MLB Player News

Akin was placed on the restricted list Monday ahead of the Orioles' four-game series in Toronto.

The timing of the move implies that Akin failed to meet the requirements to cross the Canadian border by declining to vaccinate himself against COVID-19. Rico Garcia was called up as a replacement player to take his place in the bullpen. Akin should be back in action when the Orioles return stateside to take on the Rays on Friday.

The Orioles selected Garcia's contract from Triple-A Norfolk on Monday.

He'll be joining the 26-man active roster for the Orioles' series in Toronto as a replacement in the bullpen for Keegan Akin, who was placed on the restricted list and presumably isn't eligible to play in Canada due to his vaccination status. Akin should be activated ahead of Friday's series opener against the Rays in Baltimore, but Garcia could stick with the big club if he performs well in what appearances he makes during the four-game series in Toronto.

Giles (finger) has made his last two rehab appearances for Triple-A Tacoma, allowing four earned runs on five hits while also recording two strikeouts over 1.2 innings.

The bulk of the trouble reflected in that busy line came against Salt Lake on Wednesday, when Giles was tagged for three solo home runs in just two-thirds of an inning. The veteran reliever is clearly still working off rust after having pitched all of 3.2 innings at the big-league level since 2019; however, Doug Miller of MLB.com reports manager Scott Servais said Giles came out of his 18-pitch outing Sunday feeling good while also acknowledging the right-hander could be activated for the upcoming series against the Twins or make "one or two more" rehab appearances with the Rainiers.

Sewald (3-2) allowed a two-run home run and hit two batters while also recording two strikeouts over an inning to take the loss against the Red Sox on Sunday.

One day after notching his third win, Sewald was on the opposite side of the ledger Sunday when he surrendered what turned out to be a game-winning two-run home run to Rafael Devers in the eighth inning. The hard-throwing right-hander's control was uncharacteristically poor, and he's now yielded earned runs in consecutive appearances for the first time all season.

Patino (oblique) completed his second rehab start Saturday with the Rays' rookie-level Florida Complex League affiliate, covering two scoreless innings and striking out five while allowing one hit and no walks.

Patino upped his pitch count to 29 in the outing and will now likely advance to one of the Rays' higher-level affiliates to make at least two more rehab starts before potentially coming off the 60-day injured list. The 22-year-old right-hander has been on the shelf since straining his oblique in his season debut with the Rays on April 11.

The Twins optioned Sands to Triple-A St. Paul on Monday.

Minnesota is expected to get Joe Ryan (illness) back from the COVID-19-related injured list and Sonny Gray (pectoral) from the 15-day injured list this week, so the team had no need to keep Sands around as a No. 5 starter. Sands has made five appearances (three starts) with the big club this season, going 0-3 with an 8.82 ERA, 1.78 WHIP and 18:7 K:BB across 16.1 innings. He should slot back into the Triple-A rotation upon his return to St. Paul.

Shaw has not allowed a run in his last eight appearances spanning 6.2 innings.

In that stretch, he's logged a 9:4 K:BB while allowing four hits. Shaw has just three holds on the year and none since May 5, so he's not in the mix for much high-leverage work. He's done well in a less glamorous role, posting a 3.72 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 16:9 K:BB across 19.1 innings overall, serving as a trusty veteran in a bullpen not lacking for solid pitching. The Guardians' 2.98 bullpen ERA as a team ranks fourth-best in the majors.

Stephan allowed two runs on two hits and struck out one in one inning during Sunday's 6-3 win over the Athletics.

Prior to Sunday, Stephan hadn't given up a home run all season. That changed in the eighth inning when he allowed back-to-back solo shots to Christian Bethancourt and Seth Brown. This was the fourth time in 23 appearances Stephan's given up multiple runs. He has a 4.09 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 23:7 K:BB, a save, three holds, a blown save and a 2-2 record in 22 innings. He should remain in a mid-leverage role, but he hasn't logged a save or a hold since May 9.

Akin surrendered three runs on three hits in 2.1 innings in Sunday's 10-7 win over the Royals.

Dean Kremer went five-plus innings as the starter, while Akin provided some length out of the bullpen. All three hits Akin allowed were home runs -- a two-run shot to Hunter Dozier in the sixth inning and solo shots by Michael Taylor and Bobby Witt in the seventh. This was Akin's first outing since June 4, and he's allowed seven runs across his last 8.2 innings while recording just two strikeouts in that span. He's posted a 2.61 ERA, 0.87 WHIP and 30:10 K:BB in 38 innings overall, but it appears his luck has started to even out after a remarkable first two months of the season. Prior to Sunday's appearance, he had given up just two homers all year.

Clase allowed a hit and no walks while striking out two in a scoreless ninth inning to earn the save in Sunday's win over the Athletics.

Clase pitched in a non-save situation Wednesday against the Rangers, but he was called upon to preserve a three-run lead during Sunday's series finale against Oakland. The right-hander has tossed 10 scoreless innings over his last 10 appearances and has converted all four of his save chances during that time. Clase has posted a 1.85 ERA and 0.86 WHIP in 34.1 innings over 26 appearances in 2022.