MLB Player News

The Mets activated Blackburn (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list Wednesday, Laura Albanese of Newsday reports.

Blackburn has made five rehab starts and built up to 97 pitches in his most recent outing last Friday. His return comes at a time of need after manager Carlos Mendoza said Tuesday that Frankie Montas is moving to the bullpen permanently. It's been reported by Andy Martino of SNY.tv that Nolan McLean is expected to be tapped to start in his MLB debut Saturday against the Mariners, but Blackburn also appears ready to rejoin New York's rotation. For now, though, he's likely to be available out of the bullpen.

Liberatore has had difficulty maintaining his velocity deep into starts, most recently seeing his four-seamer drop to 90-to-91 mph in the fifth inning of Tuesday's loss to the Rockies, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

Liberatore set down the first nine batters he faced Tuesday. However, his velocity began to slip in the fourth -- when he served up a two-run homer to Hunter Goodman -- and declined further in the fifth before he was pulled after allowing the first two runners of that frame to reach base. Liberatore has a 5.47 ERA and 12:11 K:BB over 24.2 innings since the start of July and hasn't recorded an out beyond the fifth inning in any of those outings. The lefty could be wearing down as he goes through his first full season as a starter at the major-league level. Liberatore will make his next scheduled start Monday in Miami, but if he struggles again, the Cardinals will consider altering his role. One option is to piggyback him with Kyle Leahy.

Scott threw a bullpen session last week and is "doing well" in his recovery from right elbow surgery, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.

It was Scott's first bullpen session since he underwent a hybrid Tommy John and internal brace procedure on his pitching elbow last September. He's not expected to pitch this season and remains on the 60-day injured list.

The Reds activated Greene (groin) from the 15-day injured list Wednesday.

In a corresponding move, the Reds optioned Sam Benschoter to Triple-A Louisville. Greene hasn't pitched since June 3 due to a strained groin but will return for the finale against the Phillies. He's also dealt with back issues this season, making a total of 11 starts and registering a 2.72 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 73:14 K:BB across 59.2 innings. He went 5.1 innings and threw 79 pitches in his latest rehab start last Friday.

Junk came away with a no-decision Tuesday against the Guardians, giving up three runs on six hits over five innings as the Marlins lost 4-3. He struck out two without walking a batter.

Four of the six hits off Junk went for extra bases, including back-to-back solo shots by Jose Ramirez and Kyle Manzardo in the first inning. The right-hander was taken off the hook for his seventh loss of the season when Miami was able to tie the game at 3-3 in the fifth frame. Junk hasn't recorded an out in the sixth inning since the All-Star break, working exactly five innings in each of his last five starts while stumbling to a 6.84 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 14:4 K:BB. He could get bumped aside by top prospect Robby Snelling at some point, but for the moment Junk lines up to make his next start on the road this weekend in Boston.

Singer (10-9) picked up the win Tuesday, allowing three hits over six scoreless innings in a 6-1 victory over the Phillies. He struck out six without walking a batter.

The 29-year-old righty retired the first 12 batters he faced and only ran into trouble in his final inning, when a pair of two-out hits put runners at second and third. Singer was able to coax a groundout from Kyle Schwarber to end the threat, however. The quality start was his 10th of the year, and after a rough outing against the Nationals on July 21, Singer's posted a 1.96 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 26:6 K:BB in 23 innings over his last four trips to the mound. He'll look to keep rolling in his next start, which is scheduled to come on the road early next week against the Angels.

Suarez (8-6) took the loss Tuesday as the Phillies fell 6-1 to the Reds, coughing up six runs on 10 hits and two walks over 5.1 innings. He struck out three.

The southpaw didn't get much run support, but Suarez kept his team in the game until the sixth inning, when a leadoff walk was followed by four straight Cincinnati hits to break things open. Suarez took a 2.15 ERA into the All-Star break, but he's been struggling since, getting tagged for at least five runs in three of his last five starts while stumbling to a 6.59 ERA, 1.60 WHIP and 23:7 K:BB over 28.2 innings. He'll try to get back on track in his next outing, which lines up to come at home early next week against the Mariners.

Brewers manager Pat Murphy said Tuesday that Misiorowski (tibia) could return from the 15-day injured list to make an abbreviated start Friday in Cincinnati, Hunter Baumgardt of 97.3 The Game reports.

A rehab start for Misiorowski on Friday is also a possibility. The Brewers have revealed their probable pitchers for Saturday (Quinn Priester) and Sunday (Jose Quintana) but are listing Friday as TBA. A decision on where Misiorowski will pitch Friday should be revealed soon. The rookie right-hander is working his way back from a left tibia contusion.

Sale (ribs) was charged with one run over two innings of work in his first rehab start with Triple-A Gwinnett on Tuesday.

Sale permitted three hits and two walks while recording a pair of strikeouts, throwing 40 pitches over his two frames. The left-hander averaged 93.9 mph with his four-seamer, which is down one tick from his season average. Per Ken Sugiura of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Sale is likely to make two more rehab starts before rejoining the big-league rotation.

Megill (elbow) struck out four over 1.2 scoreless innings in his first rehab start with Double-A Binghamton on Tuesday.

Megill surrendered three hits and a walk but managed to emerge from the outing unscathed, getting his pitch count up to 41. It was the first outing for the right-hander in nearly two months, so it's going to take Megill a while to get built back up. Megill is working his way back from a right elbow sprain.