MLB Player News

The Orioles optioned Yacabonis to Triple-A Norfolk on Sunday, Eduardo A. Encina of The Baltimore Sun reports.

Yacabonis worked 1.1 innings in relief in the second game of the Orioles' doubleheader Saturday, giving up a run on one hit and three walks. With Yacabonis needing 38 pitches to get through the outing, he likely wouldn't have been available for another day or two, prompting the Orioles to bring up a fresh arm in Donnie Hart from Norfolk to fortify the bullpen.

Lawrence was optioned to Triple-A Tacoma on Sunday, Shannon Drayer of 710 ESPN Seattle reports.

Lawrence lost his spot in the Mariners bullpen after the team activated Dan Altavilla (shoulder) from the 10-day disabled list Saturday ahead of the second game of a doubleheader against the Tigers. The 30-year-old Lawrence hadn't appeared in a game since May 6 and sports a 10.13 ERA and 1.75 WHIP over eight frames on the season.

Leclerc has taken on a right-handed setup role in the Rangers' bullpen, T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com reports.

Leclerc was entrusted with a 1-0 lead during Friday's win over the Astros, entering the game with none out and a man on first, and retired all three batters faced, including Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa. The right-hander has allowed just one of 13 inherited runners to score and now has a 2.30 ERA with 18 strikeouts and six walks over 13.1 innings. Results like that is deserving of manager Jeff Banister's trust. The 24-year-old Leclerc was trending this way in 2017 before a second-half implosion took him out of consideration for a regular gig as a setup reliever. Here in 2018, he's managed to keep the walks down, a major reason for last year's downturn.

Martin (forearm) has thrown two bullpen sessions this week and is close to beginning a medical rehabilitation assignment, T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com reports.

Martin has been out since April 30 with irritation in the right forearm. Prior to the injury, he had emerged as a primary right-handed setup reliever, having posted a 2.70 ERA and 1.20 WHIP before giving up four runs in two-thirds of an inning during the game in which he suffered the injury.

Rodney worked around two walks in a scoreless inning against the Angels on Saturday for his seventh save of the season.

After the Twins took the lead in the top of the 12th, Rodney closed out the win for his second save in as many days. He's really settled in nicely since a string of three consecutive blown save chances in April, allowing just two hits over his last seven innings (all scoreless). The ratios still leave something to be desired, but Rodney has been getting the job done lately.

Kimbrel picked up his 11th save of the season Saturday against the Blue Jays, striking out two in a scoreless inning.

Kimbrel needed just 10 pitches -- nine of which went for strikes -- to close the door on the Blue Jays, and he's now 11-for-13 on save chances this season. The flamethrower has kept the bases clean in two straight appearances after blowing a save against the Yankees. He now owns an elite 2.08 ERA, 0.75 WHIP and 26:4 K:BB through 17.1 innings.

Fulmer (1-3) took the loss to the Mariners in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader, allowing six runs on five hits -- including two homers -- over 4.1 innings. He struck out five and walked three.

Seattle touched Fulmer up for homers in the fourth and fifth innings, sinking the right-hander to his third loss on the campaign. Fulmer was behind in the count throughout most of the evening, throwing first-pitch strikes to just 11 of 21 batters. He's seen his ERA jump from 2.80 to 4.37 over his last two starts with 11 combined earned runs allowed in 10 innings. The 25-year-old will look to trend back in the right direction with the walks and homers, starting in a rematch against these Mariners on the road next week.

Junis (4-3) took the loss after allowing four runs on six hits and two walks across 5.2 innings Saturday against the Indians. He struck out seven.

Junis pitched well for the most part but struggled mightily against Michael Brantley and Francisco Lindor, who accounted for five of the six hits and all four runs scored against the right-hander. It was just the third time through eight starts this season that Junis gave up more than two runs, and it was also just the third time he failed to last six innings. The 25-year-old will carry a respectable 3.53 ERA and 45:11 K:BB (through 51 innings) into his next start, which will come at home against a difficult Yankees team.

Graveman, who picked up his first win over the Yankees on Friday, is dealing with a sore right shin stemming from a line drive he absorbed during the start, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Manager Bob Melvin downplayed the severity despite the fact the right-hander was still limping a bit Saturday, calling Graveman "a tough guy." The Athletics skipper also conceded that Graveman's regularly scheduled side session for Sunday was somewhat in doubt, but that it would take place no later than Monday in the event of a postponement. The 28-year-old's strong effort Friday (one earned run over six innings) was a welcome sight after the rough 0-4 start to the season and the loss of Trevor Cahill to the disabled list with an elbow impingement.

Pruitt was recalled from Triple-A Durham on Saturday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Pruitt will take the roster spot of Ryne Stanek, who was optioned to the minors in a corresponding move after being used out of the bullpen the previous two days. It's unclear if he'll slide into a long-relief role or if the Rays will ask him to make a spot start, as he started his most recent appearance for the Bulls. Pruitt owns a 4.91 ERA across 14.2 innings with the Rays this season and a 6.75 ERA across eight innings with Durham.