MLB Player News

Pearson (lat) will throw live batting practice Wednesday, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Pearson has been throwing bullpens over the last two weeks, and he'll take another step in his recovery process this week by facing live hitters. If he feels good following Wednesday's throwing session, general manager Ross Atkins hopes that Pearson will be able to begin a rehab assignment shortly after.

Martin (arm) struck out one and gave up one hit over a scoreless inning of relief Sunday in the Dodgers' 8-1 win over the Marlins.

Martin wasn't available for the start of the series in Miami on Friday on account of an arm issue, but he was cleared to resume working out of the bullpen when an MRI cleared him of any structural damage. Judging by the drama-free appearance Sunday, Martin looks like he'll remain a trusted option in the middle-to-late innings for the Dodgers. Since being acquired from the Cubs on July 30, Martin has generated a 1.69 ERA, 0.47 WHIP and 13:0 K:BB in 10.2 innings with the Dodgers.

The Yankees reinstated Holmes (back) from the 15-day injured list Monday.

As expected, Holmes is ready to rejoin the Yankees for the start of a six-game week following a minimum-length stay on the shelf while he contended with a left lower back spasm. With 17 saves to go with a 2.39 ERA and 1.02 WHIP in 49 appearances this season, Holmes has been one of baseball's top late-inning relievers on the whole, but he was on shaky ground as the Yankees' closer prior to getting shut down with the injury, as he blew his last three save chances while yielding runs in four of his most recent five appearances. Though the Yankees might prefer to ease Holmes back into action coming off the injury, the team could immediately reinstall him as closer with Aroldis Chapman (leg) recently joining Scott Effross (shoulder) on the shelf. Lou Trivino now looks like the top threat to poach saves from Holmes, though it's possible manager Aaron Boone opts for a closer committee in the short term until one reliever emerges as the most-trusted option.

Nelson (back) began a rehab assignment Friday with Triple-A Reno and retired two batters while working around a hit and two walks in his first appearance.

Nelson was placed on the 15-day injured list Aug. 2 with lower-back spasms and will likely require at least one more rehab appearance before being activated. Prior to being shelved with the back injury, Nelson posted a 1.57 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and 27:8 K:BB in 34.1 innings with Arizona while picking up one win and eight holds.

The Diamondbacks released Devenski on Sunday.

Devenski is now free to seek employment elsewhere after the Diamondbacks cast him off the 40-man roster Thursday before cutting him loose once he cleared waivers. After receiving a call-up from Triple-A Reno on July 26, the veteran reliever produced a 7.59 ERA and 1.41 WHIP in 10.2 innings, so he may not have an active market for his services.

Bowlan was named the Texas League Pitcher of the Week on Monday.

Bowlan threw five scoreless innings for Double-A Northwest Arkansas versus Springfield on Sunday. He allowed two hits and two walks while striking out two. Bowlan's made six starts at the Double-A level since returning from Tommy John surgery, though he's struggled to a 6.48 ERA, 1.60 WHIP and 18:9 K:BB over 25 innings. Sunday's outing matched his longest of the season at any level, and it may signal he's feeling more comfortable on the mound after the lengthy rehab process.

The Yankees plan to reinstate Holmes (back) from the 15-day injured list Monday, Kristie Ackert of the New York Daily News reports.

New York already optioned Luke Bard to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to clear a spot on the 26-man active roster for Holmes, who will return to action after missing the minimum 15 days. Though the Yankees might prefer to ease Holmes back into the mix in a lower-leverage spot, the team may have to turn to him for closing duties right away after Aroldis Chapman (leg) recently joined Scott Effross (shoulder) on the IL. Along with Holmes, Lou Trivino is another candidate to pick up saves if manager Aaron Boone opts to take a committee approach at closer.

Mayers is slated to make his next start Tuesday against the Yankees in Anaheim.

After tossing 5.1 innings in long relief Aug. 17, Mayers was summoned into the Angels' six-man rotation last week as a replacement for the struggling Touki Toussaint. In his first start of the season last Wednesday in Tampa Bay, Mayers was excellent, as he struck out five over five shutout frames while scattering two hits and three walks. The home matchup with the Yankees isn't the softest landing spot, though it's perhaps more favorable than earlier in the season with New York having performed as a league-average offense (99 wRC+, 15th in MLB) since the All-Star break.

Williams pitched a perfect ninth inning with one strikeout to earn the save in a 9-7 win over the Cubs on Sunday.

Williams was called in to protect a two-run lead in the ninth inning and he did just that by recording three outs on eight pitches without allowing a runner to reach base. Williams has been slotted into Milwaukee's closer role since the trade deadline when Josh Hader was sent to San Diego. He gave up an earned run in each of his last two appearances, so he appears to be right back on track after handling the Cubs with no problems to earn his ninth save of the season. Williams has an excellent 1.84 ERA with 76 strikeouts in 49 innings this year.

Hader gave up six earned runs on five hits and two walks while striking out one over one-third of an inning in a 15-7 loss to the Royals on Sunday.

Hader was recently removed from the closer role in San Diego after he struggled since coming over at the trade deadline. Manager Bob Melvin decided to give Hader a chance to pitch in a lower-leverage situation Sunday, as the Padres were trailing by three runs in the eighth. Hader was promptly tagged for six runs and could only get one out. The poor showing means he likely still has much to figure out before he can return to higher-leverage work.