MLB Player News

Morris (shoulder) began a rehab assignment Tuesday with the Guardians' rookie-level Arizona Complex League affiliate, working a scoreless inning and striking out two.

Morris has been sidelined since late in spring training with a strained right shoulder, which resulted in him being placed on the Guardians' 60-day injured list since he was added to the 40-man roster over the winter. As a result of the lengthy layoff, Morris will likely build up slowly in the lower levels of the minors before advancing to Triple-A Columbus at the end of his 30-day rehab window. Though Morris is regarding as one of the Guardians' top pitching prospects, the big club isn't expected to have a rotation spot available for him once he's back to full health, so he'll presumably be optioned to Columbus upon being activated from the IL.

Hicks allowed a hit and three walks with one strikeout in 1.2 innings as the opener in Tuesday's 7-6 win over the Dodgers. He did not factor in the decision.

Hicks has seen time as a starter and a middle reliever so far, but Tuesday was his first turn as an opener. While he kept runs off the board, he threw only 18 of 38 pitches for strikes in an erratic outing. Hicks has pitched 6.2 scoreless innings since returning from a forearm strain in early July. He has a 4.08 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 34:24 K:BB across 35.1 innings in 14 outings (eight starts) overall, though his usage is likely to remain flexible.

Strahm (wrist) underwent X-rays that came back negative, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

Strahm was hit by a comebacker on his left wrist Tuesday against the Rays, but he isn't dealing with any structural damage following the matchup. It's not yet clear whether he'll be available out of the bullpen for Wednesday's game in Tampa Bay, but he should tentatively be considered day-to-day.

Moran struck out a batter and worked around a hit over 1.1 scoreless innings out of the bullpen in Tuesday's 6-3 loss to the Brewers before he was lifted from the contest with a bruised right calf, Dave Campbell of the Associated Press reports.

The injury is considered a minor concern and doesn't look to be anything that will keep Moran unavailable for more than a day or two. The 25-year-old lefty lowered his season ERA to 1.13 with the scoreless showing Tuesday.

The Brewers selected Sadzeck's contract from Triple-A Nashville on Wednesday.

Sadzeck is back in the majors for the first time since 2019, when he made 20 relief appearances for Seattle. Prior to Wednesday's call-up, the 30-year-old right-hander had spent the entire 2022 campaign with Nashville. Over 28 innings with the affiliate, Sadzeck turned in an 0.96 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 35:12 K:BB. He'll likely see most of his initial opportunities with Milwaukee in lower-leverage spots.

The Twins optioned Winder to Triple-A St. Paul on Wednesday, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.

Winder's demotion comes after he was saddled with his third loss of the season Tuesday against the Brewers, who blasted him for five earned runs on four hits and two walks over five innings. A solid showing versus Milwaukee would have set the stage for Winder to make his second start of the week Sunday against the White Sox, but Chris Archer (hip) now appears likely to be activated from the 15-day injured list to start Minnesota's final game before the All-Star break.

Castano (1-3) took the loss Tuesday as the Marlins fell 3-2 to the Pirates, giving up three runs on five hits over five innings. He struck out three without walking a batter.

It wasn't a bad outing for the southpaw, but Miami's offense couldn't get much going even though Pittsburgh was stuck using a bullpen day. Castano did serve up a homer for the fifth straight start however, a stretch in which he has a 5.55 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 15:7 K:BB through 24.1 innings.

Bednar gave up a hit and struck out one in a scoreless ninth inning Tuesday to record his 16th save of the season in a 3-2 win over the Marlins.

The 27-year-old closer has looked a little vulnerable lately, giving up runs in four of his last 10 appearances with a 6.97 ERA, 1.65 WHIP and 14:5 K:BB through 10.1 innings over that stretch, but Bednar didn't falter Tuesday. Barring a deadline trade to a contender, he figures to remain in the ninth-inning job in Pittsburgh down the stretch, even with some occasional lapses.

Pilkington (1-2) took the loss in the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the White Sox, giving up four runs (three earned) on six hits and a walk over five innings. He struck out three.

Two of the hits off Pilkington left the yard, as Jose Abreu homered in the first inning and Josh Harrison in the second. The southpaw was serving as Cleveland's 27th man for the twin bill and will likely be headed back to Triple-A Columbus, as his 4.24 ERA, 1.64 WHIP and 37:21 K:BB through 40.1 innings in the majors don't make a strong case for a regular spot on the Guardians' staff.

Brebbia is scheduled to serve as the Giants' opening pitcher in a bullpen game Wednesday against the Diamondbacks, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.

Brebbia hasn't covered more than two innings or thrown more than 29 pitches in any of his 40 appearances this season, so he's unlikely to make it even once through the order before being pulled from the contest. The Giants haven't indicated that they'll deploy a primary pitcher behind Brebbia, but Sam Long is the most obvious candidate to cover multiple innings out of the bullpen if needed.