MLB Player News

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Wednesday the team will get "creative" with the closer role going forward, which could still include Holmes depending on matchups, Jack Curry of YES Network reports.

Boone avoided explicitly saying that Holmes has been demoted from the closer role, but that's the clear indication even if the right-hander is still somewhat involved. The 31-year-old surrendered a grand slam Tuesday against Texas as he blew his league-leading 11th save of the season, which finally prompted the Yankees to change their approach. Holmes has been fairly effective overall with a 3.27 ERA across 55 innings, but he's allowed a lot of traffic with a 1.33 WHIP and 3.1 BB/9. Boone didn't name any alternative relievers, but Mark Leiter, Luke Weaver and Tommy Kahnle could all be in the mix for saves.

The Athletics reinstated Alexander (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list Wednesday.

Left rotator cuff tendinitis sent Alexander to the injured list Aug. 20, and rather than heading to the minors for a rehab assignment, he'll now rejoin Oakland's bullpen following a minimum-length stay. The 35-year-old southpaw has been strong all season, and he's given up just two earned runs over 10 innings since the All-Star break. Joe Boyle was optioned to Triple-A in a corresponding move.

Romano (elbow) has begun throwing on flat ground from 60 feet, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Romano had arthroscopic right elbow surgery two months ago and will now begin ramping things back up with the hope of returning before the end of the season. If the reliever is able to make it back, it probably won't happen until late September, and it's unlikely he'd be thrown back into the closer role at that point.

Hill earned a hold against Texas on Tuesday by retiring both batters he faced, striking out one.

Hill hasn't worked in many high-leverage situations this season, but he was brought in Tuesday with New York hanging onto a two-run lead and the bases loaded with one out in the eighth frame. The lefty got the job done, allowing a sacrifice fly before striking out Jonah Heim to keep the Yankees in the lead. It was just the second hold of the season for Hill and his first since coming over to New York on June 20. He's been effective with the Yankees, posting a 2.34 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 13:6 K:BB while picking up three wins over 27 appearances covering 34.2 innings.

The Twins optioned Castillo to Triple-A St. Paul on Wednesday.

Just three days after he was added to the Twins' 40-man roster and 28-man active roster, Castillo will head back to the minors to open up a spot for right-hander Louie Varland, who was recalled ahead of an expected bulk-relief appearance Wednesday versus the Rays. During his brief time with the Twins, Castillo made one appearance and struck out a batter in a scoreless inning.

Thornton (3-3) took the loss against the Athletics on Tuesday, allowing an earned run on two hits and a walk over one-third of an inning. He struck out one.

Thornton was tasked with preserving a 2-2 tie when he entered in the ninth, and after retiring the dangerous Brent Rooker looking, he never recorded another out. Seth Brown would subsequently walk it off for the Athletics with a single that plated JJ Bleday, snapping an eight-appearance scoreless streak for Thornton and saddling him with his first loss since July 22. The veteran right-hander has been a mostly effective option for Seattle, but his presence in a high-leverage spot Tuesday may have been due to the fact closer Andres Munoz is battling elbow soreness.

Alexander is expected to serve as a bulk reliever behind opening pitcher Cole Sulser in Wednesday's game against the Twins, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Even with Zack Littell returning from the injured list to start Monday's series opener versus Minnesota, the Rays will at least temporarily expand the rotation to six men to include Alexander. Since being recalled from Triple-A Durham on Aug. 17, Alexander has made three appearances, tossing 14.1 innings and striking out 10 while allowing 11 earned runs on 15 hits and five walks.

Uceta allowed two hits and struck out two across two-thirds of an inning Tuesday against the Twins.

Uceta was called upon to protect a 2-1 lead in the ninth inning. He allowed consecutive singles to lead off the frame, but he struck out the next two batters he faced before being pulled in favor of Garrett Cleavinger. Despite losing out on a save chance, Uceta has still been excellent since Pete Fairbanks (lat) went on the injured list, racking up an 11:1 K:BB across 5.2 innings while recording a save, a hold and a win.

Green (4-5) blew the save and took the loss Tuesday as the Blue Jays fell 10-9 to the Phillies, coughing up three runs on three hits over two-thirds of an inning. He struck out two.

Toronto held 6-1 and 8-4 leads earlier in the game, but Green completed the collapse by allowing three straight hits to begin the ninth inning, the last of which was a three-run homer by Kyle Schwarber. Green has served up a three-run blast in back-to-back appearances while blowing consecutive save chances, sending his ERA soaring from 1.61 to 2.72, but those were his first two blown saves of the season. The Jays don't have a clear alternative at closer unless Jordan Romano (elbow) is able to make it back in September, so Green should get a chance to work through his struggles.

Martin allowed four runs on four hits while striking out two over one inning in Tuesday's 7-2 loss to the Mets.

Martin, who entered with the Red Sox down by a run heading into the bottom of the eighth inning, let the game get away quickly. He allowed hits to the first three batters faced, which produced a pair of runs, before Pete Alonso finished it off with a two-run home run. Three of the four hits allowed had an exit velocity of at least 105.5 mph. The eighth inning was a microcosm of Boston's recent slide, during which it has lost 10 of 13 games.