MLB Player News

Waldrep (0-1) took the loss against the Pirates on Tuesday, allowing seven runs on six hits and five walks with two strikeouts over 3.1 innings.

All seven runs came via two Ryan O'Hearn home runs, but Waldrep threw just 45 of 84 pitches for strikes and generated only five whiffs. The 24-year-old has been shaky so far in his return to Atlanta's rotation, allowing 10 earned runs over two starts after throwing two scoreless frames in relief in his first appearance of the season June 28. He'll try to find his footing entering the All-Star break in a road matchup with the Cardinals this weekend.

Skenes (7-8) earned the win against Atlanta on Tuesday, allowing two runs on eight hits and one walk with four strikeouts over six innings.

Skenes was given a huge lead and ran with it, throwing 66 of 95 pitches for strikes with 12 whiffs while delivering his ninth quality start of the campaign. It was a much-needed outing for the 24-year-old after he surrendered 11 earned runs over his previous two contests. He owns a 3.58 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 123:23 K:BB across 103 innings this season and lines up to make one final start before the All-Star break at home against the Brewers this weekend.

Ginn was removed from Tuesday's game against the Tigers due to an illness, Jason Burke of Roundtable.io reports.

Ginn's illness led to a noticeable drop in velocity, and manager Mark Kotsay said after the game that the right-hander's energy level was declining rapidly throughout the game. Ginn managed to get through four innings before ending his start prematurely, giving up two runs on two hits and two walks while striking out four batters. He's tentatively scheduled to start the final game of the first half on the road Sunday against the White Sox, though it will be worth monitoring his health as the weekend approaches.

Junk (shin) struck out three and allowed one earned run on five hits and no walks across three innings Saturday in a rehab start for Triple-A Jacksonville.

The right-hander made his second rehab appearance at Triple-A after he was sent to the 15-day injured list May 31 due to right shin bone inflammation. He built up to 61 pitches (37 strikes) in Saturday's outing and averaged 93.8 mph with his four-seam fastball, about a half-tick behind his season-long average prior to landing on the shelf. Per Kevin Barral of FishonFirst.com, Junk completed a pitch-design session in front of the Marlins' coaching and training staff Tuesday, and if he checks out fine following that workout, he could fill the opening in the Miami rotation in Thursday's series finale versus the Mariners.

The Cardinals designated Zimmermann for assignment before Game 2 of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Brewers.

Zimmermann coughed up three earned runs in five innings while working in bulk relief during the first half of Tuesday's twin bill, and he'll lose his place on the 40-man roster now that his services are no longer needed. Jared Shuster will come up from Triple-A Memphis in a corresponding move to add bullpen depth.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Tuesday that Taillon (hamstring) is expected to make another rehab start before returning from the 15-day injured list, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Though Taillon joined the team in Baltimore for the start of their six-game road trip, Counsell said that the right-hander won't be activated this week unless the Cubs lose one of their healthy starters to an injury and have to adjust the rotation on the fly. Assuming Taillon isn't needed, he'll report to an affiliate over the weekend to make the second start of his rehab assignment before returning from the IL following the All-Star break. Taillon made his first rehab start this past Sunday at High-A South Bend, tossing 3.1 innings and 45 pitches (32 strikes) while striking out two and allowing one run on four hits and zero walks.

The Padres recalled Brito from Triple-A El Paso on Tuesday.

Brito is slated to serve in a bulk relief capacity in Tuesday's game against Arizona. The right-hander missed all of the 2025 season and the early part of the current season following internal brace surgery on his elbow last May. In eight outings between Double-A San Antonio and El Paso, Brito collected a 1.46 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 27:14 K:BB in 37 innings.

Guardians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti said Sunday that Stephen (elbow) will undergo UCL surgery during the upcoming week, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.

Antonetti noted that a decision on whether Stephen requires a UCL repair or reconstruction will be determined once Dr. Keith Meister gets a chance to get a closer look at the right-hander's elbow before surgery is performed. Stephen will miss the rest of the season regardless of the specifics of his procedure, though a repair could shave a few months off his recovery timeline and give him a chance at returning to action at some point during the 2027 campaign. The 23-year-old submitted a 3.27 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 49:23 K:BB in 55 innings over 12 starts for Double-A Akron before landing on the injured list June 10.

Triple-A Sugar Land placed Alexander on its 7-day injured list June 17 due to an unspecified injury.

After the Astros optioned Alexander to Triple-A on May 27, the right-hander made two starts before landing on the shelf. He'll likely remain out through the All-Star break, though an official timeline for his return to the Sugar Land rotation has yet to be established. Alexander owns a 5.32 ERA and 1.61 WHIP across 44 innings at Triple-A this season.

The Astros optioned Burrows to Triple-A Sugar Land on Tuesday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Burrows tied a season worst with seven earned runs allowed Monday against the Nationals, giving him a 6.84 ERA and 5.9 K/9 across his past 10 appearances. The right-hander was acquired from the Pirates during the offseason after posting a 3.94 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 97:31 K:BB over 96 innings during 2025, but he'll likely need to get back on track at Sugar Land before getting another look in the Astros' rotation.