MLB Player News

Kansas City activated Clarke from the family medical emergency list ahead of Wednesday's game against the Pirates.

Clarke had been away from the Royals since Friday. The 30-year-old right-hander returns to a 5.55 ERA, 1.62 WHIP and 52:21 K:BB in 48.2 innings for the season.

King is lined up to receive another start Sunday at Houston, Chris Kirschner of The Athletic reports.

King built his pitch count up to 61 in his most recent start Tuesday versus the Tigers while striking out five batters over four scoreless innings. Jhony Brito will likely be available in bulk relief Sunday against the Astros, but King is perhaps making a case to be treated as more of a traditional starter rather than just an opening pitcher. The 28-year-old right-hander boasts an overall 2.96 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 87:25 K:BB in 73 innings this season for the Yankees.

Detroit optioned Hill to Triple-A Toledo on Wednesday, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

The 27-year-old right-hander heads back to the farm to clear out a 26-man roster spot for Joey Wentz, who is expected to serve as the Tigers' bulk pitcher Wednesday versus the Yankees. Hill has been lit up for 20 runs -- 16 earned -- in 15.2 big-league innings this season.

White will serve as the Tigers' opening pitcher for Wednesday's game against the Yankees, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

The Tigers will likely call on White to cover one or two innings before he exits the contest and turns the game over to Joey Wentz, who will be called up from Triple-A Toledo and is expected to work in bulk relief. White is serving as an opener for the second time this season after he previously made his first MLB start July 1 in Colorado.

Zerpa is scheduled to start Wednesday's game against the Pirates at Kauffman Stadium, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Zerpa made his latest appearance out of the bullpen this past Saturday in Seattle while Zack Greinke moved back into a traditional starting role earlier this week, but the Royals will turn to Zerpa for a spot start Wednesday since Brady Singer (arm) is having his turn in the rotation skipped. Assuming the brief respite is all Singer needs to overcome his bout with arm fatigue, Zerpa will likely head back to the bullpen following Wednesday's start. Between his previous two starts with Kansas City this season, Zerpa has given up five earned runs on nine hits and three walks while striking out 10 over seven innings.

Hernandez (1-9) allowed a run on a two hits over one-third of an inning, taking the loss and a blown save Tuesday versus the Pirates.

Austin Cox left a man on base in the eighth inning and Hernandez surrendered a two-run home run to Ke'Bryan Hayes. Hernandez's uneven August -- 8.68 ERA, 1.93 WHIP, 2-for-4 in save chances -- has prevented him from outright claiming the closer role that opened up when Scott Barlow was traded to San Diego. Hernandez has a 4.33 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 73:22 K:BB through 62.1 innings overall while adding three saves, 12 holds and four blown saves this season.

Coulombe (4-1) pitched 1.2 perfect innings to earn the win Tuesday over the White Sox.

Dean Kremer left runners on base in the seventh inning, but Coulombe was able to pitch out of trouble just before the Orioles rallied ahead. Coulombe's scoreless streak is up to seven innings over eight appearances, and he has a 10:2 K:BB in that span. For the season, he's at a 2.59 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 51:10 K:BB with two saves and 20 holds over 41.2 innings. With Felix Bautista (elbow) sidelined, Coulombe and Yennier Cano figure to handle most of the high-leverage assignments.

Chapman gave up a solo home run and struck out one in the ninth inning Tuesday to record his fourth save of the season in a 2-1 win over the Mets.

Will Smith's recent struggles -- he's blown his last two save chances and hasn't successfully converted one since Aug. 11 -- have forced manager Bruce Bochy to look elsewhere at the end of games, with Jose Leclerc getting the save Monday before Chapman got his turn Tuesday. The veteran lefty watched rookie Mark Vientos get just enough of a 100.8-mph fastball to send it out to the opposite field, but otherwise Chapman got the job done on an efficient nine pitches (eight strikes). Smith tossed a scoreless eighth to pick up a hold and hasn't been removed completely from the high-leverage mix, but the Rangers could be headed toward a closing committee unless someone seizes the job.

King did not factor into the decision Tuesday, allowing three hits over four scoreless innings in a 4-2 win over the Tigers. He struck out five and did not issue a walk.

King set down the first six Tigers and surrendered just three singles across his four innings in his role as an opener of sorts. Across his two starts (against Washington and Detroit), the 28-year-old has gone a combined 6.2 innings allowing only four hits and one unearned run while striking out eight and walking two. It appears likely that the Yankees will continue to deploy him in a similar fashion with Jhony Brito following him in a bulk-relief role. If King does draw another start, it would likely occur over the weekend in Houston.

Norris was designated for assignment Tuesday.

Norris' most recent stay in the big leagues lasted just one day after he was tagged for four runs on four hits and a walk over two innings versus the Twins on Monday. This is the second time Norris has been DFA'd by Cleveland this month -- he elected free agency after the first time before re-signing on a minor-league deal. Hunter Gaddis was recalled from Triple-A Columbus in a corresponding move.