MLB Player News

Kelly earned the save in Wednesday's 4-0 win over the Royals, allowing one hit and no walks with no strikeouts over 1.1 scoreless innings.

Kelly entered the game with two outs in the eighth inning and induced a ground out off the bat of Bobby Witt to strand runners on first and second. The right-hander came back out for the ninth and worked around a leadoff single to earn his fourth save of the year. Kelly has been solid overall this season, typically working in a set-up role ahead of Bryan Baker, posting a 2.42 ERA with a 0.92 WHIP and 30:7 K:BB across 39.1 innings.

Lopez (4-1) earned the win Wednesday over St. Louis, allowing a run on two hits and a walk over five innings. He struck out six.

Making a second straight start, Lopez would give up a run in the first inning before settling in and holding the Cardinals without a hit over his final four frames. After a rough start to the year, Lopez has turned things around of late, posting a 2.70 ERA over his last 11 appearances (23.1 innings). Lopez looks to have earned another chance in Atlanta's rotation going forward -- he's currently slated to face the Mets at home in his next outing.

The Nationals transferred Parker (elbow) to the 60-day injured list Wednesday.

Parker is likely to undergo Tommy John surgery after being diagnosed with a Grade 3 UCL sprain in his left elbow, so the Nationals will stash him away on the 60-day IL for the rest of the season. The move creates space on the 40-man roster for Kyle Nicolas, who was acquired from Baltimore on Wednesday.

The Orioles traded Nicolas to the Nationals on Wednesday in exchange for infielder Randal Diaz.

Nicolas was pushed off the Orioles' 40-man roster Saturday, but he'll reclaim a roster spot upon joining the Nationals. The 27-year-old righty will report to Triple-A Rochester after turning in a 5.40 ERA and 2.30 WHIP across 20 innings in the minors this year.

Dreyer will start Wednesday's game against the Athletics.

The Dodgers will rely on their bullpen to get through Wednesday's contest, and it'll be Dreyer getting the call to take the mound for the first inning. The 27-year-old will be making his first start of the season after posting a 3.51 ERA and 1.08 WHIP across 33.1 innings out of the bullpen.

The Pirates optioned Bidois to Triple-A Indianapolis on Wednesday.

After making just three outings for Pittsburgh since being called up on June 13, Bidois will head back to Indianapolis. The 25-year-old most recently appeared Monday, allowing three earned runs on four hits and a walk while striking out two in just two-thirds of an inning against Philadelphia. The Pirates will replace Bidois with Cam Sanders on the 26-man roster.

The Pirates recalled Sanders from Triple-A Indianapolis on Wednesday.

Sanders has given up just two earned runs while striking out 19 batters in 10 innings since being sent down to Triple-A at the end of May. He'll now return to the majors to give the Pirates' bullpen a fresh arm, though he'll likely be limited to low-leverage situations given that he's surrendered six runs in six innings with Pittsburgh. Brandan Bidois was optioned to Indianapolis in a corresponding move.

The Yankees optioned Cruz to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday.

Cruz struck out three batters over two scoreless innings Tuesday, giving him six punchouts through 4.1 shutout frames to begin his MLB career. He'll lose his place in New York's bullpen in preparation for David Bednar's return from the paternity list, but Cruz's strong showings with the big club will likely buy him more opportunities in the Bronx later this summer.

The Dodgers recalled Barnes from Triple-A Oklahoma City ahead of Wednesday's matchup against the Athletics.

In the series finale against the Athletics on Wednesday, Barnes is expected to be a part of a bullpen game for the Dodgers. The 30-year-old will make his first major-league appearance since May 16, when he pitched a scoreless frame and picked up a strikeout against the crosstown Angels. To make room for Barnes on the roster, the Dodgers optioned Wyatt Mills to Oklahoma City.

Waldrep could start Thursday's game against the Cardinals if he isn't needed out of the bullpen Wednesday, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

Reynaldo Lopez is starting Wednesday's game, and if he's able to go at least 4-to-5 innings, Atlanta will likely go with Waldrep as its starter for Thursday's series finale. If the right-hander has to pitch in relief Wednesday, however, Grant Holmes could draw Thursday's start. Waldrep had surgery to remove loose bodies from his right elbow back in February, but he threw 55 pitches over two scoreless relief innings during his season debut for Atlanta last week. His highest pitch count over five minor-league starts was 71, so the righty isn't fully stretched out yet.