MLB Player News

Alvarado was recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Sunday.

Alvarado was demoted in late May after posting a 7.62 ERA and 15.4 percent walk rate to start the season, but four scoreless minor-league appearances in which he walked just a single batter was apparently all the Phillies needed to see to bring him back. Cristopher Sanchez was optioned in a corresponding move.

Knehr was optioned to Triple-A El Paso on Sunday.

He tossed 4.2 scoreless innings during mop-up duty Saturday against the Rockies, and he will head back down until the Padres have need of another fresh bullpen arm. Kyle Tyler takes Knehr's spot in the bullpen.

Thompson will make his first career start Monday against the Pirates, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

Thompson made his big-league debut in early June against the Cubs, allowing one run across four innings of relief work. The extent to which Monday's opportunity is an audition for a permanent rotation role isn't entirely clear, as the Cardinals needed an extra starter ahead of Tuesday's doubleheader and will be getting Jack Flaherty back from his shoulder injury fairly soon. That said, the 2019 first-round pick comes with a fair amount of prospect pedigree and struck out 30.1 percent of the batters he faced across 10 starts for Triple-A Memphis this season, so it's very possible he makes his case to remain in the rotation.

Sewald (3-1) secured the win in a victory over the Red Sox on Saturday, allowing an earned run on a solo home run and also recording two strikeouts.

Sewald looked like he'd instead be on the hook for his second loss when he yielded a go-ahead solo home run to Bobby Dalbec in the top of the ninth inning, but he was bailed out via clutch Abraham Toro and Dylan Moore hits in the home half of the frame that secured the comeback win. The solo blast was the first hit Sewald had given up in his last four trips to the mound, and he's still carrying a 2.42 ERA and 0.81 WHIP across 22 appearances.

Doval (2-2) was credited with the win Saturday versus the Dodgers. He walked one and struck out two in two-thirds of a scoreless inning.

Sam Long started the game with three scoreless innings before turning the ball over to the bullpen. While Tyler Rogers was effective in two scoreless innings, Doval was rewarded with the win for escaping a two-on, one-out jam in the eighth inning before Jose Alvarez converted the save. Through 25.1 innings, Doval owns a 2.84 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 29:10 K:BB, eight saves and a hold. He remains the Giants' top high-leverage arm, though games like Saturday's serve as a reminder that manager Gabe Kapler doesn't adhere strictly to defined roles for his relievers.

McGowan had Tommy John surgery in April and is on the 60-day injured list at High-A Jersey Shore, Kyle Glaser of Baseball America reports.

Given the timing of the surgery, McGowan will miss the rest of this season and at least a month or two of the 2023 season.

Garcia is on the 7-day injured list at High-A Jersey Shore with a hamate injury, Kyle Glaser of Baseball America reports.

He hasn't played since April 19 and had 13 strikeouts in his first nine games of the season. It doesn't sound like Garcia's season is in jeopardy, but he probably sustained a fracture given how much time he has missed.

Wittgren (1-0) allowed a hit in a scoreless inning to earn the win Saturday over the Reds.

Wittgren kept the deficit to one run in the top of the ninth inning, and Tommy Edman walked it off for the Cardinals in the bottom of the frame. Despite allowing nine runs, 14 hits and five walks in his last nine innings, Wittgren has picked up a save and a win in his two scoreless outings in that span without taking any losses or blown saves. The right-hander has a 5.79 ERA, 1.67 WHIP and 11:10 K:BB in 23.1 innings overall, so he'll likely be limited to middle relief -- he hasn't picked up a hold since May 2.

Kelly (hamstring) threw over 20 pitches in a simulated game Sunday and could be activated from the 15-day injured list during the upcoming week, James Fegan of The Athletic reports.

He will on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Charlotte to begin the week, but it could be a very brief stint since Kelly says he's ready to go. Once activated, Kelly will operate in a mid-leverage role.

Uceta was optioned to Triple-A Reno on Sunday.

Uceta's latest stint with the big-league roster lasted just four days. His lone appearance saw him cruise through 4.1 innings of scoreless relief work Friday against the Phillies, striking out two while allowing two hits. He'll make way for Luke Weaver to return from an elbow injury.