MLB Player News

The Twins optioned Funderburk to Triple-A St. Paul on Sunday.

Though he's been one of six Twins pitchers to record a save this season and leads the club with six holds, Funderburk will wind up losing his spot in the bullpen as his control continued to slip. He has a 2.81 ERA in 16 innings but a more unsightly 1.38 WHIP and 10:13 K:BB on the season. The Twins recalled left-hander Kendry Rojas from Triple-A to bolster the bullpen.

Bradford (elbow) began throwing from 60 feet during the Rangers' most recent homestand, MLB.com reports

Bradford made one rehab start early in April but was shut down soon after. Now that he's throwing again, the Rangers are estimating he could return by late June.

Baumler (intercostal) has been shut down from his rehab assignment, MLB.com reports.

Baumler made three appearances while on his rehab assignment but experienced a setback and hasn't pitched since April 28. It's unclear when the right-hander will restart a throwing program.

The Orioles recalled Espada from Triple-A Norfolk on Sunday.

The 28-year-old fired a scoreless inning while briefly up with the Orioles in April and will now take the roster spot of Lou Trivino, who was designated for assignment Sunday. Espada has struggled at Norfolk early this year with a 5.68 ERA and 9:12 K:BB over 12.2 innings, so he's likely to be limited to low-leverage work for Baltimore.

The Orioles designated Trivino for assignment Sunday.

Baltimore signed Trivino to a one-year deal Monday, but he's now been booted off the 40-man roster less than a week later after yielding six earned runs on six hits and three walks over three innings across two relief appearances. The 34-year-old righty is likely to clear waivers, though he'll have the option of electing free agency if he doesn't intend to stick around in the Orioles organization as bullpen depth at Triple-A Norfolk.

Ferguson (oblique) walked one over a scoreless inning for Triple-A Louisville on Friday.

Ferguson, who also threw Thursday, worked on back-to-back days for the Bats, which is typically a final box to be checked off for a reliever before coming off the injured list. The left-hander has made four appearances combined between Louisville and Double-A Chattanooga. The Reds' bullpen has fallen apart in May (8.47 ERA) and could use Ferguson as soon as possible.

The Yankees optioned Castro to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Castro's stint with the big club lasted just two days, with the reliever making a lone two-inning appearance Friday. His demotion clears a spot on the active roster for Carlos Rodon (elbow), who was reinstated from the 15-day injured list ahead of his start in Sunday's series finale in Milwaukee.

Hanifee will serve as the Tigers' opening pitcher in Sunday's game against the Royals, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

The right-hander has some experience as an opener and will start Sunday's bullpen game for Detroit. Since getting called up from Triple-A Toledo in late April, Hanifee has allowed five hits with a 4:1 K:BB across 6.2 scoreless frames in four appearances.

Miller picked up a save against the Cardinals on Saturday, allowing two walks and striking out four batters over 1.1 hitless and scoreless innings.

Miller came into Saturday having recorded more than three outs just once over 17 appearances. However, he was called upon in the eighth frame with a St. Louis runner on second base and two outs. Miller ended the inning by inducing a groundout and unsurprisingly was back on the mound for the ninth. He got himself into a bit of trouble with a pair of walks, then uncorked a wild pitch on a strikeout to allow the batter to reach first base and load the bases, but Miller ultimately escaped with the save by getting JJ Wetherholt to strike out. The All-Star closer has been utterly dominant so far this season, going 12-for-12 on save chances while allowing just two earned runs and racking up an absurd 38:5 K:BB over 18.2 innings spanning 18 outings.

Vasquez (4-1) earned the win over St. Louis on Saturday, allowing one run on six hits and no walks while striking out six batters over five innings.

Vasquez surrendered just one extra-base hit in the contest -- a fourth-inning Nathan Church double that also produced the lone run against the hurler. He needed 94 pitches to get through five frames, which prevented Vasquez from pushing toward a quality start, but this was otherwise a strong outing by the right-hander. Vasquez had stepped back a bit in his previous two starts, yielding a combined eight runs over 10.2 frames, but he began the season strongly and still carries a nice 3.05 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 42:13 K:BB through 44.1 innings spanning eight starts. He's been huge for the Padres' rotation this season and is next lined up for a road tilt in Milwaukee.