MLB Player News

May (triceps) will progress to facing live hitters Sunday, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

May resumed mound work in early July, and Sunday's throwing session will mark the first time he's faced live hitters since landing on the injured list May 3. It wouldn't be surprising to see the right-hander begin an extended minor-league rehab assignment sometime during the second half of July.

Hearn was added to the Rangers' taxi squad Thursday and will likely start Friday's game against the Mariners, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

Hearn was scratched from his scheduled start at Triple-A Round Rock on Thursday to join the taxi squad, so he'll be fully rested if he ultimately gets the starting nod for Friday's matchup. Although the team expected him to work as a long reliever in the minors, he made two starts and posted a 4.50 ERA, 16:5 K:BB and 1.10 WHIP in 10 innings. The southpaw has a 5.86 ERA and 1.67 WHIP in 63 innings over 14 appearances (13 starts) with the Rangers this year.

Weber had his contract selected by the Yankees on Thursday.

Weber was removed from New York's 40-man roster in early July but will now receive another chance with the big-league club. The veteran right-hander has appeared in two games this season, and he allowed one earned run on two hits with one strikeout and zero walks over 4.2 innings.

Patino (oblique) will likely be reinstated from the 60-day injured list to start Friday's game against the Orioles, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Patino made six rehab starts in June and early July but faced a setback early this month due to a blister. However, he's faced hitters again recently and should return to game action with the major-league club Friday. He'll be facing a tough opponent in the Orioles, who have won 10 consecutive games, and manager Kevin Cash said that the right-hander won't be fully stretched out in his first start back from the IL.

Manager Dave Martinez labeled Finnegan as "the guy" for the closer role Thursday, Matt Weyrich of NBC Sports Washington reports.

Tanner Rainey (elbow) has worked as Washington's primary closer this year and has 12 saves, but he's expected to miss the rest of 2022 after being placed on the 60-day injured list Wednesday with a UCL sprain. Finnegan has operated in a setup role this season with 12 holds, and he has a 3.89 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 41:13 K:BB across 34.2 innings. The right-hander also recorded 11 saves while operating as the Nationals' closer during the second half of last season. Washington ranks last in the league in total saves, so save opportunities could be somewhat infrequent even if Finnegan pitches well.

Loaisiga (shoulder) was activated from the 15-day injured list Thursday, Max Goodman of SI.com reports.

Loaisiga has been sidelined by shoulder inflammation since late May, but he'll rejoin the Yankees just ahead of the All-Star break after a two-game rehab stint in the minors. The 27-year-old has struggled to a 7.02 ERA, 1.56 WHIP and 18:10 K:BB across 16.2 innings this year, so he may need to prove he's back in good form before the team returns him to the high-leverage role he filled last season.

Boston placed Winckowski on the COVID-19-related injured list Thursday after he tested positive for the virus, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

Winckowski started and covered six innings in Wednesday's loss to the Rays, so he likely wouldn't have been available for the Red Sox's final four games before the All-Star break as anything more than an emergency option out of the bullpen. As a result, Winckowski's move to the COVID-19 IL shouldn't prove to be too consequential, assuming he's able to make a quick recovery from the virus and is ready to go by the time the Red Sox require a fifth starter for the first time in the second half July 26. The Red Sox called up reliever Darwinzon Hernandez from Triple-A Worcester to take Winckowski's spot on the active roster.

Kimbrel (3-4) picked up the win against St. Louis on Wednesday, striking out one batter in a perfect inning of work.

With the Dodgers mounting a late-game comeback, manager Dave Roberts elected to go to Kimbrel with Los Angeles down by a run in the eighth inning. The veteran right-hander needed 17 pitches to get through the frame, but he retired the side in order and qualified for the win as a result of his team scoring twice in the top of the ninth. Evan Phillips ended up notching the save for the Dodgers, but Kimbrel isn't in imminent danger of losing his ninth-inning role despite a few recent rough outings. He's converted 15 of 18 save chances on the season.

The Dodgers placed Graterol on the 15-day injured list Thursday with right shoulder inflammation.

Graterol dealt with a side injury late last week but will land on the IL with a shoulder issue just before the All-Star break. It's not yet clear how much time the Dodgers expect him to miss, as the right-hander is scheduled to undergo an MRI in Los Angeles on Friday, according to Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register, as the team looks to glean a clearer sense of the severity of the injury.

Zerpa was recalled from Double-A Northwest Arkansas and will start Thursday against the Blue Jays.

Zerpa picked up his first big-league win Monday after firing two scoreless innings out of the bullpen for Kansas City, and he'll now briefly join the big-league rotation with the team missing a slew of players due to their vaccination statuses. The left-hander has started 13 games at Double-A this year and has a 4.36 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 69:21 K:BB across 64 innings. Given he's only on two days rest since Monday's appearance, Zerpa shouldn't be expected to pitch deep into Thursday's contest.