MLB Player News

Helsley (elbow) threw batting practice against live hitters Monday, Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun reports.

Helsley had already completed multiple bullpen sessions over the last two weeks, but his ability to face hitters Monday means that he's checked off another box in the recovery process for his inflamed right elbow, which sent him to the injured list May 1. If Helsley checks out fine following the workout, the Orioles could clear him to head out on a rehab assignment later this week.

The Blue Jays activated Nance (forearm) from the 15-day injured list Monday.

Nance has been shelved since mid-May with right forearm discomfort but is ready to rejoin the Blue Jays bullpen following one rehab appearance with Triple-A Buffalo. The 35-year-old will operate in a middle-relief role.

The Blue Jays designated Rodriguez for assignment Monday.

Rodriguez has made 10 appearances out of the Toronto bullpen this season, putting up a 7.71 ERA and 6:7 K:BB over 9.1 innings. He's likely to go unclaimed on waivers, and assuming that happens, he'll report back to Triple-A Buffalo.

The Red Sox optioned La Sorsa to Triple-A Worcester on Monday.

La Sorsa was just added to the Boston roster last week and made just one appearance, giving up a solo home run to one of the two batters he faced. The lefty reliever is being replaced on the active roster by utility player Nate Eaton, who was recalled from Worcester.

The Rays transferred Heasley (elbow) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Monday.

Initially deactivated last Tuesday after being diagnosed with a right elbow stress reaction, Heasley still remains without a clear timeline for a return, but his move to the 60-day IL ensures he'll be shelved through at least July 27. In a corresponding 40-man roster move, the Rays selected outfielder Austin Slater's contract from Triple-A Durham.

The Cubs claimed Nunez off waivers from the Orioles on Monday.

Nunez will join his third organization in less than a month and his fourth since last year's trade deadline. The hard-throwing reliever has spent all of the 2026 campaign in the minors, collecting a 7.13 ERA and 21:19 K:BB across 17.2 frames. Nunez has been assigned to the Cubs' rookie-level Arizona Complex League affiliate, where he will go through the organization's pitching lab before eventually being assigned to a full-season affiliate, likely Triple-A Iowa.

Bachman (illness) appeared in relief in two of the Angels' three games against the Dodgers over the weekend, retiring four of the five batters he faced while notching three strikeouts.

Bachman hit Alex Freeland with a pitch in Friday's 1-0 loss but otherwise had a clean weekend. The pair of appearances were Bachman's first since May 30, as he had went unused out of the bullpen over a stretch of four games while he recovered from an illness.

Smith (shoulder) started a throwing program Tuesday, MLB.com reports.

Shortly after landing on the 15-day injured list May 22 due to right shoulder inflammation, Smith received a cortisone shot to address the injury. After responding well to the injection, Smith is beginning to ramp up again and could re-emerge as an option in the Detroit bullpen later this month. He'll likely require a brief rehab assignment prior to being activated from the IL.

Lopez (3-1) picked up the win in Sunday's victory over the Pirates, allowing a hit and a walk over 1.1 scoreless innings of relief. He struck out two.

The right-hander was in the right place at the right time as the pitcher of record when Atlanta erased a 2-0 deficit in the bottom of the seventh inning. Lopez remains erratic out of the bullpen, getting scored upon in four of nine appearances since the beginning of May while stumbling to a 5.14 ERA, 1.71 WHIP and 12:7 K:BB over 14 innings.

Stanek boasts a 1.38 ERA and 14:6 K:BB over 13 innings since the beginning of May.

Stanek finished April with an 8.31 ERA and 18:12 K:BB across 13 frames in his first 15 outings of the season, but he's found a groove since then, having yielded an earned run in just one of his last 14 appearances. His poor control still gets him into trouble at times, but Stanek has re-established himself as one of Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol's go-to right-handed setup men. He could net the occasional save on days Riley O'Brien is unavailable.