MLB Player News

The Orioles activated Akin from the COVID-19 injured list Sunday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Manager Brandon Hyde hasn't clarified what Akin's role will look like after he was on the shelf for 10 days while waiting to clear COVID-19 health and safety protocols, but the 26-year-old lefty will most likely work out of the bullpen for now. According to Joe Trezza of MLB.com, Akin isn't listed among the Orioles' probable starters for the team's upcoming three-game series with the Yankees, suggesting that Alexander Wells and Spenser Watkins will hold down the back-end spots in the rotation.

Ottavino allowed three runs on two hits and a hit batsman while striking out two over two-thirds of an inning in Saturday's 9-5 loss to the Rays.

Ottavino closed out the seventh inning without incident but ran into immediate trouble in the eighth. He permitted a leadoff double, then hit a batter before giving up a run-producing single. That ended his night, but two more runs were charged to him while Austin Davis was on the mound. There have been a few struggling relievers among the Red Sox bullpen lately, with Ottavino being one of them. He's allowed seven runs on seven hits, two walks and two hit batsmen over his last three innings.

The White Sox recalled Lambert from Triple-A Charlotte on Sunday. He's scheduled to start the White Sox's series finale with Cleveland, Vinnie Duber of NBC Sports Chicago reports.

Lambert has started in all 13 of his appearances with Charlotte this season, but he's maxed out at 64 pitches over his past three outings. With that in mind, Lambert can't be counted on to work deep into Sunday's start, even though he projects to cover the most innings for the White Sox. Reynaldo Lopez covered two frames in relief Thursday, but he could still be a candidate to pitch about two innings once Lambert departs the contest.

Cleveland will call Morgan up from Triple-A Columbus to start Monday's game against the Blue Jays, Mitch Bannon of SI.com reports.

As he rejoins the Cleveland rotation, Morgan will tentatively line up for a two-start week, with his second turn expected to come Saturday at home versus Detroit. However, based on the results he's provided through his first seven big-league starts, Morgan hasn't given fantasy managers much reason to trust him for the two step. While his 20.4 K-BB% is solid, Morgan's 7.47 ERA and 1.37 WHIP have been toxic.

Hearn didn't factor into the decision in Saturday's 5-4 extra-inning win over the Mariners, giving up two unearned runs on three hits and a walk over 3.2 innings. He struck out three.

The 26-year-old still isn't fully stretched out and got the hook after 52 pitches (34 strikes), but after Kyle Seager took him deep in the first inning for a two-run blast, Hearn settled down and gave the Rangers a chance to rally. The lefty wraps up July with a 0.57 ERA, 0.64 WHIP and 13:5 K:BB through 15.2 innings over eight appearances, and he should remain in the rotation as long as he remains effective.

Yarbrough didn't factor into the decision in Saturday's 9-5 win over the Red Sox, giving up five runs on four hits and a walk over five innings. He struck out four.

Two-run shots by Xander Bogaerts in the first inning and Bobby Dalbec in the fifth accounted for most of the damage off Yarbrough. The southpaw hadn't served up multiple homers in a start since June 3, but he's allowed a steady rain of balls to fall into the seats this season -- his 1.42 HR/9 is by far a career-worst performance in that category. Yarbrough will carry a 4.58 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 94:21 K:BB through 114 innings into his next outing.

Iglesias recorded two strikeouts and didn't allow a baserunner over 1.1 frames to record the save in Saturday's 1-0 win against Oakland.

The right-hander entered with two outs in the eighth inning and the tying run on second base, but he quickly escaped the jam and retired the side in order in the ninth. Iglesias continues to pitch well for the Angels after a rough start to the season, and he has a 1.93 ERA, 0.67 WHIP and 51:5 K:BB in his past 27 outings. Overall he's 22-for-27 in save chances this season and features a 38.6 percent strikeout rate.

Barria (2-0) earned the win Saturday versus the A's after giving up four hits and a walk over 6.2 innings. He recorded three strikeouts.

Barria surrendered only two hits through six frames, and he was pulled with two outs in the seventh after Oakland loaded the bases on two singles and an error. It was the right-hander's second straight turn through the rotation, and he's pitched well in both outings with only two runs allowed across 13.2 innings to notch a pair of victories.

Garcia lasted only one inning in a start for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Saturday after giving up four runs on six hits -- including three homers -- and one walk.

Garcia was the leading candidate for a big-league rotation spot early in spring training and has made two starts for the big club this season, but he hasn't shown any progression in the minors. The right-hander has posted a 7.41 ERA along with a problematic 61:39 K:BB across 54.2 innings at the Triple-A level. Given the Yankees' recent addition of Andrew Heaney and the eventual return of both Luis Severino (elbow) and Corey Kluber (shoulder), Garcia may not get another shot in the majors this season.

Clase secured his 13th save of the season Saturday against the White Sox, allowing two hits with one strikeout in 1.2 innings.

Clase entered the game with one out in the eighth inning with Cleveland on top 12-11, and he recorded the final five outs of the contest. It was just the third time in 45 appearances this season Clase has had to work more than a single inning, but he came through with his sixth consecutive scoreless appearance. The 23-year-old has posted a sparkling 1.85 ERA and 1.19 WHIP in 43.2 innings in 2021 while converting 13 of 17 save opportunities.