MLB Player News

Sanchez went 2-for-4 on Friday against the Red Sox.

Sanchez made his debut with the Astros after being dealt to the team Thursday. He hit third in the order behind Jeremy Pena (hamstring) and Jose Altuve and collected a hit in his first plate appearance with his new club.

Walker went 1-for-4 with a solo home run Friday against the Red Sox.

Walker got the Astros on the board in the second inning with his 14th home run of the season. After a poor first few months of the season, he hit .318 with three home runs, 18 RBI and 11 runs scored across 22 games in July and has carried his strong form into August.

Simpson (finger) isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Dodgers, Ryan Bass of FanDuel Sports Network Sun reports.

Simpson will miss a second consecutive start Saturday after spraining his left index finger during Thursday's contest against the Yankees. Both of Simpson's absences have come with left-handers on the mound for the Dodgers, so the speedy outfielder may be sitting out more so for matchup reasons. Either way, it will give Jonny DeLuca another chance to start in center field for the Rays while batting seventh.

Mangum isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Dodgers, Ryan Bass of FanDuel Sports Network Sun reports.

Mangum will grab a seat on the bench after going 0-for-3 with a strikeout during Friday's series opener. Christopher Morel will fill in as Tampa Bay's left fielder and bat fifth.

Hanifee (3-3) allowed two runs (one earned) on two hits while retiring only two batters to take the loss in Friday's 5-4 defeat to the Phillies.

After starter Jack Flaherty allowed just one run across six innings, the Detroit bullpen allowed four runs (three earned) in only two innings to let the game slip away. Hanifee was right in the middle of the collapse, and he allowed his first earned run since July 2, snapping a streak of nine appearances in which he allowed just two unearned runs. The righty still has a solid 3.10 ERA overall this season, and he should remain a key piece of a Detroit relief corps that added several reinforcements before the trade deadline.

Perez went 2-for-3 with a solo home run and an additional run scored in Friday's 5-4 loss to the Phillies.

Perez extended his hitting streak to three games, and during that stretch, he's gone 6-for-12 with four extra-base hits and two RBI. Before the mini hot streak, the outfielder had been struggling, batting just .118 with no extra-base hits in his previous 10 contests. Overall, Perez is slashing .253/.303/.477 with eight home runs across 51 games, and he's settled in as Detroit's primary right fielder since his return from the 60-day injured list in late May.

Smith (3-4) came away with the win against the Twins on Friday after tossing two perfect innings while striking out three batters.

Smith was dispatched in the ninth inning to keep the game tied at 2-2, and his efforts were rewarded after Kyle Manzardo walked off the Twins in the 10th with an RBI single. Smith appears to be the next man up at closer for the Guardians with Emmanuel Clase on non-disciplinary leave through Aug. 31 as part of MLB's sports-betting investigation. In 21 appearances since the beginning of June, Smith boasts a 3.32 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 27:7 K:BB across 21.2 innings.

May is scheduled to start Wednesday's game against the Royals at Fenway Park in what will be his Red Sox debut.

Boston had previously listed May as its scheduled starter for Sunday's game against the Astros, but the right-hander will instead have to wait a few more days beyond that to make his team debut. Lucas Giolito is now slated to take the hill for the Red Sox's final contest of the weekend series with Houston.

Morton will make his first start for the Tigers on Sunday in Philadelphia, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.

Acquired from the Orioles on Thursday in exchange for minor-league lefty Micah Ashman, Morton will step in as the Tigers' new No. 5 starter in place of right-hander Troy Melton, who was moved to the bullpen. Morton will need to be a serviceable innings eater to ensure he sticks in the Detroit rotation for the rest of the season, but after a rough start to the campaign at Baltimore, the veteran righty had been pitching effectively for the past two and a half months. Over his final 14 appearances (11 starts) with the Orioles, Morton logged a 3.62 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 15.5 K-BB% over 69.2 innings.

The Rays optioned Kelly to Triple-A Durham on Saturday.

After posting a 5.93 ERA and 1.57 WHIP through 27.1 innings with the Rays, Kelly will lose his place in the big-league bullpen. His departure will make room on the roster for right-hander Adrian Houser, who was acquired in a trade with the White Sox on Thursday.