MLB Player News

Zeferjahn will start Friday's game against the Phillies, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.

Zeferjahn will serve as an opener Friday, marking his first big-league start. The 27-year-old owns a 5.66 ERA and a 41:22 K:BB across 35 innings in 2025. He's completed two innings in just one of his 40 appearances.

Gage is expected to have his contract selected by the Giants on Friday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

Gage inked a minor-league contract with San Francisco on July 3 after being designated for assignment by the Tigers. The 32-year-old pitched six scoreless innings for Detroit this season and hasn't allowed a run in 5.1 innings with Triple-A Sacramento.

The Royals recalled Hoffmann from Triple-A Omaha on Friday.

Hoffmann made his MLB debut earlier this season, allowing two runs in two innings of relief May 30. He'll take the spot of Michael Lorenzen (oblique) on the 26-man roster, although Hoffmann will work out of the bullpen rather than plugging the hole in the rotation. Hoffmann boasts a 2.31 ERA and 55:10 K:BB in 39 innings with Omaha.

Hamilton will open Friday's game against Atlanta, Max Goodman of NJ.com reports.

The Yankees were initially expected to start Max Fried (blister) on Friday, but the team has opted to give Fried a few extra days of rest. Instead, Hamilton will open up what's expected to be a bullpen game. The 30-year-old reliever has a 3.47 ERA through 36.1 innings this season, and he hasn't pitched more than two innings in an outing this season. Coming out of the All-Star break, New York could look to get multiple innings out of Hamilton's fresh arm Friday.

Atlanta added Dunning to the major-league roster Friday.

The right-hander was assigned to Triple-A Round Rock last week before being traded by the Rangers on Thursday, and he'll join the big-league squad for his new team to kick off the second half. Dunning has a 3.38 ERA and 10:5 K:BB over 10.2 frames in the majors this season and is expected to serve as a long reliever for Atlanta.

Dunning is expected to work out of the bullpen for Atlanta, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

While the team is in need of starting pitching depth, Dunning will instead fill a long-relief role once he joins the big-league roster, providing length behind what will likely be a parade of unproven or unreliable arms in the rotation during the second half of the season. The 30-year-old right-hander has made five MLB appearances for the Rangers in 2025, all in relief, and posted a 3.38 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 10:5 K:BB over 10.2 innings.

Wentz is listed as Atlanta's probable starting pitcher for Saturday's game against the Yankees at Truist Park.

After Atlanta claimed him off waivers from the Twins on July 11, Wentz was put to work one day later in long relief. He delivered an excellent outing, tossing three no-hit innings while striking out six and issuing one walk. The veteran southpaw will open the second half as a member of the rotation, though he isn't stretched out enough to handle a typical starter's workload and could be piggybacked by Dane Dunning. Should Wentz's stay in the rotation prove to be temporary, Atlanta has prospects Nathan Wiles and Hurston Waldrep on hand at Triple-A Gwinnett as potential candidates to replace him.

Richards had a locker set up for him in Arizona's clubhouse Thursday, Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports reports.

It looks like the Diamondbacks will make a few roster moves Friday, including the addition of Richards. The club inked him to a minor-league deal last month after he opted out of a contract with the Royals, who had designated him for assignment. The 32-year-old right-hander will slot into the bullpen, which has been hit hard by injuries.

Thompson (shoulder) has begun a throwing program, Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports reports.

Thompson landed on the 15-day injured list with a scapular strain earlier this month. No timeline has been established for the return of the side-arming righty, who is needed in an Arizona bullpen that's been hammered by injuries.

Atlanta designated Chavez for assignment Thursday, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

Chavez has pitched primarily with Triple-A Gwinnett this season, though he was called up to the majors in early July He's made four appearances in the big leagues this year and has given up eight earned runs with an 8:5 K:BB over eight innings. The 41-year-old will now go through the waiver process and will be able to elect free agency if he goes unclaimed.