MLB Player News

The Athletics optioned Klein to Triple-A Las Vegas on Saturday.

Klein gave up five earned runs on two hits and four walks while recording one strikeout in 1.2 innings across three appearances since the Athletics acquired him from the Royals at the deadline as part of the return for Lucas Erceg. The 24-year-old righty walks too many batters (16.3 percent walk rate at Triple-A, 15.8 percent walk rate in the majors) to work in high-leverage situations anytime soon.

The Athletics selected Holman's contract from Triple-A Las Vegas on Saturday.

The 24-year-old reliever has a 0.92 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and a 30:13 K:BB with four wins and three saves in 29.1 innings over 23 appearances in the Pacific Coast League. Holman, a righty, won't be unseating Mason Miller in the ninth inning, but he could soon establish himself as one of Oakland's most promising relievers.

The Orioles optioned Baker to Triple-A Norfolk on Saturday.

Baker logged a scoreless inning Friday, and he could be summoned back to the majors the next time Baltimore needs a fresh bullpen arm. Cade Povich was recalled from Triple-A in a corresponding move ahead of his scheduled start Saturday versus the Red Sox.

The Rays recalled Alexander from Triple-A Durham on Saturday, Tricia Whitaker of Bally Sports Sun reports.

The move comes with Tampa Bay placing Zack Littell on the 15-day injured list due to right shoulder fatigue. After he was scratched from his start with Durham on Friday, Alexander will most likely step into Littell's spot in the rotation against the Diamondbacks on Sunday, when the Rays will likely deploy the lefty as a starter or bulk reliever. Alexander owns a 5.20 ERA and 1.28 WHIP over 71 innings with the big club this season.

Hanifee tossed two scoreless innings of relief in Friday's 3-0 loss to the Yankees. He walked one and struck out two.

Hanifee followed opener Beau Brieske, who worked the first inning. Hanifee was effective once again in relief, and after a rough first appearance of the season back on Aug. 1, the righty has now logged nine scoreless innings in his last five outings. The 26-year-old is still in a mostly low-leverage role at the moment, but Hanifee could move up the bullpen pecking order if he keeps pitching well.

Brieske (1-3) allowed one run on a hit and two walks across an inning of work to take the loss Friday against the Yankees. He struck out one.

Brieske served as the opener and labored through a tough first inning, as he needed 30 pitches to finish the frame. The Tigers ended up getting blanked, so the one run was enough to saddle the righty with the loss. Brieske has now started five games this season among 29 appearances overall, but he's yet to cover more than three innings in any outing, so the starts aren't equating to opportunities for wins.

Kuhl allowed a solo homer and struck out two batters in one inning en route to earning a save over the Astros on Friday.

Kuhl coughed up a two-out homer to Jon Singleton but came back to strike out Jose Altuve and close out the 5-4 win. It was Kuhl's first save of the year and it came just two days after he was rocked for five runs by the Yankees. The White Sox don't have an active pitcher on the roster with more than two saves this season, so the ninth-inning situation still appears to be fluid. Kuhl owns a 5.03 ERA with a 35:19 K:BB through 39.1 innings this season.

Topa (elbow) had a setback when he experienced soreness while playing catch, Phil Miller of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

Topa missed the first four months of the season due to a tear in the patellar tendon of his left knee. He began a rehab assignment July 23 but was shut down Aug. 10 due to right elbow inflammation. It seems unlikely that he'll be able to return from the injured list before the regular season ends. although the Twins haven't officially ruled it out.

Joyce struck out one and allowed one hit over 1.2 scoreless innings to earn the save in Friday's 3-2 win over Atlanta.

Joyce has collected two saves over his last five appearances, though he's also allowed three runs across five innings in that span. The flamethrower threw all five of his fastballs between 102-104 mph Friday and needed just 14 total pitches (10 strikes) to get his five outs. Joyce still needs to work on his control -- he has a 2.54 ERA, but his 1.27 WHIP and 24:14 K:BB through 28.1 innings shows he hasn't yet fully harnessed his velocity. Veterans Hunter Strickland and Matt Moore, who worked in the seventh and eighth innings ahead of Joyce, remain in the high-leverage mix and could see save chances if Joyce falters, but the Angels will give the 23-year-old every chance to establish himself as the team's bullpen ace.

The Rays will recall Alexander from Triple-A Durham on Saturday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Alexander had been scheduled to start for Durham on Friday, but he was scratched and is now headed back to the big leagues, where he'll presumably work as a long reliever. A corresponding move will be announced once the 30-year-old's promotion is official.