MLB Player News

The Red Sox optioned Winckowski to Triple-A Worcester on Sunday.

Sean McAdam of The Springfield Republican reported after Saturday's 4-2 win over the Nationals that Winckowski was headed back to Triple-A, but the Red Sox didn't make the right-hander's demotion official until Sunday, when right-hander Brayan Bello (lat) was reinstated from the 15-day injured list in a corresponding move. Over 12 appearances (three starts) for Boston this season, Winckowski holds a 3.33 ERA, 1.56 WHIP and 19:11 K:BB across 24.1 innings. According to Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic, manager Alex Cora said that Winckowski will join the rotation at Worcester.

Urena will start Sunday's game against the Rockies at Coors Field.

He'll make his second straight turn through the rotation after picking up a win in Tuesday's 15-8 victory over the Athletics while holding Oakland to two runs (one earned) on four hits and two walks over five innings. The Rangers should have starting roles available for both Urena and Jack Leiter until the team gets one of Nathan Eovaldi (groin), Max Scherzer (back) or Dane Dunning (shoulder) back from the injured list.

Blach is slated to start Sunday's game against the Rangers at Coors Field.

Blach will pick up his second start of the season as he joins the rotation as a replacement for Peter Lambert, who was recently moved to the bullpen. The veteran southpaw had worked in relief in both of his past two appearances for Colorado, but because he handled four- and three-inning workloads in those outings, he should be reasonably stretched out as he re-enters the rotation.

Ginkel allowed one run on one hit over one inning and was charged with a blown save in Saturday's 5-4 extra-innings loss to the Orioles.

With the Diamondbacks ahead 4-3, Ginkel entered to start the eighth inning and dispatched the first two batters with ease before Anthony Santander squared up a fastball outside the zone for a game-tying home run. It was the third blown save of the season for Ginkel, who was moved back to a setup role when Paul Sewald was activated off the injured list last week. Ginkel has a 3.31 ERA and 1.16 WHIP with four walks and 15 strikeouts over 16.1 innings.

Jarvis (0-2) was the losing pitcher in Saturday's 5-4 extra-innings loss to Baltimore. He allowed one run on one hit and two walks while striking out one over one-plus innings.

Arizona manager Torey Lovullo turned to Jarvis, the team's long arm out of the bullpen, to navigate extra frames. The lefty managed to extricate himself from a bases-loaded jam in the 10th inning thanks to double-play groundout but couldn't escape the 11th. Jordan Westburg reached down for the first pitch -- a slider at the bottom of the zone -- and got the end of the bat on the ball, which landed just inside the right-field line, plating the automatic runner for the Orioles' walk-off win. It was the fifth time in the last six games that Jarvis has allowed at least a run, and he has an 8.59 ERA over that span.

Bednar gave up a run on two hits in the ninth inning Saturday to record his seventh save of the season in a 10-9 win over the Cubs.

The right-hander made things interesting, giving up back-to-back hits to begin the ninth and allowing the tying run to get to third base with two outs, but Bednar escaped the jam. He's converted his last six save chances but has been volatile while doing it, getting tagged for runs in five of 11 appearances over that stretch while posting an 8.38 ERA and 12:3 K:BB through 9.2 innings. Bednar still has a grip on the Pirates' closer role and there is incentive to keep him in the ninth inning and build his trade value.

Alexander (ribs) allowed five runs (four earned) on three hits, a walk and a hit batsman without recording an out during a rehab appearance Friday for Triple-A Las Vegas.

The veteran southpaw had fired a scoreless frame with two strikeouts against San Jose in his second rehab outing Tuesday, but Friday's appearance saw Alexander fall apart in alarming fashion. Given the results, Alexander, who threw 22 pitches Friday, may be in line for at least one more rehab appearance in order to build some momentum before being activated.

Kimbrel (4-1) picked up the win in Saturday's 5-4 extra-innings victory over the Diamondbacks, striking out one in a scoreless 11th inning.

He hit Christian Walker with his first pitch of the frame, but Kimbrel quickly escaped the jam by fanning Jake McCarthy and then inducing a double-play grounder from Eugenio Suarez. The veteran reliever then got rewarded when Jordan Westburg walked it off in the bottom of the inning. Yennier Cano worked the ninth inning at home in a tie game -- usage normally reserved for a team's closer -- while Danny Coulombe handled the 10th, so Kimbrel may not be back in the top spot in the O's bullpen just yet, but efforts like this should help him get there.

Brebbia earned a save against the Guardians on Saturday by retiring all three batters he faced, including one by strikeout, in the ninth inning.

Michael Kopech has emerged as Chicago's primary closer early in the campaign, but manager Pedro Grifol opted to go to Brebbia in the ninth Saturday with the team holding a two-run lead. The right-hander got the job done, setting down the side in order on 14 pitches for his first major-league save since 2018. It's unclear why Kopech wasn't used despite getting Friday off -- it's worth noting that he notched back-to-back saves Wednesday and Thursday -- but if he has to miss time for any reason, Brebbia would be among a group of White Sox relievers who could snap up any save opportunities that arise.

Romano gave up a hit and struck out two in a scoreless ninth inning Saturday to record his sixth save of the season in a 10-8 win over the Twins.

The right-hander stayed perfect in save situations on the season, but Saturday's performance was only the fifth time in nine appearances that Romano has avoided getting tagged with a run. His 4.15 ERA and 1.38 WHIP are well off from his usual standards, but his 8:2 K:BB through 8.2 innings isn't far from the mark, and his stuff appears to be fine -- he topped out at 99 mph with his fastball.