MLB Player News

Merryweather (oblique) rejoined the Blue Jays on Monday ahead of their four-game road series versus the Yankees, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.

Though he wasn't activated from the 60-day injured list prior to Toronto's 8-0 win Monday, Merryweather looks on pace to be added to the roster at some point later in the week. The hard-throwing reliever recently wrapped up a four-appearance rehab assignment at Triple-A Buffalo, with Merryweather allowing three earned runs on five hits and one walk while striking out five over three innings. Prior to landing on the IL in mid-April, Merryweather had been operating as the Blue Jays' preferred option for saves, but he'll likely be eased back into the fold in a low-leverage relief role once he's reinstated.

Finnegan (5-6) picked up the win Monday, giving up one hit and one walk over two scoreless innings in a 4-3 victory over the Mets. He struck out two.

With the Nats down 3-2, Finnegan entered in the eighth inning and kept his team in the game until Washington rallied in the ninth off Edwin Diaz. Finnegan worked both ends of Saturday's doubleheader as well and has tossed four innings over the last three days, so look for him to be unavailable Tuesday if the Nats manage to create a save situation.

Diaz (5-5) took the loss Monday while blowing his sixth save of the season, giving up two runs on two hits and two walks in only one-third of an inning as the Mets fell 4-3 to the Nationals.

Called upon to protect a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the ninth inning, Diaz walked the first batter he faced on four pitches. After getting Juan Soto to fly out, the right-hander issued another free pass and then served up singles to the unheralded Andrew Stevenson and Carter Kieboom, the latter being a walkoff. Diaz has hit another rough patch at the worst possible time for a Mets squad fighting to get back into the playoff picture, blowing his last two save chances and giving up four runs with a 2:3 K:BB over 1.1 innings in that time.

Lowther didn't factor into the decision in Monday's 3-2 loss to the Royals, allowing one run on three hits and two walks over six innings. He struck out two.

Called up Monday to make his second career MLB start, Lowther gave the O's a quality start on 92 pitches (56 strikes) and exited in line for his first career win, but the Baltimore bullpen couldn't make a 2-1 lead hold up. It's not clear whether the 25-year-old southpaw will remain in the rotation, but this performance was more than good enough to earn him a longer look.

Lopez is scheduled to start Thursday's game against the Athletics in Oakland, LaMond Pope of the Chicago Tribune reports.

With Lucas Giolito (hamstring) and Lance Lynn (knee) on the injured list and Carlos Rodon's (general soreness) next start in flux, Lopez will draw a second straight turn through the rotation in what will be his sixth start of the season with Chicago. Over his previous five starts, Lopez has submitted a 3.32 ERA while striking out 16 and holding opposing batters to a .200 average in 19 innings.

Astros manager Dusty Baker said Monday that Montero (lat) has resumed throwing off flat ground, Adam Spolane of Sports Radio 610 Houston reports.

After being acquired from the Mariners ahead of the July 30 trade deadline, Montero made just four relief appearances for Houston before being shut down with a right lat strain. Fortunately for Montero, the injury doesn't appear to be a season-ending one, but he'll likely need at least two weeks to advance through a throwing program before he's deemed ready to return from the 10-day injured list.

Jimenez (illness) landed on the COVID-19 injured list Monday.

The move was an expected one after it was revealed that Jimenez had tested positive for the virus Monday. He'll now be out for at least 10 days.

Barlow gave up a hit and struck out one in a scoreless ninth inning Monday to record his 11th save of the season in a 3-2 win over the Orioles.

He's emerged as the top option in the Royals' bullpen. In 22.2 innings since the All-Star break, Barlow has a 1.59 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 19:4 K:BB with seven saves, three wins and three holds, and no other right-hander has picked up a save for Kansas City since Greg Holland (shoulder) on July 23.

Carlton was optioned to Triple-A Toledo after Monday's loss to the Pirates.

Carlton was promoted over the weekend and made his major-league debut Saturday, retiring the only batter he faced. The 25-year-old will head back to Toledo, where he has a 3.12 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 48:10 K:BB across 49 innings this season.

Wells will start Tuesday's game against the Royals, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Wells hasn't made an appearance since he was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk on Wednesday, but he'll make his fourth big-league start of the season Tuesday. The southpaw has recorded a 7.71 ERA and 1.93 WHIP in 18.2 innings across six appearances (three starts) for the Orioles this season.