MLB Player News

Morgan came on with a man on first base and one out in the 11th inning with the Padres trailing by a run. He retired both hitters he faced to escape that jam. The 26-year-old hurler then returned in the 12th after the Padres tied the game in their half of the 11th. After a sacrifice bunt from Jake McCarthy, he got Brenton Doyle to hit a ground ball to shortstop on which Willi Castro was cut down at the plate. He then hit Tyler Freeman before getting Kyle Karros on a ground ball to end the inning. He’s yet another weapon in an unbelievably deep and talented bullpen for the Padres.

Richard Lovelady will serve as Washington’s opener to face the top of Miami’s lineup before handing things over to Littell for a bulk relief outing. The 30-year-old righty has worked behind an opener in back-to-back starts. It worked last time as he allowed one run over 3 2/3 innings to pick up a win against the Brewers this past weekend.

García is back at first base and hitting second following a four-game absence due to a right wrist sprain that he suffered last weekend. The 25-year-old infielder managed to avoid a trip to the injured list and shouldn’t miss any additional time. He has just one homer and two steals in 34 games this season.

Adams gets the call to bolster Minnesota’s bullpen this weekend with Joe Ryan (elbow) and likely Zebby Matthews coming up to replace and injured Taj Bradley (pectoral) in the rotation. The 26-year-old made 18 appearances, including a pair of starts, for the Twins last year.

It’s a significant loss for Minnesota, and fantasy managers, since Bradley has been pitching extremely well, allowing two earned runs or fewer in seven of his eight starts this season. He’s posted a strong 2.87 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 52/17 K/BB ratio across 47 innings during that span. There is no timetable for 25-year-old former top pitching prospect yet, but he’s likely facing a multi-week absence, even in a best-case scenario. It’ll likely be Zebby Matthews coming up from Triple-A to take the ball in his place against the Guardians on Sunday.

Barger is hitting second on Saturday against the Angels in his return to Toronto’s lineup after missing nearly five weeks recovering from a left ankle sprain. The 26-year-old power-hitter was one of last year’s biggest breakthroughs, launching 21 homers in 135 games. His return sends hot-hitting rookie Yohendrick Piñango, who hit .423 (11-for-26) with four RBI in 10 games for the Blue Jays since late April, back to the minors.

It’s a tough break for Pinango, who has been outstanding for the Blue Jays since arriving in the majors back on April 25. The hard-hitting 24-year-old rookie heads back to the minors after batting .423 (11-for-26) with four RBI in 10 games for Toronto. There simply isn’t room for him with Addison Barger back from the injured list to reclaim his starting role.

Kjerstad has been on the shelf recovering from a hamstring strain since the end of spring training. The 27-year-old former prospect doesn’t have much of a path to playing time in Baltimore once he’s fully healthy given their abundance of corner outfield depth. Still, it’s a positive sign to see him healthy and back in game action again after missing the final few months of last season in the minors with an undisclosed medical issue.

The stunning early-season trade is now official. Bailey is universally regarded as one of the top defensive specialists in the entire game and should immediately strengthen Cleveland’s entire pitching staff. The 26-year-old backstop is a non-factor at the plate, but he’s a two-time Gold Glove Award winner and seems to fit the mold of what the Guardians front office is looking for in a defensive-oriented starting catcher. It’ll be Bo Naylor heading to Triple-A while veteran Austin Hedges sticks around as his caddy. Bailey’s departure means the Giants are going to roll with youngsters Daniel Susac and Jesus Rodríguez as their catching tandem moving forward.

The trade is now official. Wilkinson, affectionately nicknamed Tugboat, has posted astronomical strikeout rates in the lower minors the last couple years and has looked outstanding at Double-A Akron this season, registering a microscopic 1.59 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 36/9 K/BB ratio across 28 1/3 innings over six starts. The 23-year-old southpaw has a chance to reach the majors next season and projects as a bat-missing back-of-the-rotation X-factor for the Giants, who also pick up a first-round selection in the deal to use later this summer.

Naylor’s departure coincides with defensive wizard Patrick Bailey’s arrival in Cleveland following a trade with the Giants. The 26-year-old backstop is hitting .143/.200/.238 with two homers in 28 games this season and has batted .199 in 346 games at the highest level since 2022. Veteran defensive specialist Austin Hedges will stick around in a backup role behind Bailey.