MLB Player News

Lopez was placed on the 15-day injured list with a lower-back strain Thursday, retroactive to July 25.

Lopez's back injury has kept him off the mound since Saturday, and he'll be sidelined for at least another week and a half after being diagnosed with a strain. It's not yet clear when the White Sox expect the right-hander will return to action.

The Mariners recalled Brash from Triple-A Tacoma on Thursday.

Brash will begin his third stint of the season with the big club, serving as a reliever for the second straight time after he had previously been part of the Mariners' Opening Day rotation. Seattle could revisit the idea of developing Brash as a starter in 2023, but for the remainder of the current campaign, the hard-throwing right-hander looks like he'll be a full-time member of the bullpen. Before being optioned to Tacoma on Tuesday, Brash made five relief appearances for Seattle, covering 5.1 innings and striking out six while allowing two earned runs on five hits and four walks. He was eligible to rejoin the Mariners two days after being optioned since Seattle placed fellow reliever Diego Castillo (shoulder) on the 15-day injured list.

Lopez (4-6) allowed two runs (one earned) on two hits and two walks in one inning, taking the extra-inning loss versus the Rays on Wednesday.

Lopez put the first four batters he faced aboard, and Randy Arozarena had a two-run double during that Rays rally. The Orioles didn't have a second comeback push in them, leading to Lopez taking his first loss since July 2. This was only the fourth time all year the closer has allowed multiple walks in an outing. He has a 1.71 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 52:17 K:BB through 47.1 innings while going 19-for-23 in save chances.

Gillaspie was called up from Triple-A Norfolk on Thursday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Gillaspie will return to the Orioles' active roster for a third stint in the big leagues this season. The right-hander has produced a 4.35 ERA and 1.65 WHIP with four strikeouts over 10.1 innings in 11 appearances with the squad. Nick Vespi was optioned to Norfolk in a corresponding move Thursday.

Vespi was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk on Thursday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Vespi will return to Norfolk after he appeared in two games following a call-up Monday. The left-hander tossed three scoreless innings, allowing two hits and a walk while striking out six. Beau Sulser and Logan Gillaspie were called up Thursday to replace him and Tyler Wells (side) on the active roster. Vespi will remain a top candidate to return to the big leagues moving forward.

Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre activated Garcia (finger) from its 7-day injured list Thursday and assigned him to Double-A Somerset, Matt Kardos of MLB.com reports.

Though Garcia was initially moved to the IL on May 31 after experiencing a loss of feeling in his fingers, he appeared to overcome that issue quickly. However, because Garcia had struggled mightily at Triple-A before landing on the IL -- he turned in a 10.38 ERA and 2.26 WHIP in 21.2 innings -- the Yankees opted to have him stay at their extended spring training facility to work on his mechanics. Garcia will make his return to game action as a member of Somerset's rotation, but he shouldn't have to wait long for a promotion to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre if he fares well in his initial outings at Double-A.

Puk pitched a perfect ninth inning with one strikeout to earn his second save of the season in a 4-2 win over the Astros on Wednesday.

Not long after Puk tallied his first career save on July 22, he was called upon to close the door once again. He came through with a perfect ninth inning to lower his ERA to 2.13. Wednesday's appearance in a save situation might be the most important of the two, since Puk came in to start the ninth rather than to bail out a struggling Lou Trivino. It could be a sign that Puk is inching his way into Oakland's closer role. However, Trivino and Zach Jackson had each pitched in two consecutive games and might have been unavailable. The Athletics' bullpen roles are worth monitoring since the team is expected to be sellers at the upcoming trade deadline.

Poche (3-1) allowed one earned run on two hits and a walk while striking out two in the ninth inning to earn the win Wednesday against the Orioles.

Poche entered the game with a one-run lead but allowed a solo home run to Jorge Mateo to blow a save chance for the second consecutive day. He's struggled since late June, allowing nine earned runs across 11.2 innings and 13 appearances. Pete Fairbanks picked up the save in the 10th inning after the Rays retook the lead, further complicating the closer picture in Tampa Bay.

Fairbanks earned a save against the Orioles on Wednesday, striking out one batter in a perfect 10th inning.

Tampa Bay had a chance to win in regulation, but Colin Poche blew a save opportunity in the ninth inning. After the Rays scored twice in the top of the 10th, Fairbanks was summoned to close things out and succeeded on only 11 pitches. This was the right-hander's fourth outing since making his season debut July 17, and it was the first time he has gotten through an appearance without allowing a baserunner. No reliever appears likely to be given the role of full-time closer in the Rays' system, so Fairbanks could earn an additional save chance or two along the way, but he doesn't currently appear to be among the top choices in such situations.

De Los Santos (2-0) earned the win Wednesday over the Red Sox. He allowed a hit and struck out one in 1.1 scoreless innings.

De Los Santos benefited from the Guardians surging ahead in the ninth inning, and Emmanuel Clase locked down the one-run lead for the save. This was De Los Santos' sixth straight appearance without allowing a run -- he's covered seven innings and allowed five hits with five strikeouts in that span. The 26-year-old is quickly building trust in the Guardians' bullpen, as he owns a 2.87 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 36:11 K:BB in 31.1 innings while adding a save and two holds.