MLB Player News

Blackburn took a no-decision Thursday against the Rays, allowing one run on two hits and no walks in two innings. He struck out three.

Blackburn served as opener of a bullpen game Thursday, serving up a solo home run to the red-hot Junior Caminero in the first inning. However, the three punchouts were a season best for the 30-year-old right-hander, who has made 29 relief appearances as opposed to a pair of brief starts this year. Blackburn hasn't offered much fantasy viability but has been an effective member of New York's pitching staff, posting a 2.31 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 35:15 K:BB over 46.2 innings.

The Phillies recalled Shugart from Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Thursday.

He's grabbing the roster spot vacated by the injured Tanner Banks (forearm). Shugart has produced a 4.97 ERA and 34:11 K:BB across 29 frames for the Phillies this season. He's been hurt by the long ball, having served up seven homers.

The Phillies placed Banks on the 15-day injured list Thursday with a left forearm strain.

It's unclear when Banks' forearm began bothering him, but he allowed five runs and four home runs over 1.1 innings in his two appearances since being recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley over the weekend. Chase Shugart is up from the minors to take Banks' spot on the roster and in the bullpen.

Manaea (2-4) earned the win Thursday over the Royals, allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits and a walk across seven innings. He struck out six.

After giving up a home run to Lane Thomas on the first pitch he threw Thursday, Manaea settled in and held Kansas City to just two runs over his subsequent six frames en route to his second win this season. Manaea's posted a 3.66 ERA across 51.2 frames in his last 11 appearances. He's lowered his ERA to 4.56 overall through 75 innings this year with a 1.32 WHIP and 74:24 K:BB.

The Marlins placed King on the 15-day injured list Thursday with a left lateral ankle sprain.

It's unclear when or how King was hurt, but the injury will cost him at least the next two weeks of action. The lefty reliever has provided quality work out of the Marlins' bullpen, posting a 2.48 ERA, 0.75 WHIP and 30:10 K:BB over 40 innings.

The Marlins optioned Brzykcy to Triple-A Jacksonville on Thursday.

Brzykcy made just one appearance after being called up from Triple-A on June 30, giving up one earned run on one hit and two walks while fanning two batters across two innings. He'll now head back to Jacksonville to help make room on the active roster for Janson Junk (shin), who returned from the injured list Thursday, and Ryan Gusto, who was recalled from Triple-A.

The Giants optioned Walker to Triple-A Sacramento on Thursday, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Walker had been torched for 11 runs across his last 6.1 innings, resulting in the former closer's second demotion to the minors this season. His roster spot will be taken by Carson Whisenhunt, who will be the starting pitcher for Thursday's contest versus the Rockies.

Giants manager Tony Vitello said on KNBR 680 that Walker will be optioned to Triple-A Sacramento prior to Thursday's contest versus the Rockies.

He'll clear off the roster to make a spot for Carson Whisenhunt, who is slated to make a spot start Thursday. Walker was unscored upon in his first five appearances after returning from a stint in the minors, but the former closer has since allowed 11 runs across his last 6.1 innings.

Natera (1-0) earned the win over Texas on Wednesday, striking out five batters over two perfect innings in relief.

The Angels built an early lead, and starter Walbert Urena held the Rangers scoreless through four frames. However, Urena also struggled with his control and needed 90 pitches to get through those four innings, so he wasn't able to go deep enough to qualify for the win. Natera entered in the fifth and dominated across two frames, throwing 19 of 24 pitches for strikes and fanning five of the six batters he faced. That earned the lefty his first big-league win in his 11th appearance. Natera was blown up for four runs over two-thirds of an inning July 4 versus Boston, but he's otherwise been lights-out. In his other 10 outings, he's given up just one run on three hits across 12.2 frames while recording an impressive 20:6 K:BB. Natera has logged one save and one hold and could be working his way up to more high-leverage situations given how effectively he's pitched.

Banda underwent surgery to repair his left lat strain and will miss the remainder of the 2026 season, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.

Banda last pitched June 28 and was placed on the 15-day injured list 11 days ago. He expects to be ready for the start of spring training in February. The lefty reliever appeared in 39 games out of the bullpen for Minnesota this season and registered a 4.46 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 33:15 K:BB across 34.1 innings.