MLB Player News

Estrada (shoulder) struck out three over three perfect innings of relief Sunday in a rehab appearance with Triple-A Buffalo.

After working as a starter in his first two rehab appearances between Single-A Dunedin and Buffalo, Estrada shifted to the bullpen for his third minor-league outing. While piggybacking starter Grant Rogers, Estrada was sharp Sunday, needing just 29 pitches to record nine outs. Estrada is eligible to return from the 60-day injured list at any point, but the Blue Jays may continue to keep him on assignment for another appearance or two if they intend to get him stretched out further.

The Blue Jays optioned Macko to Triple-A Buffalo on Tuesday, reports Keegan Matheson of MLB.com.

Macko will make his way back down to Triple-A after being called up May 17. With the big-league club, the 25-year-old posted a 1.50 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 12:2 K:BB in 12 innings. Macko will be demoted to Buffalo in order to make room for Dylan Cease (hamstring) on the active roster.

The Rangers activated Winn from the 15-day injured list Tuesday.

Winn served the minimum 15 days on the IL after being shut down with right arm fatigue May 24. The 26-year-old's rehab assignment with Triple-A Round Rock went according to plan, clearing him to return to the big-league club. Luis Curvelo was optioned to Round Rock on Sunday to make room for Winn on the active roster.

The Red Sox reinstated Whitlock (knee) from the 15-day injured list Tuesday, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.

The right-hander has been dealing with knee inflammation for the past couple weeks but is ready to rejoin the big-league roster after a short stay on the shelf. Whitlock has been filling a high-leverage relief role for Boston this season and should reclaim that role now that he's healthy. He's posted a 3.20 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 25:6 K:BB across 19.2 innings with a 3-1 record and 10 holds in 20 appearances.

Backhus (elbow) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Tuesday.

Backus has been sidelined since late April with left elbow inflammation but is finally ready to test things out in a game setting. Given how much time he's missed, the lefty reliever is likely to require a handful of rehab outings before rejoining the Phillies' bullpen.

Watson is on the 7-day injured list at Double-A Binghamton with an oblique injury, Matt Eddy of Baseball America reports.

Watson left his May 5 start with the injury after recording two outs (zero strikeouts) and surrendering four earned runs. The 23-year-old righty has an 8.55 ERA, 1.90 WHIP and 19:12 K:BB in 20 innings across six starts this season.

The Rockies sent Herget (shoulder) to Triple-A Albuquerque on Tuesday to begin a rehab assignment.

Herget has been out for nearly a month with a right shoulder impingement, but he's been cleared to return to game action. The side-armer will likely require at least a couple rehab appearances before rejoining the Rockies' bullpen. Herger has posted a 5.06 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 17:4 K:BB in 16 innings this season.

Vodnik (elbow) was sent to Triple-A Albuquerque on Tuesday to begin a rehab assignment.

Vodnik has recovered well after missing the past three weeks of action with right ulnar nerve inflammation. Since his absence has been relatively brief, the reliever should not require too many rehab appearances. Vodnik still leads the Rockies with four saves this season, but he allowed 14 runs over his last nine innings before going on the 15-day injured list, so the club will likely ease him back into high-leverage spots when he's ready to return.

Gusto is slated to start Wednesday's game against the Diamondbacks in Miami.

After being recalled Triple-A Jacksonville last Tuesday, Gusto pitched two innings out of the bullpen later that day in a 7-3 win over the Nationals. The Marlins then tabbed Gusto to fill the open spot in their rotation Friday, but because he was pitching on just two days' rest, he served as more of an opener and made just a two-inning start in a 6-0 loss to the Rays. Tyler Phillips piggybacked Gusto in long relief in that game, but the Marlins could look to separate the two pitchers during this upcoming turn through the rotation. Gusto had been working as a more traditional starter at Triple-A prior to his call-up, turning in a 1.20 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 21:3 K:BB in 15 innings over his final three appearances for Jacksonville.

Brewers manager Pat Murphy said after Monday's extra-innings win over the Athletics that Megill was unavailable to pitch in the game due to "discomfort," Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

Murphy did not offer any additional details regarding Megill's injury. Megill did battle a flexor strain in his right arm during the second half last season and was given a PRP injection over the winter, though there's no indication at this point that this is a recurrence of that injury. Abner Uribe is the favorite for saves in the Brewers' bullpen for as long as Megill is unavailable.