The Atlanta Braves are "keeping a close eye on" Zach Eflin as a potential trade target prior to the deadline, according to a report.

Rotation help has been a need for the Braves ever since Spencer Strider was lost for the season to an elbow injury.

Eflin has a 4.12 ERA and 44 strikeouts over 59 innings pitched for the Tampa Bay Rays this season.

The Toronto Blue Jays enter the week at 20-25 and in last place in the American League East.

Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins acknowledged that it's not that early anymore, and things need to turn around soon.  

"We believe in this talent. There is time left, but there's a massive sense of urgency and we need to get it turned around soon," Atkins said before the game. "... We're at the quarter pole and once you get to the halfway mark, there's not much you can do if the whole remains the same. We'll see. You always are prepared for any angle or any pivot that you have to make." 

The Chicago Cubs are promoting prospect Luis Vazquez, according to ESPN.

Vazquez, 24, will be making his Major League debut.

The call up appears tied to the health of Nico Hoerner, who hasn't played since last Monday due to an injured hamstring.

Vazquez was a 4th-round pick for the Cubs in 2017.

The St. Louis Cardinals are calling up right-hander Ryan Loutos.

An adjustment will need to be made to the club's 26-man and 40-man rosters as Loutos isn't on the 40-man.

It will be the first Major League exposure for Loutos, a graduate of Washington University in St. Louis who signed with the Cardinals as an undrafted free agent in 2021.  

Jose Abreu may be close to rejoining the Houston Astros.

Abreu agreed to be demoted to the Florida Complex League on May 1. He will play a few more Minor League games this week and could be called back up when the Astros begin a series with the Oakland Athletics on Friday, says general manager Dana Brown.

Abreu, 37, hit .099/.156/.113 in 22 games prior to the demotion.

Kevin Pillar recorded the 1,000th hit of his Major League career in the Los Angeles Angels' victory over the Texas Rangers on Sunday.

"Baseball is poetic in a way that I'm here in Texas, my family lives here, my parents are here in attendance," Pillar said. "I told them I wasn't in the starting lineup. They still wanted to be here for me to get an opportunity, and to come up in that situation with them here, it means the world to me."

Pillar, 35, has been with the Angels for only about three weeks. It is the ninth big league team over 12 seasons for the outfielder, who signed April 30, the same day the club put Mike Trout on the injured list because of a torn meniscus in his left knee that required surgery.

Edwin Diaz is open to a change in his role with the New York Mets.

Amid a terrible start to the season in which he has blown two consecutive save chances and three of his past four, the reliever says he just wants what is best for the club.

"I'm open to everything," Diaz said.

Diaz has a 10.80 ERA over his past eight appearances after serving up four homers in 8 1/3 innings.

"I want to help my team to win," he said. "That's my main thing. If they want to talk to me about that and I feel good about it, I agree on it. I just want to win games in any position they put me."

Veteran Jay Jackson was designated for assignment by the Minnesota Twins on Sunday as the club recalled fellow right-hander Caleb Boushley from Triple-A St. Paul.

Jackson has struggled, with a 6.85 ERA in 17 relief appearances this season, his first with the Twins. He allowed 10 earned runs over six appearances in May, including three earned runs over one inning during Saturday's 11-4 loss to the Cleveland Guardians.

Shohei Ohtani's first walk-off hit for the Los Angeles Dodgers was also his first game-ending hit in the majors in nearly four years.

His still-new teammates and fans who celebrated with him Sunday at Chavez Ravine expect to see many more feats from a superstar who's somehow getting even better in Dodger Blue.

Yu Darvish dominated a slumping Braves offense and extended his career high scoreless innings streak to 25 while earning his 200th professional win as the San Diego Padres hammered Atlanta 9-1 on Sunday night.

Darvish (4-1) gave up only two hits, struck out nine and walked one on 99 pitches in seven innings, and lowered his ERA to 2.08.

"Yu has been elite the last four times out," Padres manager Mike Shildt said. "He's been nothing short of magnificent."