MLB Player News

Abbott is scheduled to start Tuesday against the Mets, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

The 26-year-old was recalled by Washington on Saturday and will join the rotation with Erick Fedde (shoulder) recently placed on the injured list. Abbott's two big-league appearances this year have come out of the bullpen, but he's started six games for Triple-A Rochester and has a 5.08 ERA, 1.67 WHIP and 34:17 K:BB over 28.1 innings.

Reed was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Sunday, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Reed was called up by Los Angeles on Wednesday and allowed one run over 2.2 innings during his brief time in the majors. It's the fifth demotion for the 29-year-old this year, so if he returns to the big leagues the Dodgers won't be able to send him back down without exposing him to waivers.

Swanson (2-0) recorded the win over the Astros on Saturday, allowing two hits and recording a strikeout over a scoreless eighth inning.

Swanson had to navigate around some trouble but was still sharp, pounding 12 of his 16 pitches in for strikes. The right-hander has been a bit more vulnerable than usual lately while allowing seven hits over the five innings covering his last six appearances, but he's still produced a 2-0 record and one hold over that span, albeit while also being charged with a blown save.

Jackson (2-3) took the loss against the White Sox on Saturday, allowing an earned run on a hit and a wild pitch over one-third of an inning.

The normally reliable Jackson was entrusted with preserving a 2-2 tie when he entered in the ninth inning, but he conceded a leadoff double to Gavin Sheets and eventually allowed the winning run to score on a wild pitch while facing Tim Anderson. The stumble was a rare one for the right-hander, who'd last given up an earned run June 23, a span of 14 appearances.

Cabrera (3-2) allowed two runs on a hit and a walk while striking out one in one inning, taking the loss and a blown save versus the Nationals on Saturday.

Jordan Hicks pitched a clean sixth inning but hit the first batter he faced in the seventh. Cabrera entered the contest and walked Juan Soto before giving up a three-run home run to Josh Bell, and the Cardinals couldn't catch up again later in the game. Through six appearances in July, Cabrera's been charged with four runs, though those have been accumulated between two outings. He has a 2.95 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 32:16 K:BB with a save, a blown save and 10 holds in 36.2 innings. Despite the unsteady performances since returning from the COVID-19 injured list, the southpaw remains in a high-leverage role.

The Royals recalled Hernandez from Triple-A Omaha on Sunday.

Hernandez should be available as a long-relief option for Kansas City over the next few days, but if he isn't needed out of the bullpen, he could be a candidate to fill the opening in the rotation that was vacated by Jonathan Heasley, who was optioned to Triple-A in a corresponding move. The Royals will next require a fifth starter Thursday versus the Red Sox, and Hernandez would be a logical choice to pick up the spot start if rehabbing lefty Daniel Lynch (hand) isn't deemed ready to return from the 15-day injured list by that day.

The Royals optioned Heasley to Triple-A Omaha on Sunday.

Heasley's demotion comes after he was blitzed for six earned runs over 3.1 innings in his return from the 15-day injured list in Saturday's 8-2 loss to the Yankees. Though he'll be heading to the minors, Heasley shouldn't have to wait too long before re-entering the big-league rotation. The Royals will have doubleheaders on consecutive days in the second week of August and will need to temporarily implement a seven-man rotation, and Heasley is a prime candidate to step in as a spot starter.

Herget (shoulder) could be activated by the Angels on Sunday or Tuesday, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.

Herget has been rehabbing with Double-A Rocket City, most recently pitching two perfect innings for the minor-league club Friday. The right-hander now appears set to rejoin the Angels after spending over a month on the IL. Prior to the injury, Herget had posted a 3.72 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 34:6 K:BB over 36.1 innings. He's notched two wins, one save and two holds on the season.

Jax threw a scoreless inning while striking out one batter over two-thirds of an inning in Saturday's 7-4 win over the Padres to earn his 10th hold.

Jax has become a key setup man after transitioning from being a starting pitcher last season. He's improved both his average fastball velocity (95.3 mph from 92.7 mph last season) and strikeout rate (9.6 K/9 from 7.1 K/9 last season). Despite Minnesota's struggles to find a steady closer at times, Jax hasn't been used at the end of games, however.

Shaw is listed as the Guardians' starting pitcher for Sunday's game in Tampa Bay, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.

While making his first start in 733 MLB appearances in Tuesday's loss to the Red Sox, Shaw covered 2.1 innings, so he's likely to work more than a traditional opener while he picks up his second start of the week. Even so, Shaw probably shouldn't be expected to work any more than 3-to-4 innings, so he'll have a tough time qualifying for the win unless the Guardians race out to an early lead and maintain it throughout. Kirk McCarty is the primary option to work in long relief behind Shaw and is a likelier candidate to factor into any decision.