MLB Player News

Kahnle was optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Monday.

Kahnle has struggled mightily for the Yankees this season, compiling an unsightly 7.00 ERA, 1.78 WHIP and 10.0 BB/9 across nine innings, so he'll head back to the minors to clear his head and work some kinks out. Adam Warren, who was activated from the disabled list in a corresponding roster move, will take his place in the bullpen and on the active roster. Kahnle owns an impressive 2.60 ERA and 12.1 K/9 over 90 innings the past two seasons, so he should be back with the big club after he gets back on track with the RailRiders.

The Tigers selected VerHagen's contract from Triple-A Toledo ahead of his scheduled start Monday in Game 1 of the doubleheader against the Yankees, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.

Since being dropped from the 40-man roster in late April, VerHagen has emerged as a dominant arm in the Toledo rotation, submitting a 1.32 ERA, 0.77 WHIP and 41:8 K:BB in 27.1 innings. The right-hander's track record as both a starter and reliever in the majors has been far more checkered, however, so it will be difficult to stream him with much confidence against one of baseball's top offenses. If VerHagen acquits himself well in the difficult matchup, he could earn a second start in the Tigers' weekend series against the Indians with rotation members Francisco Liriano (hamstring) and Jordan Zimmermann (shoulder) both expected to remain on the disabled list until at least next week.

Alvarado (0-2) allowed two runs (one earned) on two hits and a walk over one inning in a loss to the Mariners on Sunday. He struck out three.

Asked to protect a 1-0 lead entering the bottom of the eighth, Alvarado dug an immediate hole by issuing a leadoff walk to Ryon Healy. A Brad Miller error then allowed Guillermo Heredia to reach and simultaneously sent pinch runner Andrew Romine to third. A pair of RBI singles by Denard Span and Dee Gordon sandwiched around a Mike Zunino strikeout subsequently gave the Mariners a 2-1 lead they wouldn't relinquish, although the 23-year-old southpaw kept the deficit manageable by impressively retiring Jean Segura and Mitch Haniger on punchouts to close out the frame. The stumble resulted in Alvarado being charged with both his second loss and blown save of the season, and it extended the uncertainty surrounding the status of the Rays' closer role following the trade of Alex Colome to the Mariners late last month.

Trivino (3-0) fired two scoreless innings in a win over the Royals on Sunday, allowing a walk and recording two strikeouts.

After starter Daniel Gossett was forced from the game following 63 pitches due to elbow discomfort, Trivino came on and delivered a pair of near-perfect frames. The 26-year-old has now whittled his ERA down to a minuscule 0.82, a figure he's partly attained by generating scoreless efforts in 12 of his last 13 appearances.

Barnes struck out two over 1.2 scoreless innings to earn his 14th hold in Sunday's 9-3 win over the Astros.

The outing extended Barnes' scoreless streak to 11 innings (10 games), in which he's shaved his ERA to 2.10, struck out 14 and walked just three. The K's will always be there for the hard-throwing right-hander, but the free passes are what jump out. When Barnes gets into trouble, the culprit is typically bases on balls -- he's walked 4.2 per nine innings this season and 3.7 for his career.

Giles allowed two runs on three hits and struck out two over one inning in a non-save situation Sunday against the Red Sox.

Giles hadn't pitched in a couple of days and with a scheduled day off coming Monday, manager A.J. Hinch brought his closer into a game that Houston was losing 7-3 before Giles surrendered a two-run single to Sam Travis. It shouldn't be shocking to see him permit runs in a non-save situation. Giles has a 9.90 ERA this season in 12 outings when the game isn't on the line.

Diaz got the save against the Rays on Sunday, striking out one without allowing any baserunners over a clean ninth inning to close out Seattle's 2-1 victory.

After blowing the save in the first game of the series against the Rays, Diaz has bounced back with consecutive drama-free efforts to pump his save total up to an American League-leading 21 on the season. His ballistic 52:12 K:BB and 0.85 WHIP over his 31.2 innings both support that number, and pitching for a Seattle team that has been winning a lot of close games bodes well for his prospects at continuing to see plenty of opportunities as the primary ninth-inning man.

Graveman was placed on the 7-day disabled list at Triple-A Nashville on Sunday due to a right forearm strain, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Fortunately for Graveman, he underwent an MRI which revealed no structural damage to his throwing arm, leaving the organization optimistic that he won't be sidelined longer than 10 days. The injury is nonetheless an untimely development for the soft-tossing hurler, who might have been next in line for a promotion to the big leagues if a replacement in the rotation is needed for Daniel Gossett (elbow) during the upcoming week.

Kontos signed a minor-league contract with the Indians on Sunday.

Kontos was let go by the Pirates last week after submitting a 5.03 ERA and striking out just nine batters in 19.2 innings on the season. The right-hander's significant decline in average velocity was likely at the root of his struggles, so it's difficult to envision him rediscovering the strong form he exhibited in the past few seasons unless he regains a couple ticks on his fastball.

Covey allowed one unearned run on four hits and three walks across five innings in a no-decision Sunday against the Brewers. He struck out seven.

Covey allowed a run on an error in the fifth inning, which gave the visitors the lead. His side rallied to a comfortable victory later in the game, but he was already out of the game and didn't earn a win. Still, Covey delivered a useful outing, keeping his team in the game and giving it a chance to win. He's alternated good and bad outings of late, but his 4.0 BB/9 remains an area he needs to improve on if he's to hover anywhere near his current 2.82 ERA. He'll look to do just that in his next scheduled start Friday against the Red Sox.