MLB Player News

Mayers appears to be transitioning into a starter with Triple-A Salt Lake, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.

Mayers has started each of the three games in which he has pitched since returning to the minors after being designated for assignment by the Angels on May 26. The right-hander has struggled in that role so far, allowing nine runs and posting an 8:8 K:BB over just 7.2 innings through the three starts. Mayers worked out of the bullpen in each of his 15 games with the big-league club before his demotion, compiling a 5.40 ERA and 1.44 WHIP over 16.2 innings.

The Padres recalled Kerr from Triple-A El Paso on Sunday.

Kerr is getting his fourth call-up of the season with the Padres sending Steven Wilson (hamstring) to the 15-day injured list. Over his five appearances with San Diego this season, Kerr has given up two earned runs on one hit and one walk while striking out two across 3.2 innings.

The Padres placed Wilson on the 15-day injured list Sunday with left hamstring tendinitis.

San Diego brought up lefty Ray Kerr from Triple-A El Paso to replace Wilson in the bullpen. Before apparently picking up the injury during his one-out appearance in Saturday's 4-2 loss to the Phillies, Wilson had compiled four wins, one save, five holds and a 3.62 ERA across 27.1 innings in relief this season.

Wantz is listed as the Angels' starting pitcher for Sunday's game against the Mariners and is expected to be deployed as an opener, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Though he'll be credited with his first career big-league start, Wantz is likely to be pulled before Seattle's lineup turns over and is unlikely to factor into any decision. Instead, Jose Suarez, who was recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake earlier Sunday, is the better bet to cover most of the innings for the Angels in the series finale. Wantz hasn't worked more than 2.1 innings in any of his 11 appearances with the Angels this season.

Murfee secured his second hold in Saturday's win over the Angels, getting one out on a four-pitch strikeout to close out the sixth inning.

The Angels' Taylor Ward seemingly never knew what hit him, as Murfee came back from a first-pitch ball to retire the outfielder on three straight pitches, the final one a slider he induced a swinging third strike on. Except for a rare hiccup against the Twins on June 15 when he allowed three earned runs over two-thirds of an inning, Murfee has been an ultra-reliable asset for manager Scott Servais -- he lowered his ERA and WHIP to 1.63 and 0.80, respectively, with his fourth straight scoreless effort Saturday.

The Twins recalled Moran from Triple-A St. Paul on Sunday.

Minnesota will add the right-hander to the bullpen as a replacement for Joe Smith, who was placed on the 15-day injured list with upper trapezius tightness. Though Smith has been one of the Twins' top setup men this season, Moran is likely to be deployed in lower-leverage spots while he's up with the big club.

Gallegos allowed two runs on three hits with one strikeout in 1.1 innings Saturday versus the Cubs. He took a blown save.

Gallegos' misstep was a game-tying, two-run home run to Rafael Ortega in the eighth inning. Manager Oli Marmol then replaced Gallegos with Ryan Helsley on the mound, and it was the latter reliever who got the final five outs of the game and the win as the Cardinals pulled ahead in their half of the eighth. Saturday's outing marked the end of a six-inning scoreless streak for Gallegos. He has two wins, one save, two holds and a blown save in seven outings in June, whereas Helsley has a win, two saves, a hold and a blown save. That doesn't lend much clarity to the Cardinals' two-man closer committee, but Helsley has allowed only two runs (one earned) this season while Gallegos has been noticeably easier to score off of with a 3.21 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 34:8 K:BB across 28 innings.

The Rangers recalled Sborz from Triple-A Round Rock on Sunday.

Sborz joins the Rangers' 26-man active roster as a replacement in the bullpen for Matt Bush, who was placed on the 15-day injured list with right forearm soreness. While he's up with the big club, Sborz projects to work in a low-leverage middle-relief role.

The Rangers reinstated Otto (illness) from the COVID-19-related injured list Sunday. He's listed as the Rangers' starting pitcher for the team's series finale with the Nationals in Arlington.

Otto will make his return to the Texas rotation after he covered 2.2 innings five days ago in his lone rehab start with Triple-A Round Rock, giving up four runs (three earned) on six hits and two walks while striking out three. Prior to testing positive for COVID-19 on June 10 and landing on the IL, Otto had compiled a 4.24 ERA and 1.36 WHIP across eight starts with Texas.

Staumont was placed on the 15-day injured list Sunday, retroactive to June 23, with a neck strain.

Staumont hasn't pitched since giving up two runs over one-third of an inning Tuesday against the Angels, and he's apparently dealing with a neck injury. The 28-year-old will be eligible to be activated July 8, though it's unclear if he's expected to be healthy by that time.