MLB Player News

Castro (shoulder) pitched a perfect inning for Double-A Somerset on Sunday.

Castro has been dealing with a right shoulder strain since mid-July, and this was his first outing after over two months on the shelf. The righty reliever pitched a perfect sixth inning in a game that also featured fellow rehabbing relievers Aroldis Chapman (leg) and Zack Britton (elbow). Castro will likely need at least a week to ramp up before potentially rejoining the big club.

Chapman (leg) struck out three batters and walked one in a scoreless inning for Double-A Somerset on Sunday.

Chapman made his first rehab appearance since landing on the injured list with a leg infection at the end of August. The veteran reliever entered in the fourth inning and struck out the side while issuing one walk, and he threw 10 of 16 pitches for strikes. Chapman could return to the Yankees by the end of this week, but he's unlikely to usurp Clay Holmes for the closer role.

Vesia earned a hold against the Padres on Sunday with a perfect inning of work that included two strikeouts.

The contest became a rout late, but when Vesia entered in the sixth inning the Dodgers were ahead by only two runs. The southpaw kept things that way, throwing 13 of 15 pitches for strikes and notching a pair of punchouts. Vesia has been very impressive in his second campaign with Los Angeles, registering a 2.31 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 67:21 K:BB over 46.2 innings. He's notched 15 holds, one save and four wins.

The Mets placed Montes de Oca on the 15-day injured list Monday with left hamstring tightness.

A best-case scenario has the hard-throwing righty returning near the end of September. It appears unlikely Montes de Oca, with his 10.80 ERA in three appearances, makes the postseason roster, so it's possible he doesn't pitch again in 2022.

The Mets reinstated May (illness) from the COVID-19 injured list Monday.

As expected, May is off the injured list and will rejoin the Mets' bullpen. The right has a 3.86 ERA in 9.1 innings since returning from injury in early August, although he's looked good with 2.1 scoreless frames and five strikeouts across his last three appearances.

Mayers allowed five runs on five hits and two walks while striking out three batters against Houston on Sunday. He did not factor in the decision.

Tucker Davidson got the start for the Angels and was charged with four runs over two innings, but three of the runs scored after he departed. Mayers inherited Davidson's bases-loaded, no-out mess in the third and promptly served up a grand slam to Alex Bregman. That was one of two homers Mayers allowed in the game, with the other being a three-run, fifth-inning blast by Trey Mancini. The hurler has been haunted by the long ball this season, serving up 13 homers in 47.1 innings. Mayers had started in each of his previous three appearances, but it appears that his spot in the rotation is tenuous given the long-relief outing Sunday.

Leclerc struck out two in a perfect ninth inning to record his fifth save of the season during a 3-2 win over the Marlins in the first game of Monday's doubleheader.

The right-hander fired nine of 11 pitches for strikes as he converted his third save chance in his last four appearances. Leclerc seems to be the Rangers' preferred closing option right now, as Jonathan Hernandez entered the game in the seventh inning, and he's earned the role with a 1.93 ERA and 33:11 K:BB through 28 innings since the All-Star break.

Miller was optioned to Triple-A Round Rock on Monday.

After Miller was selected from Triple-A on Sunday, he will head back to Round Rock on Monday without appearing in a game for the Rangers. The move frees up a roster spot for fellow pitcher Jon Gray (oblique) to return from the 15-day injured list.

Otto didn't factor into the decision in a 3-2 win over the Marlins in the first game of Monday's doubleheader, giving up two runs on three hits and two walks over six innings. He struck out two.

The right-hander exited the game in line for his ninth loss of the year, but the Rangers' offense got going in the seventh inning. The quality start was Otto's sixth of the season, but three of them have come in eight outings since the beginning of August, a stretch during which he sports a 3.37 ERA and 33:20 K:BB through 42.2 innings.

Alexander won't make a start this week while the Tigers temporarily move to a four-man rotation, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.

With an off day on the schedule Thursday, the Tigers will skip Alexander's turn before likely slotting him back into the rotation when a fifth starter is next needed Sept. 20 in Baltimore. In lieu of the start this week, Alexander will throw an extra side session to stay stretched out, and it's possible that he'll be available in long relief for this weekend's series with the White Sox if needed. The Tigers' decision to bypass Alexander's spot in the rotation this week comes after he allowed four earned runs across five innings in a losing effort Sunday in Kansas City. Alexander owns a 10.06 ERA and 1.82 WHIP in 17 innings over his last four starts.