly a month with a right shoulder impingement, but he's been cleared to return to game action. The side-armer will likely require at least a couple rehab appearances before rejoining the Rockies' bullpen. Herger has posted a 5.06 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 17:4 K:BB in 16 innings this season.

Vodnik (elbow) was sent to Triple-A Albuquerque on Tuesday to begin a rehab assignment.

Vodnik has recovered well after missing the past three weeks of action with right ulnar nerve inflammation. Since his absence has been relatively brief, the reliever should not require too many rehab appearances. Vodnik still leads the Rockies with four saves this season, but he allowed 14 runs over his last nine innings before going on the 15-day injured list, so the club will likely ease him back into high-leverage spots when he's ready to return.

Gusto is slated to start Wednesday's game against the Diamondbacks in Miami.

After being recalled Triple-A Jacksonville last Tuesday, Gusto pitched two innings out of the bullpen later that day in a 7-3 win over the Nationals. The Marlins then tabbed Gusto to fill the open spot in their rotation Friday, but because he was pitching on just two days' rest, he served as more of an opener and made just a two-inning start in a 6-0 loss to the Rays. Tyler Phillips piggybacked Gusto in long relief in that game, but the Marlins could look to separate the two pitchers during this upcoming turn through the rotation. Gusto had been working as a more traditional starter at Triple-A prior to his call-up, turning in a 1.20 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 21:3 K:BB in 15 innings over his final three appearances for Jacksonville.

Brewers manager Pat Murphy said after Monday's extra-innings win over the Athletics that Megill was unavailable to pitch in the game due to "discomfort," Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

Murphy did not offer any additional details regarding Megill's injury. Megill did battle a flexor strain in his right arm during the second half last season and was given a PRP injection over the winter, though there's no indication at this point that this is a recurrence of that injury. Abner Uribe is the favorite for saves in the Brewers' bullpen for as long as Megill is unavailable.

Wantz signed a minor-league contract with the Cubs on Saturday.

Wantz will report to Triple-A Iowa with his new organization. Before electing free agency last week upon clearing waivers, Wantz was lit up for five earned runs over 1.2 innings in his lone relief appearance for the Rays and posted a 7.04 ERA, 1.78 WHIP and 23:11 K:BB across 23 innings with their Triple-A affiliate in Durham.

Perkins is slated to start Wednesday's game against the Brewers in Las Vegas.

Perkins made his first 17 appearances of the season out of the bullpen before the Athletics elected to slide him into the rotation last week in the wake of Aaron Civale (shoulder) and Luis Severino (shoulder) both landing on the injured list within a few days. The right-handed Perkins was handed a limited workload in his first start Friday, tossing 75 pitches and four innings while striking out six batters and yielding five earned runs on five hits and two walks. While Perkins should have the opportunity to build up his pitch count in Wednesday's outing, he'll carry plenty of risk as a streaming option while pitching in an even more hitter-friendly venue (Las Vegas Ballpark) than the Athletics' usual home park in Sacramento (Sutter Health Park). The Brewers and Athletics combined for 29 runs and 11 home runs -- both MLB single-game season highs -- over 12 innings during Monday's series opener.

Patrick picked up the save in Monday's 15-14 extra-innings win over the Athletics. He allowed no hits and an intentional walk while striking out two over a scoreless inning.

Patrick was called upon to pitch the 12th inning and was able to shut the door on Monday's offensive slugfest. It marked the right-hander's third save of the campaign, as he has been deployed in a variety of roles throughout the season and succeeded to the tune of a 3-2 record, 2.22 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 41:21 K:BB across 52.2 innings (17 appearances). Abner Uribe pitched the 11th inning and picked up the win, while Trevor Megill, who leads the club with eight saves, went unused despite not pitching since Friday.

Harris blew the save in Monday's extra-innings loss against the Brewers. He allowed two runs on two hits and a walk while striking out three over 1.2 innings.

Harris entered for a five-out save and was able to escape trouble in the eighth inning but couldn't finish the job in the ninth frame, surrendering a game-tying, two-run double to Andrew Vaughn. The Athletics' closer situation remains fluid, with manager Mark Kotsay frequently mixing and matching in high-leverage spots, though Harris still leads the club with five saves to go along with two blown saves. After Monday's rough outing, the southpaw owns a 2.84 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 37:23 K:BB across 31.2 innings this season.