MLB Player News

Rodriguez was recalled from Triple-A Round Rock on Saturday.

Rodriguez made four relief appearances for the Rangers earlier in the year but didn't do much of note, allowing two runs on four hits across four innings while striking out one batter and walking two. His 4.91 ERA and 16.9 percent walk rate in 15 outings for Round Rock suggest he'll be limited to low-leverage duty in the majors. Spencer Howard was demoted in a corresponding move.

Houston placed Stanek on the family medical emergency list Saturday, Matt Young of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Stanek will take some time away from the Astros for at least a few days while dealing with more important matters. Houston will announce a corresponding transaction before Sunday's game against the Guardians.

Moore (oblique) has been cleared to begin a throwing program in the coming days, per MLB.com.

Moore underwent an MRI in late May and was diagnosed with a Grade 2 oblique strain. While his ability to resume throwing soon is clearly a positive development, the lefty reliever will likely need to build up on flat ground before returning to a mound. Moore was thriving prior to the injury, posting a 1.44 ERA, 0.80 WHIP and 21:7 K:BB over 25 innings. He leads the team with 12 holds.

Richards will start Saturday's game against the Twins, though he isn't expected to throw more than three innings, Mike Wilner of the Toronto Star reports.

Richards will make the start which would have previously gone to Alek Manoah, who was demoted after struggling to a 6.36 ERA in 13 starts. Richards has starting experience, with 56 of his 200 MLB appearances coming in that role, but he's likely to wind up somewhere between an opener and a true starter in Saturday's contest given that he's exclusively pitched in relief this season, only once recording more than six outs. Bowden Francis and Mitch White are available to provide length behind him. Whether the Blue Jays elect to build Richards up to a starter's workload and keep him in the rotation going forward or move him back to the bullpen following Saturday's outing remains to be seen.

Curry (3-0) allowed an unearned run on one hit over one inning to earn the win in Friday's 14-inning 10-9 win over the Astros.

The Guardians weren't quite out of bullpen options by the 14th inning, but putting Curry in was likely to eat innings if the marathon game continued. He gave up an RBI single to Kyle Tucker, but Cleveland rallied for two runs to end the contest. Curry has earned all three of his wins this season over his last four appearances despite allowing three runs (two earned) over seven innings in that span. He's at a 2.51 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 21:7 K:BB over 32.1 innings overall as a long-relief option.

Vespi was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk on Saturday.

Vespi was recalled Friday and didn't pitch in that game before getting a quick ticket back to Norfolk. He has a 1.77 ERA and seven saves in 20.1 innings across 19 appearances out of the Triple-A bullpen.

Pressly blew his second save of the season in Friday's 10-9 extra-innings loss to the Guardians, giving up a run on a hit and a walk in the ninth inning. He struck out one.

The Astros had already seen a 5-4 lead slip away, but after they re-took the lead in the top of the eighth inning, Pressly got the call to try and secure his 12th save. Instead, Cleveland tied it up again, something the Guardians would do twice more in extra innings before finally taking their first and only lead of the night in the 14th. Pressly has been tagged for a run in three of his last four appearances, but the stumble seems to be more a product of bad luck than bad performance -- over his last 12 games, the veteran closer has an 18:2 K:BB in 12 innings.

Duran (2-2) picked up the win in Friday's 3-2 extra-inning victory over the Blue Jays, allowing one hit and two walks over two scoreless innings. He struck out two.

With the score tied 2-2, Duran was brought in to face the bottom of the Toronto order in the ninth inning and nearly made a mess, plunking Santiago Espinal to lead off the frame and eventually loading the bases with two outs before escaping the jam. After Minnesota took the lead in the top of the 10th, however, the team's closer looked a little more comfortable as he finished things out. Duran has struck out multiple batters in nine of 11 appearances since the beginning of May, a stretch of dominance that has seen him post a 0.63 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 20:6 K:BB through 14.1 innings, but circumstances have let him record only two saves during that time. If the Twins can get him more opportunities, expect the 25-year-old to have few issues converting them.

Jansen picked up the save in Friday's 3-2 victory over the Yankees. He allowed two hits and no walks while striking out one over a scoreless inning.

Jansen made things quite interesting after getting two quick outs, allowing back-to-back singles before getting Anthony Volpe to fly out to end the game. The veteran hurler has been spectacular so far on the road this season, striking out 12 batters in 11.2 innings while not allowing a run. Jansen has settled down after hitting a bit of a rough patch, allowing just two runs over his last seven appearances.

Hendriks (1-0) pitched a scoreless inning without allowing a baserunner to earn the win Friday against the Marlins.

Hendriks entered the game with the score tied in the ninth inning and set down the Marlins in order. Given the White Sox were playing at home, his usage suggests that he was being treated as the team's closer. In addition, Kendall Graveman pitched the eighth inning, and he appears to be Hendriks' top competition for saves. The White Sox could use a committee in the ninth frame for the time being to ease Hendriks back into action, but it certainly appears that he's trending toward a majority of the save chances moving forward.