MLB Player News

Lopez (undisclosed) was removed from Thursday's game in the fifth inning, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports

Merkin adds that there was a strange sequence in the lead-up to Lopez's removal as the training staff came out for a mound visit, went back to the dugout, then returned after the next batter to pull the young righty from the game. Lopez managed to fan six batters in just 4.1 innings, but his command was erratic as he surrendered four earned runs and also walked four batters. More information on Lopez will likely be made available Thursday or early Friday, but this is concerning given that Lopez is considered to be a key piece of Chicago's revamped core moving forward.

Cash agreed to a minor-league deal with the Mariners on Thursday.

Cash struggled to a 5.28 ERA with the Dodgers' Double-A affiliate earlier in the season before being cut loose. While it's a small sample size, he's shown some promise at Triple-A, compiling a respectable 2.52 ERA and 30 strikeouts across 25 innings. The 25-year-old will report to Double-A Arkansas, where he'll look to climb his way up the Mariners' minor-league ranks.

Boshers was optioned to Triple-A Rochester following Game 1 of Thursday's doubleheader against the Indians.

Boshers allowed two runs on two hits while only recording two outs during Game 1, so he'll swap places with Nik Turley for Game 2 as the Twins look to bring in a fresh bullpen arm. Boshers, who now owns a 5.16 ERA through 29.2 big-league innings this season, will likely be back with the Twins when rosters expand in September.

Pitching coach Larry Rothschild said Chapman (hamstring) came through Thursday's bullpen session with no issues, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports.

This is an encouraging development, as it appears Chapman may be able to avoid a DL stint. He'll get Thursday night off, and the Yankees will see how he feels Friday before making a decision regarding his status. He'll immediately resume his role as the closer whenever he returns to action, but in the meantime, Dellin Betances and David Robertson will cover the ninth inning.

Gonsalves could make his major-league debut during Monday's doubleheader against the White Sox, Mike Berardino of the Pioneer Press reports.

Although the left-hander was just promoted to Triple-A Rochester earlier this month, the Twins may choose to give him a start during Monday's doubleheader due to the recent injury of Dietrich Enns (shoulder). Along with the placement of Enns on the 10-day disabled list Thursday, the big-league club is competing in a pair of doubleheaders during the next five days, without a day off until Aug. 28. With Gonsalves' schedule lining up well with Monday's doubleheader, he's a viable candidate to join the Twins as a 26th man. Manager Paul Molitor will likely provide more information on Monday's projected starters within the coming days.

Infante retired the only batter he faced to lead off the ninth inning of Wednesday's 5-4 loss to the Dodgers.

Infante opened the ninth inning with the White Sox leading, 4-2, so this was a save opportunity for a team that finds itself without a true closer at this time. By retiring the first batter of the inning, he picked up a hold but was not given the opportunity to finish out the game as manager Rick Renteria played a matchup game for the rest of the inning. It didn't work out when Aaron Bummer and Jake Petricka combined to allow four hits and three runs. It's uncertain if Renteria will continue to mix-and-match his relievers in save opportunities or try to establish a trusted arm from the flotsam that currently makes up Chicago's bullpen. The 29-year-old Infante has some closing experience in the minors, but his work in Chicago this season -- 4.50 ERA, 4.2 BB/9 -- suggests he's not someone on which fantasy owners should rely.

Bummer allowed a hit to the only batter he faced in the ninth inning of Wednesday's 5-4 loss to the Dodgers. He was charged with an earned run.

This was the White Sox's first save opportunity since they traded Tyler Clippard, so we watched with some interest. Manager Rick Renteria tried to navigate the inning by matching up right-on-righty and lefty-on-lefty. Bummer entered the game after Gregory Infante to face Cody Bellinger, who delivered a single and came around to score on a hit allowed by Jake Petricka. None of the closing candidates are inspiring and if Renteria continues to play the matchup game, fantasy owners are left hoping that a given matchup favors them.

Robertson struck out two in a perfect ninth inning Wednesday to record his 14th save of the season, and first as a Yankee, in a 5-3 win over the Mets.

With Aroldis Chapman nursing a sore hamstring and Dellin Betances having pitched on three straight days coming into Wednesday, closing duties fell to Robertson and he was more than up to the task. The former White Sox stopper could see more save chances in the short term if Chapman remains sidelined and manager Joe Girardi decides to keep Betances in his eighth-inning role, but Robertson is more likely to be a source of holds than saves over the final weeks of the season.

Diaz was charged with two runs on three walks and two hit batters while recording two outs Wednesday before being replaced by Marc Rzepczynski in the ninth inning of a 7-6 win over the Orioles.

The right-hander was still credited with his second hold of the season after Rzepczynski struck out Chris Davis with the bases loaded to end things, but this was in no way a successful outing for Diaz. After cruising through the early part of August, the 23-year-old has lost his command again, walking three batters in two of his last three appearances. While the Mariners are still hoping he can settle into the closer role for the long term, Diaz's penchant for ugly collapses could make it tough for the team to keep handing him the ball with the game on the line.

Merritt is expected to be recalled from Triple-A Columbus to start Game 2 of Thursday's doubleheader against the Twins, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

The Twins and Indians are set to play a doubleheader Thursday after Wednesday's game was postponed by rain, so Merritt will serve as the 26th and make his second spot start of the season. He allowed three runs (two earned) on seven hits while striking out two batters through four innings in his only other start for the Indians this season.