MLB Player News

The Blue Jays activated Swanson (back) from the 15-day injured list Monday.

As anticipated, Swanson will rejoin the Toronto bullpen after a minimum-length stay on the shelf while he recovered from thoracic spine inflammation. Swanson delivered a perfect inning of relief in his lone rehab appearance at Triple-A Buffalo over the weekend and should be ready to step back into a key setup role in front of closer Jordan Romano.

Garcia was recalled from Triple-A Charlotte on Monday.

Garcia has allowed two earned runs with a 17:6 K:BB across nine innings for Charlotte after being claimed off waivers from the Yankees a month ago. The former top prospect has been used almost exclusively in relief in 2023 and will presumably work as a multi-inning option out of the bullpen during his upcoming stint with the White Sox.

Curry made a relief appearance in Saturday's 6-2 loss to the Angels, giving up two earned runs on three hits and one walk over one inning while failing to strike out a batter.

Curry had started in nine of his previous 11 appearances, but it looks like he'll shift back into a bullpen role moving forward after Cleveland recently bolstered its rotation with the waiver-wire pickup of Lucas Giolito, who drew the start Saturday. The Guardians are expected to get Triston McKenzie (elbow) and Shane Bieber (elbow) back from the 60-day injured list later this month, so Curry may not have a path back to the rotation even if Cleveland loses another starting pitcher to an injury at some point in September.

Rodriguez (shoulder) began a rehab assignment at Triple-A Memphis on Aug. 31 and has struck out five while giving up one unearned run on two hits and one walk in 3.2 innings across his first four appearances.

A Rule 5 selection over the winter, Rodriguez has spent the entire 2023 campaign on the Cardinals' injured list due to shoulder tightness that eventually required surgery May 3. Though Rodriguez's procedure was initially believed to be season-ending, he made excellent progress in his recovery and resumed throwing off a mound in late July before getting cleared for game action a month later. With the 33-year-old off to a strong start to his rehab assignment, he looks like he could get a chance to join the St. Louis bullpen before season's end and potentially stake a claim to a roster spot heading into 2024.

Pepiot is slated to start Wednesday's game against the Padres at Dodger Stadium.

Pepiot had been optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City immediately after each of his first three appearances with the Dodgers this season, but he'll likely be in store for a more permanent stay in the rotation after striking out three over seven scoreless innings of one-hit ball in his start this past Thursday versus Miami. Though Thursday's outing was his best yet this season, Pepiot has been impressive on the whole over his four appearances with the Dodgers, going 2-0 with an 0.86 ERA, 0.52 WHIP and 17:2 K:BB in 21 innings. Given the sterling ratios he's provided to date along with the fact that he'll be supported by a potent Dodgers offense, Pepiot makes for a worthy pickup in most formats now that he should be in store for a regular spot in the rotation.

Manaea is listed as the Giants' starting pitcher for Tuesday's game against the Guardians at Oracle Park.

He'll pick up his seventh start of the season and first since May 10, but Manaea has been making extended relief appearances for a while now, having covered between 2.2 and four innings in each of his last six outings. Assuming the Giants stick with the plan to use his as a starter rather than a bulk reliever, Manaea could still struggle to hit the five innings he would need to qualify for a win Tuesday. The Giants have Jakob Junis and Alex Wood on hand to cover multiple innings out of the bullpen if needed, and manager Gabe Kapler may prefer to use Manaea in tandem with one or both of Junis and Wood rather than leaning on the 31-year-old lefty in a traditional starting role.

Ward (shoulder) struck out three while allowing four runs (two earned) on five hits and one walk over five innings in his most recent rehab start Friday for Double-A Harrisburg.

Ward, who has been on the shelf since July 3 with right shoulder inflammation, was making the sixth appearance of his rehab assignment overall and his second straight at Harrisburg. He's now covered exactly five innings in his last two outings and built up to 79 pitches (51 strikes) in Friday's start. Though all 22 of his appearances with Washington this season have come as a reliever, Ward looks on track to get a look as a starter once he returns from the 15-day injured list. The Nationals currently have an opening in the rotation Wednesday at Pittsburgh, and Ward could be a candidate to either start that game or work as a bulk reliever behind an opener.

Clarke (2-5) allowed a run on one hit and struck out one over one inning to take the loss Sunday versus the Blue Jays.

Clarke surrendered the tiebreaking solo home run to Kevin Kiermaier in the seventh inning. Over 6.2 innings since he returned from an elbow injury, he's allowed two runs on seven hits and a walk while striking out eight. It's one of his better stretches of a rough campaign in which he's posted a 5.47 ERA, 1.59 WHIP and 57:22 K:BB while adding 11 holds and two blown saves.

Atlanta optioned Heller to Triple-A Gwinnett on Saturday.

Heller's latest stint with Atlanta lasted just three days, with the veteran right-hander making two relief appearances and tossing 2.1 scoreless frames. Atlanta recalled left-hander Dylan Dodd from Triple-A to make a spot start Saturday versus the Pirates, but Dodd returned to Gwinnett a day later.

Uelman, who remains on Triple-A Lehigh Valley's 60-day injured list with an undisclosed injury, began a rehab assignment at Single-A Clearwater on Thursday.

Uelman gave up an earned run on one hit while striking out a batter in one inning Thursday in his first game action at any level since June 4. The 27-year-old right-hander retains a spot on the Phillies' 40-man roster, but his long-term absence due to the unspecified injury presumably takes him out of consideration for a late-season promotion to the big club once he's fully health again.