MLB Player News

Pepiot (knee) is scheduled to throw another bullpen session Friday, MLB.com reports.

Pepiot has thrown a pair of bullpen sessions since landing on the injured list July 21 following a brief hospitalization due to a right knee infection, which is believed to have stemmed from a spider bite. The right-hander experienced significant swelling to his knee as a result of the infection, but he was cleared to resume throwing last week once the inflammation subsided. Pepiot is now in the process of building back up, and if Friday's side session goes well, he could be cleared to face hitters in live batting practice. Given the brevity of his stay on the IL thus far, Pepiot could get the green light to rejoin the Tampa Bay rotation as soon as next week without the need of a rehab assignment.

Joyce struck out one and allowed a hit and a walk in a scoreless eighth inning to record a hold in Thursday's loss to the Rockies.

Angels manager Ron Washington indicated last weekend that the right-hander would likely take over the closer role if the team traded Luis Garcia -- who had freshly stepped in for Carlos Estevez -- but Hunter Strickland received his second straight save chance Thursday after Garcia was dealt. Joyce is still viewed as the organization's closer of the future, but Washington doesn't quite feel the 23-year-old is ready for the job, according to Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register. Strickland will fill the role for now, but Joyce could soon force his way into the job given he hasn't allowed a run in 17 straight appearances.

Moore has been promoted from Single-A Inland Empire to Double-A Rocket City, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.

The No. 8 overall pick in the 2024 First-Year Player Draft, Moore played just two games with Inland Empire before receiving a promotion, going 6-for-11 with one homer. The Angels have a recent history of being aggressive with their top draft picks, and Blum writes of Moore that he "wouldn't be shocked if he's in the big leagues quite soon." There would seem to be a possibility that the 21-year-old could get a cup of coffee in the majors later this season.

Bradford (rib/back) gave up five earned runs on five hits and one walk while striking out two over two innings out of the bullpen in Tuesday's 8-1 loss to the Cardinals.

Bradford had started in each of his first three appearances of the season with the Rangers before he landed on the injured list in mid-April with a stress fracture in his rib as well as a lower-back strain. With the Rangers set to get some reinforcements to their rotation in August with the expected returns of Tyler Mahle (elbow) and Jacob deGrom (elbow) from the IL, Bradford prepared for a relief role during his rehab assignment before being reinstated from the 60-day IL on Monday. The Rangers turned to Bradford out of the bullpen a day later, and he had an outing to forget versus the Cardinals, with Tommy Pham's grand slam representing most of the damage against the right-hander. After Jon Gray's (groin) surprise placement on the IL on Monday, the Rangers will have an opening in the rotation this weekend in Boston, but Bradford's poor showing out of the bullpen Tuesday was enough to take him out of consideration. Jose Urena will instead be called upon to make a start Friday.

Strickland was charged with a blown save Thursday versus the Rockies after he allowed two runs on a hit and a walk during the ninth inning. He had one strikeout.

The 35-year-old recorded his first save of the season in Tuesday's series opener and was called upon again Thursday, but he gave up a two-out, two-run homer to Jake Cave to tie the game at 4-4. Ben Joyce seemed poised to take over as the Angels' closer after the trades of Carlos Estevez and Luis Garcia, but manager Ron Washington has instead turned to the veteran Strickland. According to Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register, Joyce is still considered the club's closer of the future, but Strickland will receive first crack at the ninth inning until Washington feels Joyce is ready for the job. Even including Thursday's blown save, Strickland has pitched well this season with a 3.35 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 42:14 K:BB across 51 innings.

Woo (hamstring) is scheduled to start Friday against the Phillies at T-Mobile Park.

Woo's status for the weekend series with the Phillies had been in question after he departed his latest start this past Saturday in Chicago due to a right hamstring discomfort. Even though Woo spent time on the injured list earlier in July with an injury to the same hamstring, the Mariners were apparently encouraged enough with how he checked out during his post-start throwing sessions to clear him for the Philadelphia series. Woo has had two separate stints on the IL this season, has been scratched from a start and has exited early in three starts, but he's been excellent overall during his time on the mound, posting a 2.35 ERA and 0.89 WHIP across 53.2 innings.

Boyd (elbow) struck out five over 3.2 innings and gave up two runs (one earned) on two hits and no walks in his rehab start Thursday with Triple-A Columbus.

Boyd's innings total represented a step back from his last two rehab outings, when he covered four and five innings over his starts July 21 and 26, respectively, with Double-A Akron. Even so, he pushed up his pitch count to 63 in the fourth start overall of his rehab assignment and featured a fastball that maxed out at 93.5 miles per hour, a couple ticks above his average from the 2023 season. Boyd continues to look good as he works his way back from last June's Tommy John surgery, and he may require just one more rehab start before he becomes an option for the Cleveland rotation. Boyd and Alex Cobb (hip) both seem to be on similar timelines for returning from the injured list, but the Guardians could have room in the rotation for both pitchers if they opt to move the struggling Carlos Carrasco to the bullpen, or perhaps even off the roster.

Moniak went 2-for-4 with a solo homer in Thursday's extra-inning loss to the Rockies.

Moniak singled in his first at-bat before adding a solo homer in the bottom of the sixth to put the Angels ahead 3-2. It marked the outfielder's first multi-hit performance since July 12 against Seattle, though he's now hit safely in six of his last eight games. The long ball was Moniak's seventh of the season and his third since the start of July.

Fulmer did not factor into the decision in an extra-inning loss to the Rockies on Thursday, allowing two runs on three hits and one walk over six innings while striking out eight.

Fulmer stumbled a bit in the second inning when he surrendered a two-run shot to Michael Toglia to put the Angels in an early 2-0 hole. However, the right-hander recovered nicely, holding the Rockies scoreless over the next five innings while generating 19 swings and misses in the contest. Fulmer's eight strikeouts on the night marked a season high, as did his six innings on the mound. The veteran has now allowed three or fewer runs in each of his four starts, posting a 21:7 K:BB over that stretch.

The Athletics optioned Harris to Triple-A Las Vegas on Thursday.

Harris had been hitless across his last six contests. With Harris back in the minors, Abraham Toro should return to being the Athletics' everyday third baseman.