MLB Player News

An MRI on Casparius' right calf came back negative Wednesday, Sonja Chen of MLB.com reports.

Casparius first felt his calf cramping while warming up prior to an appearance in Tuesday's 10-7 loss to the Twins and he was pulled after letting four straight batters reach base. While he doesn't have any structural damage and is expected to avoid the 15-day injured list, Casparius is likely to be unavailable to pitch for a few days.

Flexen surrendered five earned runs on seven hits and one walk while failing to record a strikeout over three innings of relief in Monday's 12-4 loss to the Royals.

Flexen made a four-inning start against the Yankees in his final appearance before the All-Star break July 11, but the Cubs shifted him back to the bullpen to begin the second half. He ended up being one of two bulk relievers the Cubs deployed behind opening pitcher Ryan Brasier on Monday, with Ben Brown giving up seven runs (six earned) in four innings before Flexen entered the contest in the top of the sixth. The Cubs still have a void in the rotation until Jameson Taillon (calf) returns from the injured list, so Flexen and/or Brown could be called upon to start or work in bulk relief the next time a fifth spot in the rotation comes up Sunday against the White Sox.

The Cardinals recalled Granillo from Triple-A Memphis on Wednesday.

He will give manager Oliver Marmol a fresh relief arm after the bullpen was needed for five innings in Tuesday's loss to the Rockies. Granillo allowed one run with a 2:1 K:BB over 6.2 innings covering five appearances during his first stint with the big club.

The Twins recalled Adams from Triple-A St. Paul on Wednesday.

Adams is taking the roster spot vacated by David Festa (shoulder), who was placed on the 15-day injured list. The right-hander could slide into Festa's rotation spot this weekend versus the Nationals if he's not needed in relief before then. Bailey Ober (hip) is likely to return from the IL next week, so Adams could be in line for just one start if he enters the rotation. Adams has struggled in three relief outings with the big club this season, yielding seven runs (six earned) with a 6:1 K:BB over nine innings.

Eder will likely be used in bulk relief behind opening pitcher Brock Burke in Wednesday's game against the Mets, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Other than closer Kenley Jansen, Eder is the Halos' freshest arm in the bullpen, as he hasn't been used since he covered three innings of long relief in Friday's 6-5 win over the Phillies. The Angels treated that game as a bullpen day with reliever Ryan Zeferjahn working the opening frame, and a similar arrangement could unfold Wednesday with Burke unlikely to cover more than an inning or two. Eder thus looks like a good bet to cover multiple frames in relief, but it's unclear if the Angels are seriously considering moving him into the rotation. He's had mixed results through his first seven outings out of the bullpen, compiling a 3.65 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 8:8 K:BB in 12.1 innings.

Gibson struck out one in 1.1 perfect innings Tuesday to record his fourth hold of the season in a win over the Padres.

The Marlins' bullpen has had few set roles this season as manager Clayton McCullough swaps players in and out of high-leverage duty, but Gibson seems to have worked himself into a consistent spot in the late-inning mix as the team's top left-handed reliever. All four of his holds have come in his last 10 appearances, a stretch in which Gibson has posted a 3.60 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 10:3 K:BB over 10 innings.

Hoffman (6-3) took the loss Tuesday against the Yankees, giving up one run on one hit in the ninth inning.

Brought in for the top of the ninth with the score tied 4-4, Hoffman coughed up the lead when Ben Rice turned on a first-pitch fastball and drove it over the fence in right-center field for the game-winning run. Hoffman has served up 10 homers in 43.1 innings this season, leading to a 4.78 ERA despite an impressive 60:11 K:BB and 1.06 WHIP, and as a result it's possible he could get bumped aside as Toronto's closer if the club makes a high-profile bullpen addition at the trade deadline.

The Mets optioned Garza to Triple-A Syracuse on Wednesday, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.

Garza was recalled Tuesday and did not make an appearance during his most recent stint with the big club. He's clearing out to make room on the roster for Jose Butto's (illness) return from the 15-day injured list.

The Mets activated Butto (illness) from the 15-day injured list Wednesday, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.

Butto has been out for all of July due to an unspecified illness but is ready to go after making three scoreless rehab appearances. The right-hander has posted a 2.47 ERA and 39:20 K:BB over 43.2 frames this season out of the Mets bullpen.

The Tigers returned Gipson-Long from his rehab assignment earlier this week after he reported continued neck stiffness plus general fatigue coming out of his most recent start with Triple-A Toledo on Friday, Evan Petzold of The Detroit Free Press reports.

After dazzling in his first rehab start July 13 with five strikeouts over 4.2 scoreless frames, Gipson-Long struggled during his 77-pitch appearance with Toledo on Friday, allowing seven earned runs on nine hits and two walks in 3.2 innings. Despite the Tigers' decision to pull him off the assignment, Gipson-Long hasn't been shut down from throwing, but he won't resume pitching in games for at least another week. Detroit will want Gipson-Long to build up to around 90 pitches once he resumes his rehab assignment before the team considers activating him from the 15-day injured list and potentially inserting him into the rotation.