MLB Player News

The Rangers activated Martin (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list Thursday.

Martin avoided a rehab assignment while dealing with right shoulder fatigue and seemed to be in a holding pattern after throwing a bullpen Tuesday. With the right-hander rejoining the Rangers' bullpen, Kumar Rocker was optioned to Triple-A Round Rock on Thursday.

The Royals designated Hatch for assignment Thursday.

Hatch was selected from Triple-A Omaha on Thursday prior to the first game of a doubleheader against the Cardinals. While the right-hander did not appear in the game, his designation for assignment comes prior to the second half of the twin bill. In a corresponding move, Cole Ragans (groin) was reinstated from the injured list to start Game 2.

Atlanta is expected to designate Blewett for assignment Friday, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

Blewett surrendered five earned runs in just 1.1 innings during Thursday's contest, which saw Atlanta squander a six-run lead in the ninth inning en route to an 11-10 loss against Arizona. Despite his awful outing, the 29-year-old righty still owns a 3.91 ERA through 25.1 frames on the season and may attract interest from other bullpen-needy teams browsing the waiver wire. Craig Kimbrel is expected to replace Blewett on the 26-man and 40-man rosters.

Atlanta is expected to recall Dodd from Triple-A Gwinnett on Friday, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

Dodd was sent down to Triple-A on Sunday after pitching 1.2 scoreless innings for Atlanta across two appearances, and he's now due to return to the majors as a roster replacement for Daysbel Hernandez (finger). Dodd will presumably work in middle relief while in the majors.

Atlanta is expected to place Hernandez (finger) on the 15-day injured list Friday, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

Hernandez was initially believed to be alright after exiting his outing Wednesday due to numbness in his right pinky, but he'll instead end up spending at least a couple of weeks on the injured list. Dylan Dodd will come up from Triple-A Gwinnett to fill the open spot in Atlanta's bullpen.

Miller earned the save in Thursday's 11-10 win over Atlanta, allowing one walk with no strikeouts in a scoreless ninth inning.

With Justin Martinez unavailable after throwing 37 pitches Wednesday, Miller was called upon to protect an 11-10 lead in the ninth inning and did so on just 10 pitches. On the season, the 34-year-old owns a stellar 1.75 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 27:3 K:BB across 25.2 innings. He's converted six of nine save opportunities and should remain in the ninth-inning mix, though Martinez figures to be the favorite for saves when healthy.

Iglesias (3-5) blew the save and took the loss against the Diamondbacks on Thursday, allowing three runs on four hits and one walk in two-thirds of an inning. He did not record a strikeout.

Iglesias entered with a 10-7 lead and a runner on first with one out but was unable to close things out, departing with an 11-10 deficit. He's now allowed runs in seven of his past 10 appearances and holds a disappointing 6.75 ERA, 1.54 WHIP, and 25:6 K:BB across 24 innings overall. While there's been no indication from the team that the 35-year-old is in danger of losing the closer role, he's just 8-for-12 in save chances as Atlanta continues to slide in the National League East standings.

Atlanta plans to select Kimbrel's contract from Triple-A Gwinnett on Friday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

Kimbrel signed a minor-league deal with Atlanta shortly before the regular season began and has made 15 appearances at Gwinnett, logging a 2.45 ERA and 1.13 WHIP alongside a 17:8 K:BB across 14.2 innings. With Atlanta in need of bullpen help after giving up seven runs in the ninth inning of Thursday's 11-10 loss to Arizona, they'll now turn to the 37-year-old veteran for assistance. Kimbrel has accumulated 440 saves across his 15 years in the majors -- good enough for fifth most in MLB history -- though it's unclear what role he'll have in Atlanta's bullpen.

Hodge (oblique/hip) threw a bullpen session Wednesday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Hodge went on the 15-day injured list nearly three weeks ago with a strained oblique, but it's a hip impingement that's a bigger concern now for the reliever. He is expected to require a brief rehab assignment before returning from the injured list.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Thursday that there's a "good possibility" Yates (hamstring) will be activated from the 15-day injured list this weekend, Benjamin Royer of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Yates threw a simulated game earlier this week and came out of it with no issues, clearing the way for his return. The veteran reliever has been out since mid-May with a right hamstring strain but will skip a rehab assignment and rejoin the Dodgers' bullpen sometime during the team's weekend series in St. Louis.