MLB Player News

Rodon (elbow) will play catch Thursday, Meredith Marakovits of YES Network reports.

It will be the first time Rodon has done any throwing since he landed on the 15-day injured list Friday with left elbow inflammation. The Yankees will ease Rodon back into a throwing progression and do not expect the southpaw back until at least early-to mid-August.

The Mets optioned Myers to Triple-A Syracuse on Thursday.

Myers' most recent stint in the majors lasted only one day, and he allowed one run over two frames in Wednesday's win over the Royals. Dan Hammer is taking Myers' spot on the roster and in the bullpen.

The Mets selected Hammer's contract from Triple-A Syracuse on Thursday.

Hammer has collected a 2.16 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and a 38:21 K:BB across 33.1 combined innings between Double-A Binghamton and Syracuse. The 28-year-old will be making his major-league debut when/if he gets into a game.

Holliday is not in the lineup for Thursday's game versus the Cubs.

Holliday went 4-for-4 at the plate in Wednesday's loss to the Cubs, but the lefty-hitting infielder will take a seat as Chicago sends southpaw David Peterson to the bump. Blaze Alexander is handling second base for the Orioles.

Winn (elbow) allowed a walk while striking out one over a scoreless inning during Triple-A Sacramento's 6-1 win over Salt Lake on Wednesday.

After making rehab appearances in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League and Single-A, Winn continued his rehab assignment in Sacramento, throwing seven of his 14 pitches for strikes Wednesday. According to Evan Webeck of the California Post, Giants manager Tony Vitello said he expects the right-hander to return either just before the All-Star break or immediately afterward.

Melton (5-1) picked up the win in Wednesday's 6-1 victory over the A's, allowing one unearned run on four hits and a walk over 5.1 innings. He struck out nine.

The nine Ks were a career high for Melton, who fired 62 of 91 pitches for strikes and racked up 15 swinging strikes while topping out at 98.7 mph with his fastball. The 25-year-old right-hander has given up one run or fewer in four straight starts since dealing with some back tightness in June, producing a 0.76 ERA, 0.59 WHIP and 27:5 K:BB through 23.2 innings during that impressive stretch. Justin Verlander (hamstring) and Jackson Jobe (elbow) could both return from the IL in early August, but it's hard to imagine Melton losing his spot in the rotation if he continues dealing.

Blackburn will be the Yankees' starting pitcher in Thursday's bullpen game versus the Rays.

Blackburn went 1.1 scoreless innings in Tuesday's game, so he'll be pitching on just one day of rest. The righty hasn't thrown more than 23 pitches in an outing in three weeks, so he will likely not cover more than a couple frames Thursday.

Kuroda-Grauer went 3-for-4 in Wednesday's 6-1 loss to the Tigers.

All three knocks were singles, but the rookie infielder was still the only Athletic to collect multiple hits on the night as the team managed just seven hits in total against Detroit pitching. Kuroda-Grauer has started eight straight contests since his promotion while bouncing between second base, third base and shortstop, batting a blistering .500 (15-for-30) to begin his big-league career with three doubles, an RBI, four runs and just two strikeouts.

Springs (3-9) took the loss Wednesday, coughing up six runs on six hits and four walks over 4.1 innings as the A's were downed 6-1 by the Tigers. He struck out four.

Homers by Jake Rogers in the second inning and Spencer Torkelson in the fifth accounted for most of the damage off Springs, who got the hook after 92 pitches (49 strikes). The southpaw has been tagged for five or more runs in five of his last six starts, sending his ERA soaring from 4.37 to 6.08. The A's remain on the fringes of the playoff picture, both in the AL West and the wild-card race, but they might have to make some major rotation upgrades at the trade deadline if they're going to make any kind of serious push.

The White Sox recalled Davis from Triple-A Charlotte on Thursday.

Davis has made 22 appearances out of the Chicago bullpen this season, authoring a 4.63 ERA and 20:13 K:BB over 23.1 frames. The right-hander will operate in middle relief.