MLB Player News

Mclean (4-4) picked up the win Wednesday, allowing one unearned run on three hits and one walk over seven innings in a 9-1 victory over the Reds. He struck out nine.

The right-hander had walked 12 batters in 15 innings over his prior three starts, but McLean showed better command Wednesday as he tossed 63 of 101 pitches for strikes en route to his seventh quality start of the season and highest strikeout total since April 21. He'll take a 3.67 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 97:32 K:BB through 83.1 innings into his next outing, which lines up to come at home early next week against the Cubs.

The Rockies optioned Halvorsen to Triple-A Albuquerque on Wednesday.

Halvorsen has turned in a 3.31 ERA through 16.1 innings with the Rockies this season, but he'll end up as the odd man out of Colorado's bullpen following Jimmy Herget's (shoulder) return from the injured list. Based on the results Halvorsen has gotten in both the majors and at Triple-A (2.45 ERA in 14.2 IP), he's a safe bet to rejoin the Rockies at some point when the team needs a fresh arm.

The Rockies reinstated Herget (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list Wednesday.

Herget will make his return to Colorado after missing over a month of action due to a shoulder impingement. Before being shelved with the injury, the 32-year-old recorded a 5.06 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 17:4 K:BB through 16 innings this season. In order to make room for Herget on the active roster, the Rockies optioned Seth Halvorsen to Triple-A Albuquerque.

Ortiz is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Guardians.

Ortiz had made four consecutive starts to close out the past week, but he looks like he'll have to settle for a utility role after the Brewers promoted one of their top prospects (Cooper Pratt) from Triple-A Nashville on Tuesday. Milwaukee will keep Ortiz on the bench for a second straight night while Pratt gets another look as the team's starting shortstop.

Merrill went 3-for-5 with a home run, two RBI and a stolen base in Wednesday's 6-1 win over the Cardinals.

Merrill put an exclamation point on a three-hit effort with a two-run homer in the ninth inning, notching a homer and a steal in the same game for the second time this season. The 23-year-old is showing some signs of life at the plate, going deep twice in his past five contests while tallying multiple hits in four of his past eight. On the season, he's slashing .213/.277/.358 with eight home runs, 30 RBI, 32 runs scored and 12 stolen bases across 294 plate appearances.

Hoskins will start at designated hitter and bat cleanup Wednesday against the Brewers.

Hoskins appeared to be stuck in the short side of a platoon with Kyle Manzardo to begin June, but the former will have a clearer path to an everyday role after the Guardians placed all of Jose Ramirez (hand), Chase DeLauter (rib) and Angel Martinez (foot) on the injured list within the past four days. The Guardians will include Hoskins in the lineup for a sixth straight game after he went 3-for-20 with two doubles and a run scored in his prior five starts.

Naylor (shin/wrist) isn't in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Orioles.

As expected, Naylor will miss a second consecutive start following his removal from Sunday's game while he continues to recover from shin and wrist injuries. However, manager Dan Wilson said Wednesday that he expects Naylor to return to the lineup Thursday, per Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times, so the first baseman doesn't seem to be at risk of spending time on the IL. Miles Mastrobuoni will start at first Wednesday and bat ninth.

Raley (back) is out of the lineup for Wednesday's matchup against Baltimore.

Raley will sit for the second consecutive game versus the Orioles since his back tightness has yet to be relieved. The outfield will consist of Connor Joe in left, Julio Rodriguez in center and Victor Robles in right for Wednesday's contest.

Jones is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the White Sox.

The Yankees will go with a right-handed-heavy lineup to counter White Sox southpaw Anthony Kay, so Jones will retreat to the bench along with fellow left-handed hitters Ryan McMahon and J.C. Escarra. Amed Rosario will step in for McMahon at third base and will bat third. After covering left field Tuesday in the series opener, Cody Bellinger will slide over to center in place of Jones on Wednesday.

Pena went 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI in Wednesday's 4-2 win over the Tigers.

Pena launched a solo shot in the third inning before adding an RBI single in the sixth. The homer was his first since May 30, though the shortstop has hit safely in five of his past six games and is batting .291 through 15 contests in June. For the year, he's slashing .279/.344/.415 with four long balls, 15 RBI, 26 runs scored and five steals across 163 plate appearances.