MLB Player News

Oller recorded his first hold in a loss to the Yankees on Monday, allowing two runs (one earned) on three walks over 1.1 innings.

After working around a pair of walks to get out of the bottom of the sixth unblemished, Oller put on another couple of hitters on before exiting with one out in the seventh. The right-hander was eventually charged with two runs when those runners came around to score on A.J. Puk's watch, meaning Oller has now allowed at least one earned run in seven of his eight appearances.

Puk (1-1) was charged with the loss against the Yankees on Monday, allowing three runs (two earned) on one hit and a hit batsman over one-third of an inning.

Puk's rollercoaster of an appearance began when he plunked the first batter he faced, Anthony Rizzo, to load the bases. Giancarlo Stanton subsequently reached on a catcher's interference to plate DJ LeMahieu and Puk then conceded a two-run double to Josh Donaldson before exiting. The rocky outing was an extension of a rough patch for the left-hander, who's now given up at least one run in three of the last four appearances to raise his ERA and WHIP from 1.65 and 0.99 to 2.73 and 1.11, respectively.

Jansen will still be able to throw bullpen sessions even after landing on the 15-day injured list Tuesday due to an irregular heartbeat, leaving Atlanta optimistic that he'll be ready to return around the minimum amount of time, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Jansen was first diagnosed with the irregular heartbeat in 2011 and missed time that season, as well as during the 2012 and 2018 campaigns after experiencing recurrences of the cardiac issue. When he was most recently sidelined with an irregular heartbeat in 2018, Jansen missed the minimum amount of time when MLB had a 10-day IL in place, and since he'll be able to keep throwing while he's on the shelf, Atlanta is hopeful the 34-year-old has a similarly brief absence this time around. While Jansen is out, Atlanta will likely turn to either A.J. Minter or Will Smith for save situations.

Hendriks (forearm) threw a bullpen session Monday prior to Chicago's series opener in Anaheim, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

Manager Tony La Russa would not commit to Hendriks needing a Triple-A rehab assignment before returning, but it sounds like he's on track for activation sometime in early July. Meanwhile, Kendall Graveman is likely to continue to filling in for saves in Hendriks' absence.

Minter and Will Smith are viewed as the top candidates to pick up saves for Atlanta after closer Kenley Jansen was placed on the 15-day injured list Tuesday due to an irregular heartbeat, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

Jansen has previously missed action during the 2011, 2012 and 2018 seasons on account of cardiac issues, so he'll likely need medical clearance from doctors before making his return from the IL following his latest recurrence of an irregular heartbeat. According to Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Jansen will still able to throw bullpen sessions while he's on the shelf, leaving Atlanta optimistic that he'll be sidelined for only a brief period of time. However long Jansen is out, Minter could be thrust into the closer mix, even though Smith has more experience in the role and is coming off a 37-save campaign in 2021. However, with Smith's effectiveness having waned as he's moved into more of a setup role in 2022, manager Brian Snitker could be inclined to give a look in the ninth inning to Minter, who has arguably been Atlanta's best reliever this season. The lefty sports an outstanding 1.69 ERA and supports it with strong peripherals (31.7 K-BB%, 1.92 SIERA). He's also held his own against right-handed hitters, who have slashed a collective .238/.279/.338 against him while striking out 30 times in 87 plate appearances (34.4 percent).

Smith and A.J. Minter are viewed as the top candidates to pick up saves for Atlanta after closer Kenley Jansen was placed on the 15-day injured list Tuesday due to an irregular heartbeat, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

Jansen previously missed action during the 2011, 2012 and 2018 season on account of cardiac issues, so he'll likely need medical clearance from doctors before making his return from the IL following his latest recurrence of an irregular heartbeat. According to Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Jansen will still able to throw bullpen sessions while he's on the shelf, leaving Atlanta optimistic that he'll be sidelined for only a brief period of time. Before Atlanta signed Jansen this winter, Smith was coming off a 37-save campaign, but his effectiveness has waned while he's moved into a setup role in 2022. Though he's still managed to pick up two saves this season, Smith has seen a sharp downturn in his strikeout rate and an uptick in his walk rate, with his 11.7 K-BB% representing his worse mark since 2012. That downturn in performance may not make Smith the clear top candidate for the closer's role, despite his ample experience in the ninth inning. Minter, meanwhile, has arguably been Atlanta's best reliever this season, as he sports an outstanding 1.69 ERA and supports it with strong peripherals (31.7 K-BB%, 1.92 SIERA).

Akin earned a save against the Mariners on Monday, pitching 3.1 scoreless innings during which he allowed one hit and two walks while striking out three.

Akin entered the game in the sixth inning with Baltimore up by seven runs. He walked the first batter he faced before surrendering a double to Eugenio Suarez that allowed an inherited runner to score. Akin was much better after that, retiring 10 of the final 11 hitters he faced to notch his first career save. All 19 of Akin's outings this season have been at least two innings in length, and he has put together an impressive 2.35 ERA and 0.83 WHIP along with a 39:12 K:BB over 46 frames.

Atlanta transferred Jackson's (lat) rehab assignment Tuesday from the rookie-level Florida Complex League to Triple-A Gwinnett.

Jackson heads to Gwinnett after he worked two innings between two appearances in the FCL on Thursday and Monday, with the right-hander giving up two runs (one earned) on one hit and no walks while striking out one. Since he's been on the shelf all season with a right lat strain, Jackson will likely make multiple appearances at Gwinnett before Atlanta considers activating him from the 60-day injured list.

Atlanta placed Jansen on the 15-day injured list Tuesday due to an irregular heartbeat.

The cardiac concerns aren't anything new for Jansen, who was first diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat in 2011. He ended up missing time that season and was also sidelined for periods of time in 2012 and 2018 after suffering recurrences of the irregular heartbeat. After undergoing a heart ablation procedure following the 2018 campaign, Jansen hadn't experienced any setbacks in three-plus years since before heading to the IL on Tuesday. Given Jansen's medical history, he'll likely need to pass a battery of tests from doctors before he's cleared to pitch again for Atlanta, leaving him without a clear timeline to return from the IL. Will Smith, who has scooped up two saves across 32 appearances this season, and A.J. Minter, who has been Atlanta's top reliever in 2022, are presumably first in line to close for Atlanta while Jansen is sidelined, according to David O'Brien of The Athletic.

The Twins recalled Winder from Triple-A St. Paul and designated him as their 27th man for Tuesday's doubleheader in Cleveland. He'll start the second game of the twin bill.

Minnesota is expected to return Winder to Triple-A following the spot start, his fourth of the season with the big club. Winder has previously made seven appearances with the Twins, supplying a 3.68 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 23:9 K:BB across 29.1 innings.