MLB Player News

The Rays optioned Sulser to Triple-A Durham on Thursday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Sulser made three appearances after being recalled from Triple-A last week, allowing one earned run while striking out four batters over 2.1 frames. He owns a 3.21 ERA through 14 MLB innings this season but will head back to the minors in favor of Connor Seabold, who will give the team another fresh arm to work with.

The Rays recalled Seabold from Triple-A Durham on Thursday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Since being optioned to the minors in late May, Seabold has given up six runs while striking out eight batters and walking nine across nine innings. Despite his recent struggles, he'll return to Tampa to provide the Rays with a fresh bullpen arm, replacing Cole Sulser.

Martin was unavailable to pitch in Wednesday's 6-3 loss to the Royals due to back stiffness, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

It's uncertain whether the back issue has cleared up enough for Martin to be available out of the bullpen Thursday. Martin has made three scoreless appearances since returning from a shoulder injury but has not pitched since last Friday.

Montas (lat) struck out two and surrendered five earned runs on seven hits and one walk over five innings Wednesday in a rehab start for Triple-A Syracuse.

While he threw 80 pitches (47 strikes) in the longest outing of his six-start rehab stint, Montas didn't exactly look ready to make a contribution for the Mets in the majors. His rehab assignment ends next week, and unless a new injury restarts the clock, the 32-year-old righty will need to be activated from the 60-day injured list by Monday. New York is expected to call up Justin Hagenman from Triple-A to make a spot start or bulk relief appearance Friday against the Phillies, but the team hasn't yet decided whether Montas will move into the No. 5 spot in the rotation next week or get some time in the bullpen to try and find his form. Over his 18.2 innings in the minors between High-A Brooklyn and Triple-A, Montas posted a 12.05 ERA and 12:10 K:BB while serving up eight home runs.

The Diamondbacks transferred Montes De Oca (elbow/back) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Thursday.

The transaction was made in order to free a spot on the 40-man roster for catcher Aramis Garcia, whose contract was selected from Triple-A Reno. Montes De Oca was initially shelved earlier this month with right elbow inflammation, and more recently, the Diamondbacks revealed that he needs surgery to repair a stress fracture in his back, which could sideline him for the rest of the season.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that Weaver (hamstring) could be activated from the 15-day injured list prior to Friday's game versus the Orioles, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

Weaver bounced back well from a live batting practice session Tuesday and appears in line to return to action this weekend after missing less than three weeks with a strained left hamstring. The right-hander was originally projected to miss 4-to-6 weeks due to the injury, so he's seemingly recovered more quickly than anticipated. Weaver had been serving as the Yankees' closer when he got hurt, but he could return in a setup role with Devin Williams pitching well of late in the ninth inning.

Horn (elbow) struck out a batter and worked around two walks in a scoreless inning of relief Wednesday for Triple-A Toledo after being reinstated from the 7-day injured list.

Horn missed just under a month of action for the Triple-A club while he recovered from left elbow inflammation. The 27-year-old southpaw holds a spot on the Tigers' 40-man roster and previously made one relief appearance for the big club in April, but he'll likely stick around in Toledo for the foreseeable future.

Law (forearm) will begin a rehab assignment Thursday at Double-A Harrisburg.

Law has been on the shelf all season while recovering from right forearm inflammation and is likely to require several appearances in the minors before the Nationals activate him from the 15-day injured list. The 34-year-old righty was a key piece in the Washington bullpen in 2024, collecting seven wins, 17 holds and one save while logging a 2.60 ERA and 1.18 WHIP in 90 innings over 75 appearances.

Ekness has a 1.48 ERA, 0.83 WHIP, 34:8 K:BB and zero homers allowed through 24.1 innings for Double-A Pensacola this season.

Selected in the 12th round of the 2023 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Houston, Ekness could be a future high-leverage bullpen arm for the Marlins as he features a fastball that can touch triple digits and a potentially plus slider that he's still learning to command. After posting an 11.1 percent walk rate at High-A Beloit in 2024, Ekness has cut that mark to 7.6 percent with Pensacola this year, and the 23-year-old right-hander seems likely to get a promotion to Triple-A over the summer.

The Tigers recalled Smith from Triple-A Toledo on Thursday, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.

Smith will serve as the 27th man for Thursday's doubleheader versus the Pirates and will be available for both contests of the twin bill. The 25-year-old has made two relief appearances for the Tigers this season, allowing two runs over three innings.