MLB Player News

De Leon will serve as the Twins' opening pitcher in a bullpen game Saturday versus the Tigers, John Shipley of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

De Leon will likely pitch an inning or two before turning the game over to the rest of the Twins' relief corps. The right-hander has been a productive member of the bullpen since coming up from Triple-A St. Paul in mid-May, logging a 3.86 ERA and 15:4 K:BB in 14 innings.

Williams allowed one hit and two walks in one scoreless inning Friday, striking out two and earning a save over the Pirates.

Williams loaded the bases with two outs but managed to close out the 5-4 win. This performance comes after he coughed up four runs without recording an out while blowing his first save of the year Tuesday. Williams has now converted 11 of 12 save opportunities while posting a 1.99 ERA and a 32:13 K:BB through 22.2 frames.

Rays manager Kevin Cash told reporters before Friday's game versus San Diego that Fleming will not need to undergo surgery on his left elbow, Kristie Ackert of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

"We'll be able to get a ball in [Fleming's] hands," Cash said. The southpaw is currently on the 60-day injured list after an MRI revealed a cartilage buildup, and he could return to the back of the Rays rotation by the end of July.

The Guardians optioned Morris to Triple-A Columbus on Friday, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.

Morris has been solid during his brief time in the majors, throwing two scoreless innings while striking out three batters. However, the Guardians will choose to send him back to the minors in favor of Touki Toussaint, who was promoted from Triple-A on Friday.

The Padres optioned Weathers to Triple-A El Paso on Friday.

After giving up six earned runs across 1.2 frames in his last appearance Thursday, Weathers will be relegated to the minors. He holds a 6.13 ERA during his Triple-A career, but he has thrown eight scoreless innings across two appearances in El Paso this season. Ray Kerr was called up from Triple-A in a corresponding move.

The Padres placed Cosgrove on the 15-day injured list Friday with a left hamstring strain.

Cosgrove has been one of the most reliable options out of the bullpen for San Diego all season with just one earned run through 17 innings. However, he will now be shelved for at least 15 days. He will trade places with Nabil Crismatt (hip), who was reinstated from the 15-day IL in a corresponding move.

San Diego recalled Kerr from Triple-A El Paso on Friday.

Kerr tossed 1.1 scoreless innings across two major-league appearances earlier this year. He'll probably work in middle relief for the Padres as they shake up their bullpen a bit.

Loaisiga (elbow) started a throwing program earlier this week, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.

Loaisiga is just doing light games of catch for now, but it's an encouraging step forward following several weeks of rest and rehab. He has been out since early April due to an elbow injury that eventually required arthroscopic surgery in early May. The 28-year-old right-hander could be an option for the Yankees again in the second half.

Pittsburgh selected Mlodzinski's contract from Triple-A Indianapolis on Friday.

Drafted by the Pirates with the No. 31 overall pick in 2020, Mlodzinski moved exclusively into a relief role this year with Indianapolis and it has allowed him to make a quicker ascent to the majors. The 24-year-old right-hander had a 3.16 ERA with 31 strikeouts through 25.2 innings this season at the Triple-A level.

Rainey (elbow) threw a 45-pitch bullpen session Friday without issue, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.

Nationals manager Dave Martinez suggested that Rainey might get into minor-league games before the All-Star break, which would be a little less than 12 months after his Tommy John surgery in early August 2022. He's made swift progress and could perhaps factor into the saves mix in Washington by the end of the year, given that neither Kyle Finnegan nor Hunter Harvey have distinguished themselves in a high-leverage role.