MLB Player News

King is listed as the the Yankees' starting pitcher for Saturday's game against Miami, Chris Kirschner of The Athletic reports.

Like many major-league relievers, King was a starter in the minors and at the beginning of his MLB career, so being the first pitcher on the mound won't be an entirely new experience. He'll likely be more of an opener than a true starter Saturday, though he did record eight outs in his most recent relief appearance Tuesday against the White Sox and has thrown at least two full innings in 14 of his 38 outings this season. Jhony Brito was recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Friday and could handle the bulk role behind King, though the Yankees have yet to lay out their plans.

Sands was recalled from Triple-A St. Paul on Saturday.

Sands appeared in four games for the Saints after he was demoted July 28, throwing 5.1 shutout innings with 10 strikeouts. He'll work in a long relief role again with the Twins after Brent Headrick was sent to Triple-A after throwing 67 pitches over 3.1 relief innings in Friday's loss to the Phillies.

Zerpa (1-1) earned the win Friday against the Cardinals. He allowed five runs on five hits and one walk while striking out two over four innings.

It's not that Zerpa was effective, but he entered the game in the second inning already up 8-0 giving him a clear path to earn his first win. The left-hander worked as a starter in the minors prior to his call up Aug. 1, but this was his second appearance as a bulk reliever for the big club and fourth overall. Zerpa has now allowed eight runs in 9.1 innings with only three strikeouts. Those stats do not portend to him holding much value moving forward, especially on a Royals' team that has amassed just 38 wins on the season.

Sandlin (5-5) allowed one run on one hit without recording an out to take the loss in Friday's 9-8 defeat at the hands of the Rays.

Sandlin served up a walk-off solo home run to Wander Franco just three pitches into his ninth-inning appearance after the Guardians had rallied to tie the game. With three runs allowed over three innings plus two losses to begin August, it's been a rough stretch for Sandlin. He has a 3.65 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 49:16 K:BB through 44.1 innings this season.

Smith allowed a run on one hit in one inning to earn the save in Friday's 2-1 win over the Giants.

Smith has given up four runs over his last six innings, but he's been able to protect leads all the same with five saves in that span. The southpaw gave up a double and an RBI groundout in Friday's somewhat shaky outing. Smith is up to 22 saves in 24 chances with a 3.14 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and 43:10 K:BB through 43 innings this season as the Rangers' closer.

Fairbanks was removed from a save opportunity Friday versus the Guardians after retiring just two of six batters he faced.

Fairbanks couldn't have asked for an easier save chance in coming in to face a weak Guardians lineup nursing a three-run lead. He was all over the place, though, loading the bases on two walks and a hit-by-pitch before recording an out. Fairbanks recorded a pair of strikeouts around a run-scoring wild pitch, but another wild pitch to allow a run followed by a walk finally ended his night. A final run was charged to his ledger when Robert Stephenson let the tying run score on a wild pitch of his own. The blown save officially goes to Stephenson, but most of this was Fairbanks' doing. His ERA has climbed from 1.73 to 2.93 over his last two appearances.

Curry was charged with five runs on six hits and two walks over five-plus innings Friday, taking a no-decision in a 9-8 loss to the Rays. He struck out one.

Curry retired the side in order each of the first two innings but then labored in the third as the Rays sent eight men to the plate and scored three runs. He bounced back with a scoreless fourth and fifth, but a double ahead of an Isaac Paredes two-run homer in the sixth ended his night. In addition to just one strikeout, Curry managed only two whiffs among 70 pitches. He could get another start as the Guardians continue to patch together their rotation around numerous injuries, but fantasy managers can probably do better.

Murphy issued two walks over three no-hit, shutout frames Friday, striking out four and earning a save over Detroit.

It was an impressive rebound after Murphy was tagged with six runs against Toronto in his last appearance. The southpaw lowered his ERA to 2.94 with a 34:15 K:BB through 33.2 frames.

Maton was removed from Friday's appearance versus the Angels after being hit by a comebacker in the right elbow, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

He was facing his first batter in the top of the ninth when Eduardo Escobar smoked a 90.2 mph line drive back up the middle and off Maton's pitching elbow. He'll head for testing after the game.

Headrick was optioned to Triple-A St. Paul on Friday, Phil Miller of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

Headrick threw 67 pitches over 3.1 relief innings in Friday's loss to the Phillies, so he'll be sent out in favor a fresh bullpen arm. The Twins will announce Headrick's replacement Saturday.