MLB Player News

Colome gave up three runs (one earned) on two hits and a walk in Tuesday's loss to the Reds to raise his ERA to 5.40.

Colome began the season as Minnesota's closer, but he was moved to low-leverage roles after he struggled with a 8.31 ERA and three blown saves in April. He has improved since with a 4.00 ERA and 8.0 K/9 since May 1, but walks remain an issue as he has a 4.0 BB/9 over that span. He'll likely remain in middle relief and lower-leverage roles unless he improves significantly for a long stretch. Since he's on a one-year deal, it's also likely he's traded or released at some point in the next month or so with the Twins far out of playoff contention.

Beede (elbow) gave up five runs (one earned) on five hits and three walks while striking out three in three innings in his most recent rehab start Monday at Triple-A Sacramento.

Beede, who is returning from March 2020 Tommy John surgery, has now made 10 rehab appearances for Sacramento. Though he appears to be sufficiently built up for starting duty -- he tossed 83 pitches Monday -- Beede's poor results during the rehab assignment may take him out of consideration for joining the big-league rotation once he's activated from the 60-day injured list. Across 27.1 innings at Triple-A this season, Beede has posted a 7.84 ERA, 1.87 WHIP and 32:25 K:BB.

Zerpa was promoted to Double-A Northwest Arkansas on Tuesday. He allowed four runs on six hits and struck out nine over 4.2 innings in a loss to Arkansas.

The 21-year-old southpaw was dominant at High-A Quad Cities this year with a 2.59 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 53:8 K:BB across 41.2 innings. Zerpa will now work at the Double-A level. He was protected from the Rule 5 draft when his contracted was selected in November. While it's unlikely Zerpa ascends to the majors this year, a strong showing in Double-A could put him on track to make the big leagues sometime next year.

Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczak said Wednesday that he expects Howard (knee) to throw off the slope of a mound by the end of the week, Mike Persak of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Pittsburgh isn't envisioning a long-term stay on the injured list for Howard, who was deactivated Sunday due to right knee tendinitis. Before the injury played a factor in Howard surrendering six runs while recording just two outs in a June 18 outing versus Cleveland, he had posted a 2.45 ERA and 1.05 WHIP across his first 32 appearances out of the Pittsburgh bullpen.

Melancon registered a save Tuesday against the Dodgers despite allowing one run on two hits across one inning,

Melancon entered the game in the ninth inning with a two-run lead and while he allowed a home run against pinch hitter Austin Barnes, he still slammed the door en route to his 22nd save of the campaign. The veteran has gone 22-for-25 in save chances this season and owns an excellent 1.97 ERA across 32 innings (31 appearances).

Moore (back) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list Wednesday.

Moore spent just over a month on the injured list due to lower-back spasms, but he made four rehab appearances for Triple-A Lehigh Valley and built up to 91 pitches in his most recent appearance Friday. The southpaw will likely be available out of the bullpen, but he could also be an option to take on a rotation role if Spencer Howard struggles in the near future.

Ponce de Leon (shoulder) was placed on the 10-day injured list Wednesday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Ponce de Leon left Tuesday's game against the Tigers with right shoulder discomfort, and it appears to be a similar injury to the one that kept him out for approximately three weeks in May. It's not yet clear whether he'll be forced to spend more than the minimum of 10 days on the injured list this time around, but right-hander Seth Elledge was recalled in a corresponding move.

Garcia (3-6) took the loss Tuesday as the Marlins fell 2-1 to the Blue Jays, giving up one run on two hits in the ninth inning. He struck out two.

Entering a 1-1 game at home with a save situation no longer on the table, Garcia couldn't send the affair to extra innings and instead served up back-to-back doubles to Cavan Biggio and Lourdes Gurriel. The Miami closer has been struggling lately, getting tagged with four losses and two blown saves in four chances over his last nine appearances with a 7.36 ERA, 1.64 WHIP and 6:4 K:BB through 7.1 innings. His overall numbers on the season are still solid, but the Marlins could begin looking at other ninth-inning options if Garcia can't right the ship soon.

Mayza (2-1) picked up the win in Tuesday's 2-1 victory over the Marlins, striking out two batters in a perfect eighth inning.

The southpaw entered with the score tied 1-1 and needed only eight pitches (seven strikes) to breeze through Miami's 8-9-1 hitters. Mayza then got rewarded when Toronto pushed across a run in the ninth. The 29-year-old has been the Jays' top lefty in the bullpen while Ryan Borucki (forearm) has been on the shelf, and Mayza's responded to that high-leverage usage with a 1.17 ERA, 0.78 WHIP and 7:1 K:BB through 7.2 innings in June.

Romano gave up a hit and struck out one in a scoreless ninth inning Tuesday to record his fourth save of the season in a 2-1 win over the Marlins.

It was the right-hander's first save in June, but that's through no fault of Romano's. He's reeled off 12 straight appearances without an earned run, and sports a 1.42 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 33:13 K:BB through 25.1 innings on the season.