MLB Player News

This had been rumored for a few days and is now official. Giolito claims that he is built up to 75 pitches, but he also ended last season on the injured list with flexor irritation, so we’ll need to see him throw on the mound before we get a true sense of how he looks. The Padres optioned him to High-A Lake Elsinore, but Giolito needs to be on the MLB roster in 25 days, which would be May 17th. He would figure to take Matt Waldron’s spot in the rotation by that time.

There was no replay needed for this one, as Alonso’s 451-foot homer in the fifth inning made its way to deep left-center to put the Orioles up 5-3 over the Rays. It was the 30th homer of the season for Alonso, who has now slugged 30-plus homers in six straight seasons. The Polar Bear has been on a tear for the O’s this month. He’s hit safely in 13-straight games and is slashing a blistering .380/.443/.704 with seven homers and 16 RBI.

Piper’s first career homer came in the top of the second inning off O’s starter Trevor Rogers. Piper made the most of a fastball thrown right over the middle of the plate, smashing it 430 feet into left-center to put the Rays up 3-1. It’s the second hit of the season for Piper, who was playing in just the second game of his career and his first since August 3rd.

Peralta got off to a bit of a rough start in this one. After allowing back-to-back hits to lead off the inning, one of which was an RBI single by Pete Alonso to score Jackson Holliday from second, he then walked Gunnar Henderson to put runners on first and second with no outs. He was fortunate enough to get out of the inning thanks to a double play ball by Samuel Basallo, but in the top of the second inning he would surrender a leadoff homer to Dylan Beavers to cut the Rays’ lead to 3-2. Peralta wouldn’t allow a run over the next two innings, but a sacrifice fly by Jackson Holliday in the fifth inning followed by a two-run homer by Pete Alonso put the O’s back on top 5-3. Peralta wouldn’t allow another run over his last two innings of work, but the Orioles got the best of him after managing just two runs against him when they faced off last week. Peralta’s next start is set for Wednesday on the road against the Tigers.

Rogers made it through the first inning without any trouble, but in the second inning, a leadoff double by Junior Caminero was followed by an RBI single by Chandler Simpson to tie the game at 1-1. That was just the beginning of a rough inning for Rogers, who would allow a two-run homer to rookie Kenny Piper two batters later to put the Rays up 3-1. Rogers would settle in after that, as he would go on to pitch five straight scoreless innings to hold the Rays in check before exiting after the seventh inning with a 5-3 lead. It was the exact kind of start the Orioles needed from Rogers, who has now allowed three earned runs or fewer in his last four starts. Rogers next start is scheduled for Thursday on the road against the Cardinals.

Dobbins came out after throwing one pitch in the fifth. The Cardinals have been pretty healthy this year, but now they’re looking at losing two starters in 24 hours, with Andre Pallante just going on the IL. Quinn Mathews is replacing Pallante. Perhaps Brycen Mautz will get a look in Dobbins’ spot.

It’s an injury that also bothered him while Mayer was doing his rehab at Triple-A Sacramento and isn’t expected to keep him shelved for long. He’ll rest for the remainder of the weekend before being evaluated when the Giants return home next week.

Woo had been scheduled to start in Sunday’s series finale against the Cubs, but Bryce Miller will move up a day to take that assignment instead. As of now, it sounds like Woo will work back into the rotation at some point next week, but it’s also possible that the shoulder soreness that he’s experiencing could ultimately land him on the injured list. Fantasy managers should be sure to have a contingency plan in place for next week.

With Daniel Palencia (elbow) returning from the injured list on Friday, the Cubs needed to free up a roster spot and once again Assad became a luxury that they couldn’t afford. David Peterson will take over the spot in the Cubs’ rotation that was vacated by the injury to Edward Cabrera.

At long last, the Cubs’ closer has returned. Palencia has been sidelined since mid-June due to an elbow issue. He returns to a 2.70 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and a 19/6 K/BB ratio over 16 2/3 innings through his first 19 appearances on the season. He should jump right back in as the Cubs’ primary closer.

The Cubs needed to clear a spot on their 40-man roster for the return of Daniel Palencia on Friday and unfortunately for Miller he was the odd man out. It’s possible that the 29-year-old infielder could attract interest on waivers.