MLB Player News

Zerpa is scheduled to start Wednesday's game against the Pirates at Kauffman Stadium, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Zerpa made his latest appearance out of the bullpen this past Saturday in Seattle while Zack Greinke moved back into a traditional starting role earlier this week, but the Royals will turn to Zerpa for a spot start Wednesday since Brady Singer (arm) is having his turn in the rotation skipped. Assuming the brief respite is all Singer needs to overcome his bout with arm fatigue, Zerpa will likely head back to the bullpen following Wednesday's start. Between his previous two starts with Kansas City this season, Zerpa has given up five earned runs on nine hits and three walks while striking out 10 over seven innings.

Hernandez (1-9) allowed a run on a two hits over one-third of an inning, taking the loss and a blown save Tuesday versus the Pirates.

Austin Cox left a man on base in the eighth inning and Hernandez surrendered a two-run home run to Ke'Bryan Hayes. Hernandez's uneven August -- 8.68 ERA, 1.93 WHIP, 2-for-4 in save chances -- has prevented him from outright claiming the closer role that opened up when Scott Barlow was traded to San Diego. Hernandez has a 4.33 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 73:22 K:BB through 62.1 innings overall while adding three saves, 12 holds and four blown saves this season.

Coulombe (4-1) pitched 1.2 perfect innings to earn the win Tuesday over the White Sox.

Dean Kremer left runners on base in the seventh inning, but Coulombe was able to pitch out of trouble just before the Orioles rallied ahead. Coulombe's scoreless streak is up to seven innings over eight appearances, and he has a 10:2 K:BB in that span. For the season, he's at a 2.59 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 51:10 K:BB with two saves and 20 holds over 41.2 innings. With Felix Bautista (elbow) sidelined, Coulombe and Yennier Cano figure to handle most of the high-leverage assignments.

Chapman gave up a solo home run and struck out one in the ninth inning Tuesday to record his fourth save of the season in a 2-1 win over the Mets.

Will Smith's recent struggles -- he's blown his last two save chances and hasn't successfully converted one since Aug. 11 -- have forced manager Bruce Bochy to look elsewhere at the end of games, with Jose Leclerc getting the save Monday before Chapman got his turn Tuesday. The veteran lefty watched rookie Mark Vientos get just enough of a 100.8-mph fastball to send it out to the opposite field, but otherwise Chapman got the job done on an efficient nine pitches (eight strikes). Smith tossed a scoreless eighth to pick up a hold and hasn't been removed completely from the high-leverage mix, but the Rangers could be headed toward a closing committee unless someone seizes the job.

King did not factor into the decision Tuesday, allowing three hits over four scoreless innings in a 4-2 win over the Tigers. He struck out five and did not issue a walk.

King set down the first six Tigers and surrendered just three singles across his four innings in his role as an opener of sorts. Across his two starts (against Washington and Detroit), the 28-year-old has gone a combined 6.2 innings allowing only four hits and one unearned run while striking out eight and walking two. It appears likely that the Yankees will continue to deploy him in a similar fashion with Jhony Brito following him in a bulk-relief role. If King does draw another start, it would likely occur over the weekend in Houston.

Norris was designated for assignment Tuesday.

Norris' most recent stay in the big leagues lasted just one day after he was tagged for four runs on four hits and a walk over two innings versus the Twins on Monday. This is the second time Norris has been DFA'd by Cleveland this month -- he elected free agency after the first time before re-signing on a minor-league deal. Hunter Gaddis was recalled from Triple-A Columbus in a corresponding move.

May allowed two hits and struck out three over a scoreless inning to earn the save in Tuesday's 3-1 win over the Mariners.

May has generated a scoreless outing in 12 of his last 14 appearances, including each of his last five. Tuesday's effort was a bit of a shaky one, but he was able to strike out Eugenio Suarez with runners on second and third to escape a jam. May is now 15-for-18 in save chances this season while posting a 4.14 ERA, 1.51 WHIP and 32:26 K:BB over 37 innings.

Weaver (2-5) allowed three runs on seven hits over 3.2 innings to take the loss Tuesday versus the Athletics. He did not strike out or walk a batter.

Weaver got the nod on short notice after George Kirby (illness) was scratched from Tuesday's start. The Mariners' offense was rather listless, accumulating four hits and six walks but generating just one run in support of Weaver in his third appearance and first start with the team. In 2023, the right-hander has a 6.77 ERA, 1.62 WHIP and 90:34 K:BB over 103.2 innings between the Mariners and the Reds. Barring any other issues with Seattle's usual starters, Weaver will likely return to a long-relief role going forward.

Clase picked up the save Tuesday against the Twins despite allowing a run on one hit in the ninth inning.

Clase would give up a solo homer to Michael Taylor before rebounding to record the final two outs, closing out a 4-2 Cleveland win. The home run marked the first earned run Clase's surrendered in his last six appearances (6.2 innings). He's now up to 35 saves, tied for most in the league, with a 3.00 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 56:14 K:BB across 60 innings this season.

Weaver will start Tuesday's game against the Athletics, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.

George Kirby was originally slated to start Tuesday's contest but was scratched due to an illness, allowing Weaver to make his first start as a Mariner. Weaver accumulated a 6.87 ERA and 1.64 WHIP through 97 innings as a starter with Cincinnati, but he's been much more effective since signing with Seattle last week.