MLB Player News

Karinchak allowed a hit and two walks in one-third of an inning, earning a hold in Sunday's 3-0 win over the Angels.

The right-hander has somewhat rebounded from an ugly July, allowing three runs on five hits and four walks in 7.1 innings in August. Karinchak loaded the bases in the eighth inning Sunday, but Bryan Shaw was able to escape the jam on just two pitches. For the year, Karinchak has a 3.74 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 75:31 K:BB across 53 innings. He's added 11 saves, 12 holds, four blown saves and a 7-3 record, but Emmanuel Clase has emerged as a clearer favorite for ninth-inning duties since the All-Star break.

Hernandez improved to 4-1 after holding the Cubs to one run while striking out eight across seven innings Sunday in the Royals' 9-1 victory. He scattered four hits and three walks in the 107-pitch start.

The seven-inning outing represented a new career high for Hernandez, who brought his ERA under 4.00 for the first time all season. The 24-year-old right-hander has put himself on the mainstream fantasy radar over his last five starts, submitting a 2.05 ERA and 0.98 WHIP while striking out 22 in 30.2 innings over that stretch. He'll get a favorable landing spot in his next projected start in Seattle on Saturday, when he'll face a Mariners offense that ranks in the bottom six in the majors in batting average (.234) and strikeout rate (24.4 percent) in the second half.

Fairbanks (shoulder) allowed an earned run on one hit and recorded a strikeout over one inning in Triple-A Durham's loss to Jacksonville on Sunday.

Fairbanks was making his first rehab appearance alongside several of his recovering fellow Rays relievers, and like teammates J.P. Feyereisen and Nick Anderson, Jacksonville bats broke through against him. Fairbanks was sharp, however, throwing seven of his 10 pitches for strikes, and it remains to be seen if the team will want to see him log at least one more rehab appearance before activation is considered.

Feyereisen (biceps) made rehab appearances with Triple-A Durham both Saturday and Sunday, logging a combined 1.1 innings and surrendering two earned runs on a home run while also issuing a walk and recording two strikeouts.

The trouble came in Sunday's appearance, as Feyereisen worked a perfect inning Saturday in which he recorded the pair of punchouts. Feyereisen threw a total of 19 pitches across the two outings and appears to be steering clear of any physical setbacks, so he could be back with the Rays in relatively short order if he has no residual effects from being called upon on consecutive days.

Puk (0-1) allowed two earned runs on one hit and one walk while striking out one across one inning, taking the loss to the Giants on Sunday.

Puk entered the eighth inning with a one run lead and lost it on a two-run home run by Donovan Solano. He has spent most of the campaign in Triple-A Las Vegas and has pitched just 8.1 innings with the Athletics this season. However, this was his first time giving up any runs across his six appearances.

Clase saved Sunday's 3-0 triumph over the Angels, allowing one hit with one strikeout in one inning.

Clase completed Cleveland's shutout by firing 11 of 15 pitches for strikes and cruising to an easy save. The 23-year-old is yet to surrender a run in 8.2 August innings while striking out 10 and permitting just four baserunners this month.

Alcala (biceps) threw a bullpen session Saturday and could be activated from the injured list for this week's series in Boston, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

His right biceps tendinitis was described as "mild," but it's still surprising he may not need a rehabilitation assignment. Even if he is sent to the minors, it sounds like he'll be activated from the injured list soon, barring a setback.

Hearn is scheduled to make his next start Tuesday against Cleveland at Globe Life Field.

Hearn will be awarded a second turn through the rotation after he held the Mariners to two earned runs over five innings Aug. 17 in his fifth career MLB start. He gets a favorable draw against a Cleveland offense that ranks 20th in the majors with a collective 98 wRC+ since the All-Star break.

The Orioles outrighted Valdez to Triple-A Norfolk on Sunday after he cleared waivers, Dan Connolly of The Athletic reports.

Unsurprisingly, none of MLB's other 29 teams were willing to put in a waiver claim for a 36-year-old journeyman reliever who submitted a 5.76 ERA and 1.63 WHIP across 45.1 innings in the big leagues before Baltimore designated him for assignment last week. Since he no longer possesses a 40-man roster spot, Valdez will face an uphill battle to earn another call-up to Baltimore before the season ends.

Bazardo (lat) began a rehab assignment in the rookie-level Florida Complex League on Aug. 13 and has struck out seven in three scoreless innings across two appearances.

Despite being shut down since mid-May with a right lat strain, Bazardo has looked strong in his first two outings back from the three-plus-month layoff. Bazardo currently resides on the Red Sox's 60-day injured list, but he'll most likely be optioned to Triple-A Worcester when he's activated at the conclusion of his rehab assignment.