MLB Player News

Hicks earned the save in Sunday's 4-3 win over the Dodgers, logging a strikeout and a walk across 1.2 scoreless innings.

Hicks entered with one out in the eighth inning after Aroldis Chapman opened the frame with back-to-back walks. He escaped unscathed after Teoscar Hernandez lined into an inning-ending double play. Hicks returned in the ninth, working around a two-out walk to close out the one-run victory. It's the second save of the year for Hicks, both of which have come since he joined the Red Sox in the deal that sent Rafael Devers to San Francisco. The 28-year-old Hicks has allowed five runs, just two of which were earned, while posting a 5:5 K:BB through his first eight appearances spanning seven innings with Boston.

Ginn (2-2) pitched six scoreless innings with four strikeouts to pick up the win Sunday at Houston. He allowed three hits and no walks.

The 26-year-old righty notched his first quality start of the season, as he generated 10 whiffs out of his 77 total pitches in this performance. In two starts and three relief outings this month, Ginn has been a steady performer for the Athletics, pitching to a 2.25 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 13:3 K:BB in 16 frames. Through 44 total innings that include six starts, he now sports a 3.89 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 47:10 K:BB with a magnificent 53.7 percent groundball rate. Ginn currently lines up to make his next appearance against the Diamondbacks at home next weekend.

Chapman (back) was removed in the eighth inning of Sunday's 4-3 win over the Dodgers due to back tightness, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

Chapman took the hill to begin the eighth inning and issued a pair of walks and induced a Shohei Ohtani flyout before being removed from the contest. The 37-year-old was apparently dealing with a tight back, which likely explains why his average four-seam fastball velocity was about four ticks behind his season-long average during the outing. The back issue wasn't something that manager Alex Cora wasn't overly worried about, noting that he expects the closer to avoid a trip to the injured list. That being said, the Red Sox may look to stay away from using Chapman for the next day or two to give him extra time to heal up from the back issue.

Palencia tossed 1.1 scoreless innings of relief with a strikeout to earn the save in Sunday's 5-4 win over the White Sox.

Palencia got the last out of the bottom of the eighth inning, ending a three-run White Sox rally, and then breezed through the ninth for his 14th save of the year in 15 chances. The righty has been particularly good lately, as he's now rattled off 10 straight appearances without allowing any earned runs. That's allowed Palencia to lower his ERA to a sparkling 1.43, and he's cemented his status as the Cubs' closer, with the likes of Ryan Pressly, Caleb Thielbar, Drew Pomeranz and Ryan Brasier working in setup roles.

Chapman was removed in the eighth inning during his relief appearance in Sunday's game against the Dodgers due to an apparent injury, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

After entering the game in the top of the eighth, Chapman walked the first two batters he faced, then induced a Shohei Ohtani flyball for the first out of the inning. The Red Sox sent a trainer out to visit with Chapman following that at-bat, and manager Alex Cora then made the decision to pull the right-hander from the game. Though the nature of Chapman's injury likely won't be clarified until after the contest, he sported a four-seam fastball that averaged just 94.6 miles per hour on the afternoon, about four ticks below his season average.

The Mets designated Castillo for assignment Sunday.

Castillo will lose his spot on the 40-man roster with the Mets needing to clear a spot for left-hander Gregory Soto, who has reported to the team after being acquired from the Orioles on Friday. Over his 19 appearances at the big-league level this season between the Diamondbacks and Mets, Castillo has produced a 5.30 ERA and 1.93 WHIP while striking out 20 batters over 18.2 innings.

Sands will serve as the Twins' opening pitcher in Sunday's game against the Nationals.

He'll serve as an opener for the third time this season after lasting no more than two innings in starts July 5 and July 12. It's not clear whether Sands will be followed by a bulk reliever such as Travis Adams, or if the Twins will use a true bullpen day.

The Dodgers optioned Henriquez to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Sunday.

Henriquez was up with the Dodgers for a little less than a week and made three relief appearances, tossing 2.1 scoreless frames and collecting one hold. He'll give up his spot in the bullpen to Justin Wrobleski.

The Dodgers optioned Klein to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Sunday.

He'll give up his spot in the Los Angeles bullpen to Blake Treinen (forearm). During his four-week stay with the Dodgers, Klein made eight relief appearances and gave up six runs (four earned) on nine hits and eight walks over seven innings.

The Dodgers recalled Wrobleski from Triple-A Oklahoma City on Sunday.

Wrobleski looks poised to operate as a more traditional reliever during this stint with the big club. With Shohei Ohtani likely to build up to four innings in his next start Wednesday and Blake Snell on track to return from the 60-day injured list later in the week, the Dodgers won't have an opening in the rotation for Wrobleski, who has logged a 4.50 ERA and 1.20 WHIP over 40 innings in the majors this season.