MLB Player News

Avila will start for the Padres on Tuesday at Colorado, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Avila has thrown five scoreless innings of relief this season at the major-league level, but the 26-year-old was sporting a rough 8.83 ERA across 52 innings in a starting role at Triple-A El Paso prior to being recalled July 23. He's not a recommended fantasy streamer for Tuesday's spot start at Coors Field.

Triple-A Sacramento placed Winn (elbow) on its 7-day injured list Saturday.

Winn was deactivated after he experienced soreness in his right elbow coming out of his most recent outing with Sacramento on July 22. Fortunately for Winn, his follow-up tests revealed no structural damage to his elbow, but it's unclear if he'll be able to pitch again in 2023 while he recovers from the injury. Before he was optioned to Sacramento on July 6, Winn went 2-1 with a 4.09 ERA and 1.05 WHIP across 22 innings in five appearances (two starts) with the Giants.

Legumina (shoulder) shifted his rehab assignment Tuesday from the Arizona Complex League to Triple-A Louisville.

Legumina retried all three batters he faced in his one appearance in the ACL. Seemingly recovered from a bout of shoulder discomfort that originally sent him to the injured list June 21, the 26-year-old right-hander could be an option again for the Reds' bullpen by the end of this week.

Criswell has made two starts for Triple-A Durham since being optioned to the affiliate July 16, allowing two unearned runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out six over nine innings.

Despite the pair of strong outings, Criswell is still holding down a 4.63 ERA and 1.46 WHIP while striking out 51 over 56.1 innings at Triple-A this season. Though his numbers don't jump off the page, Criswell may still find himself as the next man up to join the big club if the Rays require a starter or bulk reliever at any point in August. The Rays optioned the struggling Taj Bradley to Triple-A on Monday and appear set to give Zack Littell a look as their new No. 5 starter, though Littell likely won't have a long leash.

Littell is listed as the Rays' starting pitcher for Friday's game against the Tigers at Comerica Park.

Littell has already made four starts this season, but on each of the first three occasions, he covered no more than 3.1 innings while operating as more of an opening pitcher. In his most recent start Sunday in Houston, however, Littell covered a season-high five innings, striking out four while allowing two runs on eight hits. Based on the workload he handled, Littell looks like he could be getting stretched out for a more traditional starting role, especially now that Tampa Bay has a spot in the rotation open after Taj Bradley was optioned to Triple-a Durham on Monday. Erasmo Ramirez worked three innings behind Littell on Sunday, so it's possible the two pitchers work in tandem again Thursday if Ramirez isn't needed out of the bullpen Tuesday or Wednesday.

St. Louis recalled Thompson from Triple-A Memphis on Tuesday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Thompson was just sent down last week, but he's back now with the Cardinals dealing away parts ahead of Tuesday's trade deadline. The 25-year-old left-hander carries a disappointing 5.06 ERA, 1.81 WHIP and 21:11 K:BB in 16 innings of relief this season at the major-league level.

Kittredge (elbow) has thrown 8.2 innings on his rehab assignment and is hoping to return in mid-to-late August, MLB.com reports.

Kittredge has been with Triple-A Durham for each of his last six appearances. He allowed six earned runs across just one-third of an inning in an outing July 23 but has otherwise been effective. Even so, the Rays will continue to take a patient approach as Kittredge returns from Tommy John surgery.

Farmer (3-4) was credited with Monday's win over the Cubs. He struck out two over 1.2 hitless and scoreless innings.

Farmer replaced starter Andrew Abbott with one out in the fourth inning and retired all four batters faced, including a double play to escape the fourth. The outing was Farmer's 50th of the season, tying him for third most in majors along with fellow Cincinnati bullpen mates Ian Gibaut and Alexis Diaz. The right-handed Farmer endured a rough patch early in July but has righted himself with three runs allowed and 11 strikeouts over the last 9.1 innings.

Pressly earned a save against the Guardians on Monday, striking out one batter in a perfect inning of work.

Entering the ninth frame, it looked like Pressly's services might not be needed, as Houston held a comfortable 7-2 lead. However, Ryne Stanek allowed Cleveland to load the bases without recording an out, resulting in Pressly's entrance. The veteran closer quelled the threat, allowing an inherited runner to score on a sacrifice fly but otherwise shutting the Guardians down. Though Pressly's 3.17 ERA and 9.5 K/9 are slightly less impressive than what he's registered over the past several seasons, he continues to be among the game's best closers, recording 25 saves in 29 chances on the campaign. He's also benefiting from playing for a playoff contender, as the save was his ninth of the month of July.

Lawrence allowed a run on three hits and struck out one over 1.2 innings to take a blown save in Monday's 4-3 extra-inning win over the Padres.

Lawrence escaped a jam he inherited from Daniel Bard in the eighth inning, but he proceeded to give up a solo home run to Trent Grisham in the ninth. This was Lawrence's second blown save in his last three outings, which could be bad news for his ability to retain the closer role. The right-hander is 8-for-11 in save chances with eight holds, a 2.96 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 56:24 K:BB through 54.2 innings overall.