MLB Player News

The Astros claimed Junk off waivers from the Brewers on Friday and optioned him to Triple-A Sugar Land, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Junk has allowed six runs in eight innings in the majors this season but holds a 2.55 ERA and 35:15 K:BB across 35.1 frames at the Triple-A level. He's been pitching in relief exclusively since May, but Junk does have extensive starting pitcher experience and it's not clear what role the Astros have planned for him.

O'Brien (forearm) could be activated from the 60-day injured list next week after making two more rehab appearances with Triple-A Memphis, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

O'Brien will make back-to-back appearances with Memphis on Saturday and Sunday, which would appear to be the final box he'll need to check before rejoining the Cardinals' bullpen. The reliever has been sidelined since suffering a right flexor strain back on Opening Day.

The Giants activated Hjelle from the bereavement list Friday, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Hjelle had been away from the club since Sunday. He will return to a middle relief role.

Joyce struck out one and allowed a hit and a walk in a scoreless eighth inning to record a hold in Thursday's loss to the Rockies.

Angels manager Ron Washington indicated last weekend that the right-hander would likely take over the closer role if the team traded Luis Garcia -- who had freshly stepped in for Carlos Estevez -- but Hunter Strickland received his second straight save chance Thursday after Garcia was dealt. Joyce is still viewed as the organization's closer of the future, but Washington doesn't quite feel the 23-year-old is ready for the job, according to Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register. Strickland will fill the role for now, but Joyce could soon force his way into the job given he hasn't allowed a run in 17 straight appearances.

Strickland was charged with a blown save Thursday versus the Rockies after he allowed two runs on a hit and a walk during the ninth inning. He had one strikeout.

The 35-year-old recorded his first save of the season in Tuesday's series opener and was called upon again Thursday, but he gave up a two-out, two-run homer to Jake Cave to tie the game at 4-4. Ben Joyce seemed poised to take over as the Angels' closer after the trades of Carlos Estevez and Luis Garcia, but manager Ron Washington has instead turned to the veteran Strickland. According to Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register, Joyce is still considered the club's closer of the future, but Strickland will receive first crack at the ninth inning until Washington feels Joyce is ready for the job. Even including Thursday's blown save, Strickland has pitched well this season with a 3.35 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 42:14 K:BB across 51 innings.

Turnbull (lat) tossed a 10-pitch bullpen session Monday at Citizens Bank Park, MLB.com reports.

Assuming Turnbull escaped the side session free of setbacks, he'll shift his rehab program to the Phillies' spring training facility in Clearwater, Fla. and continue building back up. At the time Turnbull was placed on the 15-day injured list June 27 with a right lat strain, manager Rob Thomson estimated that the right-hander would be sidelined for 6-to-8 weeks. Since Turnbull doesn't look as though he'll be a realistic option to return from the IL until mid-to-late August, the Phillies have already indicated that the 31-year-old probably won't have sufficient time to get stretched out for a starting role and will likely be ticketed for the bullpen.

Kinley picked up the save in an extra-inning win over the Angels on Thursday, striking out one over a perfect 10th inning.

Kinley's number was called in the bottom of the 10th as Colorado looked to hang onto its 3-2 lead. The right-hander did not disappoint, retiring all three batters he faced on 15 pitches to secure his sixth save of the campaign and first since June 11 against the Twins. Victor Vodnik has been serving as the primary closer for the Rockies in the absence of Daniel Bard, though Kinley got the late-inning call after the former was needed in the ninth. The 33-year-old has not allowed any hits or runs in three straight appearances.

Fulmer did not factor into the decision in an extra-inning loss to the Rockies on Thursday, allowing two runs on three hits and one walk over six innings while striking out eight.

Fulmer stumbled a bit in the second inning when he surrendered a two-run shot to Michael Toglia to put the Angels in an early 2-0 hole. However, the right-hander recovered nicely, holding the Rockies scoreless over the next five innings while generating 19 swings and misses in the contest. Fulmer's eight strikeouts on the night marked a season high, as did his six innings on the mound. The veteran has now allowed three or fewer runs in each of his four starts, posting a 21:7 K:BB over that stretch.

Helsley (4-4) blew the save and was charged with the loss against the Cubs on Thursday, allowing three runs on four hits over two-thirds of an inning.

Helsley entered the contest with a two-run lead in the bottom of the ninth and retired the first batter on a groundout before surrendering a solo homer to Cody Bellinger. He would then allow three of the next four batters to reach as the Cubs took the game in dramatic fashion. It marked Helsley's third blown save on the season while the loss was his fourth. He had not allowed an earned run in 10 straight appearances coming into Thursday's loss, though he's now failed to convert two of his last four save opportunities.

Iglesias notched a save against the Marlins on Thursday, striking out one batter in a perfect ninth inning.

Prior to Thursday, Iglesias' most recent save came on July 14. He had pitched five scoreless innings since then but hadn't gotten a save opportunity. The veteran closer didn't falter with a save in his sights Thursday, needing just 10 pitches to retire the side in order in the ninth frame. Iglesias has now converted each of his past 15 save chances and is tied for fourth in the majors with 23 saves overall on the season.