MLB Player News

Junis was recalled from Triple-A Omaha on Saturday.

Junis will make a return trip to the big leagues after continuing to impress as a member of the Triple-A rotation. Now that Nathan Karns (forearm) is out for the season, the pitching prospect could be up in Kansas City to take Travis Wood's rotation spot, although there is also a chance that he is simply up to provide more bullpen depth. To make room for Junis on the active roster, Billy Burns was sent back to Omaha.

Smith was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo on Saturday.

Smith will return for his second stint with the big-league club this season, and he'll look to stick around longer this time around. He spent just two days with the Blue Jays near the end of June, making one appearance. The right-hander has posted a 4.43 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 17:3 K:BB in 19 appearances with Buffalo.

Pagan fired three scoreless innings in Friday's 5-1 loss to the Yankees, allowing two hits and a walk while recording a strikeout.

The rubber-armed right-hander has now pitched the equivalent of a quality start over his last three outings, allowing just one earned run on five hits and three walks over 7.1 innings while also notching five strikeouts. Pagan's ability to eat up innings is a welcome addition to a bullpen that's often seen a heavy workload while supporting what has at times been a makeshift starting rotation.

Boxberger (2-1) gave up an earned run on a hit and two walks over an inning in Friday's 4-3 extra-inning loss to the Rangers.

The veteran reliever was asked to preserve a 3-3 tie after closer Alex Colome worked the ninth, but surrendered a go-ahead infield single to Elvis Andrus that marked the first run he'd given up this season. Boxberger had otherwise been excellent through his first six outings, so Friday's hiccup notwithstanding, he remains one of the more trusted late-inning options for manager Kevin Cash.

Merritt was optioned to Triple-A Columbus on Saturday.

A spot on the active roster needed to be cleared so that Danny Salazar could return from the disabled list Saturday, and Merritt wound up being the casualty. The 25-year-old only appeared once during his most recent cup of coffee in Cleveland, tallying a scoreless inning Friday evening. He'll continue to stretch out as a starter in the minors, but could be back in the majors soon if more bullpen help is needed.

Smith (elbow, shoulder) threw a bullpen session Friday, Jen McCaffrey of MassLive.com reports.

This was the third time Smith has thrown a bullpen session since the All-Star break, and he's expected to throw another two sessions. After that, the Red Sox will aim to have him face live batters. He'll still need a rehabilitation assignment, so his activation off the disabled list is not expected until early-to-mid August.

Wilson walked one and struck out one in a scoreless ninth inning Friday to pick up his 11th save of the season in a 6-3 win over the Twins.

The left-hander bounced back nicely from Wednesday's blown save. Wilson now has a 2.45 ERA, 0.68 WHIP and 7:3 K:BB in seven July appearances (7.1 innings) and is keeping his market value high if the Tigers decide to flip him to a contender at the trade deadline.

Giles struck out the only batter he faced to earn the save Friday against the Orioles.

The Astros entered the ninth inning with a six-run lead, but a massive O's rally had the team concerned about blowing a huge lead until Giles took the hill, as he quickly ended the drama by recording a single out. As the closer for one of the best teams in the league, he will continue to be one of the best options that fantasy managers can hope for.

Castro will remain in the Orioles bullpen for now, but manager Buck Showalter said he's not ruling out using the 22-year-old as a starter, Jon Meoli of The Baltimore Sun reports.

Castro started 35 of his 88 minor-league contests, so he's no stranger to throwing the game's first pitch. On the other hand, all 54 of the 6-foot-7 right-hander's MLB appearances have been in relief. He's also done a fine job (3.18 ERA) working out of the O's bullpen this season, and Showalter doesn't want to lose that production. Testing Castro as a rotation member is probably on the horizon, but that transition is more likely to take place next spring rather than this year.

Valdez is a candidate to pick up Monday's start against Oakland if Aaron Sanchez (blister) is unable to make it, Gregor Chisholm of MLB.com reports.

Valdez stepped in Wednesday, striking out five over four shutout innings, when Sanchez was forced out due to blistering. Joe Biagini is also a possibility to make Monday's spot start, but he's already banked a heavy workload in that role this year, and Toronto may was to limit his innings. Valdez has just three big-league starts to his name -- two in 2010 as a Diamondback, and one earlier this year with Oakland. Even if he does start Monday, the 32-year-old's ceiling isn't worth the risk of plugging him into a fantasy lineup.