MLB Player News

Puk told reporters afterwards that he’s completed four bullpen sessions during his rehabilitation process from last year’s Tommy John surgery. He also added that he could potentially be ready to return to Arizona’s high-leverage mix by late May.

Montgomery is in 0-for-14 and 5-for-47 slumps at the moment. The switch-hitting Montgomery’s previous days off have mostly come against righties, but he’s sitting against a lefty tonight, with Tristan Peters starting in right. Montgomery is hitting just .134/.217/.244 against lefties, compared to .243/.345/.379 versus righties

Langeliers didn’t start Sunday in his second game off the IL after knee surgery. He’s hitting third tonight, dropping Zack Gelof down to fifth. Max Muncy and Tommy White are both on the bench with the DH spot taken.

Even though Gonzales is in the hunt for a batting title and has been quite a bit better against righties (.324/.385/.425) than lefties (.262/.330/.323), he had been held out of the starting lineup in two of the Pirates’ previous three games against righties, as things have gotten more crowded with Konnor Griffin and Ryan O’Hearn back. Gonzales is, though, getting a nod over Jared Triolo and Jacob Gonzalez tonight. It’s the first time since July 7, which was a few days before Gonzalez was acquired from the White Sox, that the Pirates haven’t included one of Triolo or Gonzalez in the lineup.

Tommy Edman has been leading off in Shohei Ohtani’s place, but he’s down to seventh against a righty tonight. De Paula hadn’t hit higher than sixth in his previous four starts since being called up. He’s only 2-for-14 to date, but those two hits are a homer and a double, and he’s drawn five walks while having yet to strike out.

Freeman is batting second tonight after getting Monday off to continue to recover from the knee soreness that’s been plaguing him.

Backdating the IL assignment means Jump will be able to return the day after the season ends, which seems useful. Jump finishes off a promising rookie season 6-11 with a 5.47 ERA and a 108/46 K/BB in 98 2/3 innings. On another team, he’d be of interest in shallow leagues next spring. As a member of the A’s, he has one more year to go in a minor league ballpark before he’ll offer much in the way of upside.

Rock, claimed off waivers from the White Sox last month, will be making his A’s debut after allowing only one run and three hits in 10 1/3 innings out of the pen for Vegas. He has a 3.00 ERA and a 23/13 K/BB in 18 innings as a major leaguer with the Rays and White Sox.

McLain missed three games with left shoulder soreness. He’s batting seventh tonight against Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

Cairo, 25, joins the Mets organization after hitting .227/.378/.298 with 90 walks but just 20 extra-base hits in 516 plate appearances for Triple-A Lehigh Valley. His versatility would help make him an adequate 26th man, perhaps, but he doesn’t seem to have much potential beyond that.

That’s not good. Wells has been terrific in a setup role since being acquired from the Orioles, allowing only three earned runs in 18 innings. He ends the regular season with a 2.38 ERA in 72 innings overall. No word yet on whether the Rays think he might be back for the postseason, though at least they didn’t put him on the 60-day IL.