MLB Player News

Speier is listed as the Royals' starting pitcher for Wednesday's game in Texas and is expected to serve as the opener in a bullpen day, Lynn Worthy of The Kansas City Star reports.

Speier has yet to allow a run over seven relief appearances this season but hasn't recorded more than six outs in any of those outings. The Royals are thus unlikely to keep him in the game more than one time through the order before turning the game over to their relief corps. Former starting pitcher Kris Bubic will be available out of the bullpen and hasn't been used since May 4, so he could be a logical candidate to pick up the bulk of the innings behind Speier.

Suarez earned a hold Tuesday against the Cubs, allowing one hit and striking out two in one scoreless inning.

Suarez came on in the seventh inning with the Padres up by two runs. He gave up a two-out single but otherwise had no problem getting through the frame. The right-hander entered the season as the Padres' projected closer before the team traded for Taylor Rogers. Suarez had a rough first outing, giving up three earned runs without notching an out, but since then he has posted a 1.80 ERA, 0.73 WHIP and 17:4 K:BB across 15 innings.

The Mariners acquired Berroa from the Giants on Wednesday in exchange for utility man Donovan Walton.

The 22-year-old Berroa has made four starts at High-A Eugene this season, posting an 0.68 ERA and 16:6 K:BB across 13.1 innings. He'll likely report to the Mariners' High-A affiliate in Everett.

The Cubs recalled Leiter from Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday.

Leiter, who posted a 7.84 ERA and 1.74 WHIP in 10.1 innings over four appearances (three starts) during a two-week stint with the big club in April, will be rejoining the Cubs as a reliever ahead of Wednesday's series finale in San Diego. Keegan Thompson is scheduled to start Wednesday, but since he hasn't worked more than four innings in any of his appearances this season and is pitching on three days' rest, Leiter could be needed to cover multiple innings behind him.

Lopez (back) will play catch from 90 feet Wednesday, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Lopez exited Monday's game against the Guardians with lower-back tightness, but his pain is subsiding ahead of Wednesday's throwing session. Assuming he feels good after playing catch, the White Sox hope Lopez will be able to resume a normal routine in 2-to-3 days.

Peralta (1-0) was credited with the win Tuesday against Toronto. He allowed one walk and struck out one batter in a scoreless inning of relief.

Peralta came on in the top of the ninth inning with New York trailing by two runs. He walked George Springer with two outs but retired the other three batters he faced to keep the deficit at two. Peralta was then credited with the win after Aaron Judge belted a walkoff three-run homer in the bottom of the frame. The left-handed reliever has been solid this season, posting a 1.64 ERA and 1.18 WHIP over 11 innings. His 6:5 K:BB isn't ideal, however.

Thompson will draw the start Wednesday against the Padres, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Chicago has elected to give Thompson his first start of the season Wednesday, allowing Drew Smyly to get two more days of rest before he's expected to go Friday against the Diamondbacks. The 27-year-old has appeared in seven games this year out of the bullpen, compiling an impressive 1.17 ERA and 0.96 WHIP with 21 strikeouts in 23 innings. Thompson hasn't worked more than four innings in any appearance this season and is pitching on three days' rest, so even if he fares well in Wednesday's start, he may struggle to work deep enough into the contest to qualify for a win.

Pirates manager Derek Shelton said Peters will serve as an opener in Wednesday's game against the Dodgers, Jake Crouse of MLB.com reports.

Pittsburgh is likely to treat the series finale with the Dodgers as a bullpen day, with Peters being the first pitcher used in his third outing of the season as an opener. He faltered during his most recent relief appearance Sunday against the Reds, serving up four runs while failing to record an out. However, he turned in his best outing of the season the last time he was deployed as an opener May 4, when he struck out four over 3.1 scoreless innings against Detroit.

Boxberger tossed a scoreless seventh inning and picked up his eighth hold of the season in Tuesday's victory over the Reds.

Boxberger needed just nine pitches to get through his inning of relief and put the Brewers in position to come away with the win. Both runs he has allowed this season came in the same outing, and he owns a sparkling 1.59 ERA, 0.71 WHIP and 10:1 K:BB over 11.1 innings across 13 appearances.

Suter struck out a batter and recorded his first hold of the season in Tuesday's victory over the Reds.

Suter faced only one batter in Tuesday's contest, but he struck him out and helped the Brewers maintain a lead they would not relinquish. Suter's ratios are a bit bloated by the four earned runs he gave up over his first four appearances of the season, but he has gotten back on track, posting a 1.35 ERA and 0.90 WHIP in 6.2 innings over his last six trips to the mound.