MLB Player News

Suarez (shoulder) is expected to face hitters in live batting practice before the end of July, MLB.com reports.

Suarez was cleared to throw off a mound earlier this month and tossed his most recent bullpen session Saturday. The right-hander is recovering from a subscapularis strain. Suarez made 24 starts for the Orioles in 2024, but he made his lone appearance this season out of the bullpen before he landed on the shelf. He's likely in line for a relief role once he returns from the 60-day injured list, but not needing to be stretched out for a starting job should shorten his rehab program.

Perkins collected a hold in Saturday's 8-2 win over the Guardians, striking out three while allowing no hits and one walk over three scoreless innings.

Perkins faced the minimum nine batters during his 31-pitch outing, and he atoned for the walk he issued to Carlos Santana to begin the bottom of the seventh by generating an inning-ending double play. Since being called up from Triple-A Las Vegas on June 22, the 25-year-old righty has looked sharp as a long man out of the bullpen, netting a pair of three-inning saves while accruing a 2.84 ERA, 0.87 WHIP and 14:4 K:BB in 12.2 frames. Manager Mark Kotsay has indicated Perkins will make starts for the Athletics before the end of the season, but his usage out of the bullpen Saturday suggests that he won't immediately fill the vacant spot in the club's rotation Tuesday in Texas.

Hurter tossed two scoreless innings of relief in Saturday's 4-1 loss to the Rangers. He walked one and struck out three.

Hurter has been struggling recently, as he had a 10.13 ERA and 3.38 WHIP across his last 10 appearances prior to Saturday. The lefty still has a strong 3.13 ERA overall, which reflects his effective performance earlier in the season. Hurter was a bullpen weapon for the Tigers last year, posting a 2.58 ERA and 0.88 WHIP in 45.1 regular-season innings, so he should be able to put his recent slump behind him and string together a few more good outings.

Santillan struck out all three batters he faced over a scoreless seventh inning to earn a hold in Saturday's 5-2 win over the Mets.

The Reds' bullpen protected a lead over the final four innings, including Santillan's quick dismissal of Juan Soto, Pete Alonso and Mark Vientos. The hold was Santillan's 20th in 2025, by far the most he's recorded in five seasons in the majors. Since the beginning of June, the right-handed reliever has a 2.55 ERA and 1.19 WHIP with 21 strikeouts and eight walks over 17.2 innings.

Bazardo (4-0) notched the win and threw a clean 11th inning in Saturday's 7-6 extra-innings win over the Astros. He struck out two.

While Bazardo remains well out of contention for save opportunities behind All-Star closer Andres Munoz, the former has been very effective overall when summoned from Seattle's bullpen. Bazardo owned a 6.35 ERA through April 17, but he's produced an excellent 1.83 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 38:17 K:BB over his last 39.1 innings (34 outings).

Thornton threw a clean seventh inning in Saturday's 7-6 extra-innings win over the Astros. He struck out one.

Although he has just five holds this season, Thornton is beginning to settle in following a dreadful start to the year that saw him hold a 7.71 ERA as of June 10. The right-hander has worked multiple innings for the Mariners in five of his last 11 outings, during which sports a 1.06 ERA, 0.82 WHIP and 14:7 K:BB covering 17 frames.

Soto covered a scoreless two-thirds of an inning with no strikeouts in Saturday's 4-3 loss to the Rays.

With Baltimore's bullpen essentially at full strength, the Orioles have mostly deployed Soto as a left-handed specialist. Soto has now worked less than one inning in 21 of his 43 outings this season, and he's recorded more than two outs on just one occasion through his first seven appearances in July. Soto has a 3.67 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 40:15 K:BB to go with 18 holds across 34.1 innings, which at least offers him some appeal in fantasy leagues that count holds.

Fairbanks notched a save against the Orioles on Saturday, allowing one run on two hits while striking out one batter over one inning.

Fairbanks had a two-run lead to work with when he entered in the ninth frame, but things got interesting when Cedric Mullins hit an RBI single and then stole second base with two outs. Another base hit out of the infield would have likely tied the score, but Fairbanks got Jackson Holliday to fly out to end the threat. Fairbanks was thus able record his first save in July (his previous save had come June 26 against Kansas City). The veteran right-hander has 16 of Tampa Bay's 22 saves on the campaign, and he remains pretty secure in his role despite the recent three-week drought.

Banks threw a clean eighth inning in Saturday's 9-5 win over the Angels. He struck out one.

Banks logged his third hold of the season, and it was a nice recovery after he yielded three runs over his prior two outings. With fellow southpaw Matt Strahm having moved into the closing mix for the Phillies, Banks should see a larger share of high-leverage work until Jose Alvarado (suspension) returns. Banks has a reliable 3.56 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 43:6 K:BB over 43 innings this year.

Megill pitched a perfect inning to earn the save in Saturday's 8-7 win over the Dodgers.

Megill pitched a perfect inning for his fifth appearance in a row, four of which have come in two separate series versus the Dodgers. He's earned saves on back-to-day days, so he might not be available for a save chance if one arises Sunday. Megill is now at a 2.27 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 43:15 K:BB with 23 saves in 26 chances through 35.2 innings this season.