MLB Player News

Merryweather (oblique) began a rehab assignment Saturday with the Blue Jays' rookie-level Florida Complex League affiliate, striking out two over a scoreless inning in his first appearance.

Merryweather is on the comeback trail after he had been sidelined since June 13 with a left oblique strain. After being moved to the 60-day injured list, Merryweather won't be eligible for activation until the middle of August, so he'll likely make at least a few more appearances in the minors before slotting back into the Toronto bullpen.

Martinez (2-3) took the loss Sunday against San Francisco, allowing two runs on four hits and a walk while striking out five in 4.1 innings.

Martinez was called up before the game to fill the spot in the rotation left vacant when Frankie Montas was traded. The first run against Martinez came on a solo homer by Mike Yastrzemski in the third, and the second came in the fifth inning after he was removed with two on and one out. It was his fifth start of the season for Oakland and first since July 11. For the season he has a 6.08 ERA and 1.44 WHIP with six homers allowed in 23.2 innings. Should he stay with the big-league club, his next start will likely be next weekend in Houston.

Sewald pitched a perfect inning and struck out one to earn the save in Sunday's 6-3 win over the Angels.

Sewald took an extra-inning loss to the Angels on Friday, but he was able to help the Mariners salvage a 2-2 split in this weekend series by closing out the finale. He's allowed just one unearned over his last six innings, picking up two saves and a hold in that span. The right-hander is now 14-for-17 in save chances while adding six holds, a 3-3 record, 2.42 ERA, 0.67 WHIP and 49:11 K:BB through 44.2 innings this year.

Davidson (1-3) took the loss Sunday versus the Mariners. He allowed six runs on six hits and five walks while striking out one in four innings.

Davidson's biggest mistake was a third-inning grand slam to Jesse Winker. This was Davidson's Angels debut after he was included as part of the return that sent Raisel Iglesias to Atlanta. Through 19.1 innings in five appearances (four starts), Davidson has struggled to a 7.91 ERA, 2.02 WHIP and 11:18 K:BB. He may stick in the Angels' six-man rotation, but it wouldn't be surprising to see him link up with Triple-A Salt Lake if his performance doesn't improve. If he gets another start, it would likely be at home against the Twins next weekend.

Howard (2-4) took the loss Sunday against the White Sox, allowing six runs (five earned) on eight hits and a walk while striking three in 3.1 innings.

Chicago scored a run in the second, two in the third and three in the fourth. Andrew Vaughn hit a two-run blast in the third and, after AJ Pollock and Luis Robert hit consecutive doubles with one out in the fourth, Howard was removed. Howard stepped into Texas' rotation at the beginning of July and has allowed four runs or more in four of his seven starts since then. As a starter, he has a 7.41 ERA, 1.74 WHIP and 10 homers allowed in 34 innings. His next start will likely be next weekend against Seattle.

The Twins announced Pagan was removed from his relief appearance in Sunday's game against the Blue Jays due to a right lat cramp, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports. He retired two batters and allowed a base hit before exiting in the sixth inning.

Anything lat-related is usually worrisome for a pitcher, but assuming Pagan is in fact dealing with nothing more serious than a cramp, he should be able to avoid a stint on the injured list. The Twins are labeling Pagan as day-to-day for the time being and should have an update on the right-hander's status in advance of Tuesday's series opener in Los Angeles against the Dodgers.

Mayers struck out four over 3.1 scoreless innings of long relief Saturday in the Angels' 2-1 loss to the Mariners in the first game of a doubleheader. He scattered one hit and two walks in the 69-pitch outing.

Mayers, who had converted to a starting role at Triple-A Salt Lake in late June, was summoned from the minors in advance of the twin bill. He ended up serving as a piggyback starter behind Jaime Barria, who was charged with the loss after surrendering two earned runs on three hits and four walks over 4.2 innings. With the Angels optioning Janson Junk to Triple-A on Saturday, Los Angeles will have a permanent opening in its six-man rotation this week. If neither is needed in long relief during the Angels' upcoming three-game series in Oakland, another Barria/Mayers tandem start could be on tap next weekend versus the Twins.

The Angels returned Ortega to Triple-A Salt Lake on Sunday.

Ortega's stay with the big club lasted just one day after he was designated as the Angels' 27th man for Saturday's doubleheader with the Mariners. He appeared in relief in the Angels' 7-1 win in the second half of the twin bill, striking out two over a scoreless inning.

The Athletics recalled Martinez from Triple-A Las Vegas in advance of his scheduled start Sunday against the Giants in Oakland.

Oakland sent first baseman/designated hitter Dermis Garcia to Triple-A to clear a spot on the active roster for Martinez, who will temporarily settle in as the Athletics' No. 5 starter in the wake of Frankie Montas being dealt to the Yankees ahead of the trade deadline. Considering Martinez turned in a 6.52 ERA and 1.50 WHIP over four starts with the Athletics earlier this season and because his numbers at Triple-A over a larger sample aren't much better (5.54 ERA, 1.45 WHIP in 16 starts), he'll likely need a respectable showing against San Francisco to ensure he sticks in the big-league rotation beyond Sunday. The Athletics have three other starting pitchers (Zach Logue, Jared Koenig and JP Sears) on the 40-man roster waiting in the wings at Triple-A to replace Martinez if he can't get the job done.

The Blue Jays recalled Thornton from Triple-A Buffalo on Sunday.

Thornton will fortify the Toronto bullpen after the Blue Jays placed left-hander Tim Mayza (shoulder) on the 15-day injured list in a corresponding move. Over his 27 relief appearances with the big club this season spanning 38 innings, Thornton has compiled a 4.26 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 30:15 K:BB.