MLB Player News

The Astros placed Pressly on the paternity list Thursday.

Pressly has struck out 17 in nine scoreless innings over his last eight appearances, but he'll spend some time away from the team following the birth of his daughter. Rafael Montero, Hector Neris and Ryne Stanek are candidates for closing duties over the next few days, while Parker Mushinski (elbow) will be activated to provide an additional arm in the bullpen.

Nittoli agreed with the Blue Jays on a minor-league contract Thursday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

Nittoli will continue his career with another American League East organization after opting out of his minor-league deal with the Yankees earlier this week. Though the 31-year-old is expected to report to the Blue Jays' top affiliate in Buffalo, he should have a clearer path to a promotion to the big-league bullpen if he continues to perform as well as he did with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre prior to electing free agency. Over his 22 appearances for the Yankees' Triple-A affiliate spanning 36.2 innings, Nittoli turned in a 3.44 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 44:13 K:BB.

Nance was recalled from Triple-A Jacksonville on Thursday, Andre Fernandez of Herald Sports reports.

Nance will return to the big leagues after he was optioned to Triple-A on July 8. The 31-year-old has produced a 6.14 ERA and 1.68 WHIP with 30 punchouts over 22 innings in 17 appearances with Miami this year. Nance will replace Elieser Hernandez (illness), who was placed on the COVID-19-related injured list Thursday.

Hernandez was placed on the COVID-19-related injured list Thursday, Andre Fernandez of Herald Sports reports.

Officially, the Marlins announced Hernandez was placed on the injured list with no designation, with the implication being that his absence is COVID-19 related. The right-hander will be replaced in the bullpen by Tommy Nance, who was called up from Triple-A Jacksonville in a corresponding move.

The Tigers placed Vest on the paternity list Thursday.

Though Vest was scheduled to go on paternity leave last Sunday, the Tigers didn't officially deactivate him since their game that day against Cleveland was postponed. Vest will now go on the list Thursday as the Tigers begin their second-half schedule, and he'll be able to spend up to three days away from the team. He'll be activated no later than Sunday, in advance of the Tigers' series finale with the Twins.

The Diamondbacks reinstated Bukauskas (shoulder) from the 60-day injured list Wednesday and reassigned him to the minors.

Arizona hasn't officially announced what affiliate Bukauskas will join, but he'll presumably be sticking around at Triple-A Reno, with whom he made his last rehab appearance Sunday. Though Bukauskas was added back to the Diamondbacks' 40-man roster while lefty Dallas Keuchel was designated for assignment in a corresponding move, the big club doesn't look as though it'll have a spot available in the bullpen for the right-hander for the time being. During his eight-appearance rehab assignment between the rookie-level Arizona Complex League and the Triple-A club, Bukaskas struck out nine over eight scoreless frames.

Hill was promoted from Triple-A Toledo to start Game 2 of Thursday's doubleheader against the Athletics.

The Tigers are designating Hill as their 27th man for the twin bill, so he'll presumably be moved off the 26-man active roster after making his third start of the season with the big club. The right-hander owns a 5.73 ERA and 1.00 WHIP with four strikeouts over 11 innings across his two outings in the big leagues.

Martin could be an option to enter the Diamondbacks' rotation after the team designated Dallas Keuchel for assignment Wednesday, Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports. The right-hander has a 5.10 ERA over 12 starts (60 innings) at Triple-A Reno.

Martin had been a candidate a month ago for the rotation, but Arizona went with the veteran Keuchel, who eventually logged a 9.64 ERA with 27 hits and seven walks allowed over four starts (18.2 innings). With a decreasing strikeout rate and increasing barrel rate, the Diamondbacks pulled the plug on Keuchel and are expected to look at one of their young hurlers at Reno, including Martin, who was the key piece in the deal that sent Zack Greinke to Houston three years ago. The right-handed Martin has pitched well in back-to-back starts, most recently firing eight shutout innings for the Aces one week ago. The organization may also consider lefty Tommy Henry, who has a 3.55 ERA over 18 starts (96.1 innings) at Reno.

The Mariners released Ponce de Leon from his minor-league contract Sunday.

Ponce de Leon attended big-league spring training, but he never came particularly close to winning a spot on the Mariners' Opening Day roster and did little during his time at Triple-A Tacoma to make a case for a call-up. Over 16 starts in the Pacific Coast League, Ponce de Leon turned in a 7.95 ERA and 1.67 WHIP while striking out 80 and giving up 16 home runs over 71.1 innings.

Hall was named the International League Pitcher of the Week on Tuesday, Rich Dubroff of BaltimoreBaseball.com reports.

Hall allowed one unearned run, four hits and five walks while striking out 18 in 10.2 innings over two starts for Triple-A Norfolk last week. While the control issues remain a concern -- he has a 5.5 BB/9 at the Triple-A level -- Hall has continued to show significant strikeout potential with a 15.1 K/9. Through 59 innings with Norfolk this year, he owns a 3.51 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 99:36 K:BB, with a 2.78 FIP that suggests he could make some improvements over the second half of the campaign.