MLB Player News

The 24-year-old southpaw did everything in his power to earn a spot on the Padres’ Opening Day roster this spring -- posting a 1.29 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and a 13/10 K/BB ratio over 14 innings in Cactus League play -- but ultimately he came up just short. He’ll open the season in the rotation at Triple-A El Paso and should get his shot with the big league club before long.

Bliss went 1-for-6 during a pair of contests during his latest stint with the Mariners, which wound up lasting roughly 48 hours. His return to the minors coincides with versatile Miles Mastrobuoni returning from the injured list for his season debut.

Zulueta never wound up making an appearance for Seattle after being acquired from the Reds in a trade back in January. The 28-year-old righty figures to pass through waivers unclaimed since he holds a pedestrian 5.32 ERA and 25/11 K/BB ratio across 23 2/3 innings at the big-league level since 2024.

This will be the third straight game that both players miss. As of now, there is no indication that either one of them will need to go on the injured list, but that could change if these injuries linger. Sam Huff will catch and bat ninth on Wednesday, while Taylor Ward will be the DH, and Tyler O’Neill will play right field and bat eighth.

The 31-year-old allowed one hit, one walk, and hit a batter while striking out one. It wasn’t a flawless outing, but Phillips has now thrown 2 2/3 scoreless innings at Triple-A while walking three, striking out three, and allowing two hits. He will need a couple more appearances as he continues to shake the rust off in his return from Tommy John surgery.

Fitzgerald burst onto the fantasy radar in 2024 when he hit 15 home runs and stole 17 bases while hitting .280/.334/.497 for the Giants. He has not been able to create that magic since and was hitting .237/.336/.465 with six HRs and 22 RBI in 24 games in Triple-A this season. He will try to land a minor league deal with another team.

Pintaro pitched 3 2/3 scoreless innings in his two appearances with the Mets, striking out three. He was sent to the minors on May 26th but is now back up to give them a fresh arm in the bullpen.

Gerber has allowed just one run on five hits in five innings this season while striking out six and walking one. However, he just threw two innings on Tuesday, so the Mets will send him down to get a fresh arm up in the bullpen. We’ll see him again this summer.

Lara was in Double-A for the Braves, pitching to an 8.22 ERA in 15 1/3 innings. He did have 21 strikeouts but also 29 walks, which is a continuing of command issues that have plagued his career.

With Ronald Acuna Jr. (hamstring) landing on the IL, Tellez will come up to take his place on the active roster. The 31-year-old is slashing .259/.367/.483 in 49 games at Triple-A with eight home runs, 33 RBI, and three steals. Unless the Braves decide to play Dominic Smith in the field, it’s hard to see Tellez getting too many at-bats.

Braves manager Walt Weiss said late Tuesday that Acuña was day-to-day and that they didn’t think the injury was as severe as the previous hamstring injury that kept him out for 17 days last month. However, an MRI today must have told a different story. Acuña will miss at least the next 10 days, and potentially longer, since the Braves have a comfortable lead in the NL East and will want to make sure their star player is healthy. Soft tissue injuries tend to recur, and Acuña has also had two knee surgeries, so even though he has 15 steals already this season, there is a chance that the collection of lower-body injuries may keep him from reaching the heights we saw in 2023. Eli White should see regular starts in the outfield while Acuña is sidelined.