MLB Player News

Puk (biceps) has yet to resume throwing off a mound, Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle reports. "He's feeling some lingering stuff going on there," manager Bob Melvin said Tuesday.

The A's won't ramp up Puk's throwing program until he is symptom-free, so he should be considered out indefinitely. Given his lengthy list of arm injuries since returning from Tommy John surgery, it seems unlikely that Oakland will ramp Puk up to a true starter's workload this season, even once he is fully healthy.

Thielbar was placed on the COVID-19 injured list Tuesday, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.

He is out for coming into close contact with someone who tested positive for the virus. Thielbar had racked up 15 strikeouts in seven innings but had also allowed three home runs over that span. Luke Farrell's contract was selected in a corresponding move.

Ponce de Leon fired two scoreless innings to close out a win over the Nationals on Monday, allowing no hits or walks but hitting a batter while also recording a strikeout

The right-hander's plunking of Yan Gomes was the only blemish on an otherwise perfect line, as Ponce de Leon impressively fired 16 of 23 pitches for strikes in a much-needed confidence-building performance. The 29-year-old had opened the season in utterly forgettable fashion, giving up 10 earned runs across his first 7.1 innings over three appearances (two starts) prior to Monday's spotless outing.

Vest recorded his second hold in a win over the Dodgers on Monday, recording a strikeout over a scoreless one-third of an inning.

A Rule 5 pick this past December, Vest apparently demonstrated enough upside for the Mariners to retain him on the Opening Day roster despite a rough spring in which he pitched to a 5.91 ERA across 10 appearances. That faith seems to paying dividends early, as the hard-throwing right-hander now boasts an 0.93 ERA and 1.03 WHIP across 9.2 innings over eight appearances.

Graveman notched his second hold in a win over the Dodgers on Monday, firing 1.2 perfect innings during which he recorded two strikeouts.

The right-hander went back into a setup role in the one-run win after successfully converting a pair of save opportunities late last week. Manager Scott Servais appears willing to occasionally interchange the roles of Graveman and offseason acquisition Rafael Montero, who's struggled at times but was successful Monday with his ninth-inning assignment versus the Dodgers.

Padres manager Jayce Tingler confirmed that Lamet (elbow) will be activated from the 10-day injured list to start Wednesday's game against the Brewers, Daniel Guerrero of MLB.com reports.

Lamet had been considered a candidate to make his season debut either Tuesday or Wednesday, but the Padres will opt to give him a full five days of rest after he most recently tossed a 75-pitch simulated game Thursday. The right-hander will be filling the rotation spot previously occupied by Adrian Morejon, who was placed on the injured list earlier this month with a left elbow strain. Coming off a dazzling 2020 campaign in which he posted a 2.09 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and 93 strikeouts in 69 innings, Lamet will provide a boost to an already strong Padres rotation. That said, fantasy managers may want to temper expectations for Lamet to some extent as he returns from the UCL strain that's sidelined him since late September.

Fleming (1-1) picked up the win Monday, giving up two hits and no walks over 5.1 scoreless innings in a 4-1 victory over the Royals. He struck out three.

The southpaw got the hook after only 65 pitches (46 strikes), but he was more than efficient enough to qualify for the win. Fleming's lack of length and strikeouts does make him a somewhat dicey fantasy option, but there's a lot to like about his 0.87 ERA and 0.77 WHIP through 10.1 innings so far this season -- though he was facing softer offenses in the Rangers and Royals. He'll next take the mound at home Sunday in a tougher test against Vladimir Guerrero and the Blue Jays.

Peralta struck out one in a perfect ninth inning Monday to record his second save of the season in a 2-0 win over the Phillies.

After picking up his first career save in the 10th inning a couple weeks ago, Peralta's second came in more conventional fashion, as manager Gabe Kapler turned to the southpaw in a save situation with Jake McGee unavailable while recovering from the COVID-19 vaccine. Peralta hasn't pitched poorly this season by any means, posting a 3.86 ERA and 6:2 K:BB through seven innings with two wins in addition to his surprising saves. However, Kapler's track record when it comes to bullpen usage offers no clues as to whether Peralta is now a trusted part of the Giants' late-inning crew or won't see another save chance the rest of the year.

Rodriguez struck out two over a scoreless eighth inning to earn his first hold in Monday's 6-4 win over the Angels.

Rodriguez entered to start the eighth inning and retired the side in order, including inning-opening strikeouts of Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout. Closer Ian Kennedy dusted off the Halos in the ninth for his fourth save of the season. The left-handed Rodriguez was recently activated off the injured list and has pitched in the eighth inning in both his appearances thus far. The Rangers are getting by with Kennedy as their closer, but Rodriguez is on hand in case the 36-year-old right-hander falters or manager Chris Woodward wants a southpaw in the ninth inning.

Montero walked and hit a batter but was able to successfully close out the game for his third save of the season in a 4-3 win over the Dodgers on Monday.

Montero found himself in some trouble after walking Edwin Rios and then hitting Mookie Betts, but he was able to escape after getting Corey Seager to ground into a 4-6-3 double play to end the game. It was the 30-year-old's first save since April 11, as manager Scott Servais has used both Kendall Graveman and Keynan Middleton in save situations over the last week. Montero remains in danger of losing out on save chances, considering that Graveman has been the most effective pitcher of the trio thus far and could be afforded more opportunities to grab hold of the closer role.