Pirates designated RHP Chase De Jong for assignment.
De Jong has been removed from Pittsburgh's 40-man roster for the second time this season after making six relief appearances in the majors. The 29-year-old righty figures to pass through waivers unclaimed and remain with the Pirates as extra organizational relief depth.
Pirates recalled OF Canaan Smith-Njigba from Triple-A Indianapolis.
Smith-Njigba will rejoin the Pirates ahead of Friday's series opener against the Mets. The 24-year-old outfielder has four hits in 32 at-bats over 14 games this season in the majors.
Tigers activated OF Kerry Carpenter from the 10-day injured list.
Carpenter has wrapped up a minor league rehab assignment and will return to Detroit's lineup as their designated hitter for Friday evening's series opener against the Diamondbacks. The 25-year-old outfielder has been on the shelf since late April when he suffered a right shoulder sprain.
Victor González will serve as the Dodgers' opener for Friday's series opener against the Phillies.
González gets the call to face the lefty-heavy top portion of Philadelphia's lineup to open Friday's contest before handing the ball to righty Michael Grove for a bulk relief appearance.
Miguel Rojas (neck) has returned to the Dodgers' lineup for Friday's game against the Phillies.
It's a positive sign that Rojas is back at shortstop and batting ninth on Friday night following a one-game absence after exiting Wednesday's game against the Reds with neck tightness.
David Dahl has elected free agency.
Dahl went unclaimed on waivers after being designated for assignment earlier this week and has opted to explore free agency rather than accept an outright minor league assignment to Triple-A El Paso. The 29-year-old former top prospect should be able to latch on somewhere in short order.
Phillies optioned RHP Connor Brogdon to Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
Brogdon has compiled a respectable 4.03 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 26/13 K/BB ratio across 29 innings (27 appearances, one start) this season, but has been jettisoned to make room for lefty closer José Alvarado to return from the injured list.
Alex Kirilloff is not in the Twins' lineup for Friday's game against the Blue Jays.
It appears to be a routine maintenance day for Kirilloff after making three consecutive starts this week between first base and designated hitter. It'll be Donovan Solano at first base and Ryan Jeffers at designated hitter on Friday evening.
Twins placed RHP Caleb Thielbar on the 15-day injured list with a right oblique strain.
No word yet on how long Thielbar will be sidelined. He missed a couple weeks earlier this month due to a right oblique strain and apparently re-aggravated the issue sometime this week. The 36-year-old veteran righty has been a key middle reliever for Minnesota this season, so hopefully a few weeks off enables him to get healthy.
Twins recalled RHP Josh Winder from Triple-A St. Paul.
Winder has been summoned to join Minnesota's bullpen ahead of Friday's series opener against the Blue Jays with veteran reliever Caleb Thielbar (oblique) landing on the injured list. The 26-year-old righty has made only one relief appearance this season in the majors.
Blue Jays activated RHP Mitch White from the 60-day injured list.
White rejoins Toronto's relief mix in a versatile swingman role following an extended absence due to a right elbow injury and some should fatigue that cropped up during his minor league rehab process. The 28-year-old righty made 10 appearances (eight starts) last year for the Blue Jays after being acquired from the Dodgers at the trade deadline. He's not a relevant fantasy option at the moment.
Matt Vierling (back) will begin a minor league rehab assignment on Friday with Triple-A Toledo.
Vierling was sent to the injured list back in late May due to lower back soreness and figures to return to Detroit's lineup sometime early next week.
Tigers transferred RHP Spencer Turnbull from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day injured list.
Turnbull has yet to resume throwing after being shut down last month due to neck discomfort. It's possible he'll return at some point later this season, but at the moment, there is no timetable for him to make it back to Detroit.
White Sox released RHP Daniel Ponce de Leon.
Ponce de Leon signed a minor league contract with the White Sox back in April and has been cut loose after struggling to an inflated 9.99 ERA, 2.51 WHIP and 19/24 K/BB ratio across 24 1/3 innings (eight appearances, seven starts). The 31-year-old righty hasn't appeared in the majors since the 2021 campaign.
Reds recalled RHP Ricky Karcher from Triple-A Louisville.
Karcher has been called up to the majors for the first time with Graham Ashcraft (calf) landing on the injured list. The 25-year-old righty has big-time stuff, but has compiled a disastrous 9.27 ERA, 2.55 WHIP and 31/34 K/BB ratio across 22 1/3 innings (22 appearances) this season for Triple-A Louisville. He gives the Reds some extra bullpen depth heading into Friday's series opener against the Cardinals.
Orioles optioned LHP Bruce Zimmermann to Triple-A Norfolk.
Zimmermann has been sent back to the minors after giving up four runs on eight hits with a 6/0 K/BB ratio across five innings (two appearances) in the majors. The 28-year-old lefty has been pitching in long relief at the highest level as a swingman over the last few years.
Orioles recalled LHP Nick Vespi from Triple-A Norfolk.
Vespi has yet to make an appearance in the majors this season, but has recorded a solid 1.77 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 21/5 K/BB ratio across 20 1/3 innings (19 appearances) for Triple-A Norfolk. The 27-year-old lefty will likely pitch in middle relief moving forward.
Wil Myers (shoulder) will begin a minor league rehab assignment on Friday with Triple-A Louisville.
Myers landed on the injured list back in late May with kidney stones, but a left should sprain seems to be the more pressing concern at the moment. The 32-year-old outfielder should only need a handful of rehab games before returning to Cincinnati sometime next week.
Reds recalled RHP Joel Kuhnel from Triple-A Louisville.
Kuhnel will be available out of Cincinnati's bullpen for Friday's series opener against the Cardinals. The 28-year-old righty has made only one appearance this season in the majors after a career-high 53 relief appearances last year.
Orioles released LHP Zac Lowther.
Lowther made just one relief appearance last year for the Orioles before being removed from Baltimore's 40-man roster, and hasn't pitched this season due to a left shoulder injury. The 27-year-old lefty would be an organizational depth addition somewhere else.