MLB Player News

The Tigers designated Adams for assignment after Sunday's 6-3 loss to the Red Sox.

A late-May waiver pickup from the Twins, Adams turned in a 5.14 ERA, 1.71 WHIP and 10:9 K:BB across 13 appearances out of the Detroit bullpen spanning 14 innings. He'll be exposed to waivers once more but will likely stick in the Detroit organization and report to Triple-A Toledo if he goes unclaimed. The Tigers don't plan to formally announce a replacement on the 40-man roster for Adams until the club resumes its post-All-Star-break schedule July 12 in Kansas City.

Junis allowed two runs on five hits with two walks and six strikeouts across seven innings during a no-decision against the Nationals on Sunday.

This was one of Junis' best starts of the year, but the Royals needed a two-run rally in the eighth to help him avoid a loss. While he didn't take the defeat, Junis hasn't captured a win since May 30. He is 4-8 with a 5.33 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 98 strikeouts in 106.1 innings this year.

Carasiti will serve as the Mariners' opening pitcher for Sunday's game against the Athletics.

The rookie has worked exactly one inning in each of his prior four turns as an opener and will likely be on tap for a similar workload in the series finale. Once Carasiti exits, lefty Wade LeBlanc will enter the contest and cover the bulk of the innings in relief.

Payano was optioned to Triple-A Nashville on Sunday.

Payano's first stint in the big leagues lasted all of one day, with the right-hander delivering a scoreless inning in relief in Saturday's 7-4 loss to the Twins. The 24-year-old was deemed an expendable piece with the Rangers needing a spot on the 25-man roster for Sunday's primary pitcher, Joe Palumbo, who was called up from Triple-A in a corresponding move.

The Rangers officially recalled Palumbo from Triple-A Nashville ahead of Sunday's game against the Twins.

Palumbo is scheduled to work as the Rangers' primary pitcher in the first-half finale after opener Jose Leclerc exits the contest. Over his previous two outings with the big club this season, Palumbo has covered six innings while allowing 11 runs on 12 hits and three walks. He'll likely be headed back to Nashville at the conclusion of Sunday's contest.

The Blue Jays recalled Shafer from Triple-A Buffalo on Sunday, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.

He'll provide Toronto with a fresh arm out of the bullpen for the series finale with the Orioles after long relievers Sam Gaviglio covered three innings and Nick Kingham covered 2.2 innings in games Friday and Saturday, respectively. The Blue Jays optioned outfielder Jonathan Davis to Triple-A to clear room on the active roster for Shafer.

The Twins recalled Smeltzer from Triple-A Rochester ahead of Sunday's game against the Rangers.

Though Kyle Gibson will draw the start in the Twins' final game before the All-Star break, he's only expected to work two innings before turning the game over to the bullpen. Smeltzer is expected to be the first pitcher manager Rocco Baldelli turns to out of the bullpen, though the rookie may only work a few innings of his own rather than operating as a true "primary pitcher." Expect Smeltzer to return to Rochester after the outing in the likely event that Jake Odorizzi (finger) is ready to return from the 10-day injured list shortly after the second half begins.

Leclerc allowed one hit while striking out three over an inning in Saturday's 7-4 loss to the Twins.

Leclerc raised his strikeout percentage to 36.4, which ranks 11th among all relievers. The right-hander, who pitched for the first time in four days and needed 30 pitches, is scheduled to open Sunday's game and will have a few bullets left but probably won't go more than one inning.

Soto will serve as the opener Sunday against the Red Sox, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.

Soto threw 24 pitches out of the bullpen Friday and won't be asked to deliver a starter's workload in Sunday's series finale. The Tigers likely have a flexible pitching plan as they finish the season's first half with a bullpen day.

Manaea (shoulder) will begin a rehab assignment Monday at High-A Stockton, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Manaea was briefly shut down in June due to an oblique issue, but he was able to resume throwing quickly and is now in the final stage of his rehab work. The 27-year-old has been on the injured list all season after undergoing shoulder surgery last September and will likely require multiple appearances in the minors to get back up to speed.