MLB Player News

The Royals recalled Zerpa from Triple-A Omaha on Saturday.

With Chris Stratton (forearm) headed for the injured list, the Royals will call upon Zerpa to help get their bullpen through the final couple weeks of the regular season. The 24-year-old southpaw owns a 4.40 ERA and 1.57 WHIP through 47 big-league innings on the year and will most likely serve in middle relief while with Kansas City.

The Royals placed Stratton on the 15-day injured list Saturday with a right forearm flexor strain.

Stratton surrendered two earned runs over an inning out of the bullpen Friday, but he appears to have come away from his latest outing with an injury. He won't be eligible to return from the IL until the final game of the season Sept. 29, and it's possible the Royals elect to keep him on the shelf until the start of the postseason, assuming they hang onto their wild-card spot. Until then, Angel Zerpa will come up from the minors to fill the opening in Kansas City's bullpen.

Moniak went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in a loss to Houston on Friday.

Moniak's fourth-inning solo shot was the Angels' only extra-base hit in the contest. The long ball off Yusei Kikuchi was Moniak's first this season against a lefty -- he's gotten just 32 at-bats against southpaws and is batting .188 against them. With that in mind, he'll likely continue to sit most days when Los Angeles faces a left-handed starter.

Duran went 3-for-5 with a double and a run scored in Friday's 5-4 loss to the Yankees. He also was caught stealing.

Duran singled ahead of Masataka Yoshida's two-run home run in the sixth that broke a scoreless tie. He later doubled in the seventh inning but was stranded there before the Yankees plated five in the bottom half of the frame. The double was Duran's league-leading 45th of the season. Duran had been struggling entering the game, going 4-for-32 (.125) over the previous seven games.

The Red Sox designated Heineman for assignment Saturday, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

Heineman has been in the minors since June 24, where he has since slashed .262/.375/.492 with four homers and 11 RBI across 73 plate appearances. Despite his solid performance, he'll be stripped of his spot on the 40-man roster in favor of Zach Penrod, who was selected from Triple-A Worcester in a corresponding move.

Rafaela isn't in the Red Sox's lineup for Saturday's game against the Yankees, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.

Rafaela has been held hitless in eight at-bats through the first two games of the series, and he'll now get a chance to regroup as he sits Saturday. Enmanuel Valdez will start at second base and bat ninth.

Yoshida went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run in Friday's 5-4 loss to the Yankees.

Yoshida broke a scoreless tie with a two-run homer in the sixth inning, his 10th of the season, which ended a stretch of 68 at-bats without a long ball. After a scorching start to the second half, Yoshida has cooled off over the last month, posting a .246/.288/.362 line with six RBI over the last 20 games.

Wong isn't in Boston's lineup for Saturday's game versus the Yankees, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.

Wong will get a breather Saturday after going 1-for-6 with two walks through the first two games of the series. Danny Jansen will catch instead for Brayan Bello while batting eighth.

Stanton isn't in the Yankees' lineup for Saturday's game against the Red Sox.

Stanton will get a breather Saturday after tallying a base hit in both of the first two games of the series. His absence will put Aaron Judge into the DH spot while Alex Verdugo, Jasson Dominguez and Juan Soto form New York's outfield trio.

Renfroe isn't in Kansas City's lineup Saturday versus the Pirates.

Renfroe will get a breather Saturday after going 0-for-4 in Friday's victory, snapping a four-game hitting streak that began when he returned from the injured list. While Renfroe sits, Adam Frazier will patrol right field while Tommy Pham serves as the DH.