MLB Player News

The Cardinals selected Blewett's contract from Triple-A Memphis on Friday.

Blewett exercised an opt-out clause in his minor-league contract with the Cards earlier in the week, though St. Louis still held the right to decide whether to add him to their 40-man roster or allow him to walk in free agency. With JoJo Romero (appendicitis) now on the injured list, the team will opt for the former and give Blewett a chance to work with the big club. The 30-year-old righty has put up a 5.18 ERA and 1.68 WHIP across 48.2 innings at Triple-A this season, so he will likely be limited to low-leverage work in the majors.

The Cardinals placed Romero on the 15-day injured list Friday, retroactive to Tuesday, due to appendicitis.

Romero has been one of the most reliable members of St. Louis' bullpen as of late, allowing just two runs (one earned) while striking out nine batters and walking four across his last 10 innings, but he'll now have to wait until at least July 29 to make his first appearance of the second half. Scott Blewett will come up from Triple-A Memphis to fill the vacancy in the bullpen.

Simpson is not in the Rays' starting lineup for the second game of Friday's doubleheader against the Red Sox, Ryan Bass of Rays.tv reports.

Simpson went 0-for-3 in Game 1 of Friday's doubleheader, but he'll be on the bench for the start of Game 2. The Rays will start Ryan Vilade, Cedric Mullins and Jonny DeLuca in the outfield from left to right in the nightcap.

Song isn't in the lineup for Friday's game against the Royals.

Song will retreat to the bench to begin the first game of San Diego's second-half schedule after going 2-for-18 with three walks, four RBI and three runs in his final six games before the All-Star break. Manny Machado will cover the hot corner with Song on the bench, opening up the DH spot for Miguel Andujar.

Gamboa recorded his first career big-league save in the first game of Friday's doubleheader against the Rays, allowing two hits over three scoreless innings. He struck out one without walking a batter.

Called back up from Triple-A Worcester as the 27th man for the twin bill, Gamboa took the mound with a 9-0 lead and completed a combined shutout begun by Jake Bennett. Gamboa has been effective in his opportunities for the Red Sox this season, posting a 2.25 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 5:4 K:BB in eight innings over five appearances since making his MLB debut on May 5, but after throwing 43 pitches (33 strikes) he'll likely head back to Triple-A in favor of a fresh bullpen arm after the doubleheader.

Campusano (abdomen) will start at catcher and bat ninth Friday against the Royals.

Campusano was a late scratch from the lineup ahead of Sunday's first-half finale due to abdominal soreness, but he now appears to be feeling better after getting a chance to recover during the break. He's gone 6-for-18 with five walks, a homer and four runs scored since returning from a fractured toe July 4.

Bennett (5-3) picked up the win in the first game of Friday's doubleheader against the Rays, scattering one hit and one walk over six scoreless innings. He struck out three.

Tampa Bay never got a runner into scoring position against the rookie southpaw, as Bennett tossed an extremely efficient 65 pitches (42 strikes) before being lifted with Boston comfortably ahead 9-0 to begin the seventh inning. Bennett has delivered five straight quality starts dating back to June 22, a stretch in which he sports an astounding 0.82 ERA, 0.64 WHIP and 25:4 K:BB over 33 innings. He'll look to stay dialed in for his next trip to the mound, which is set to come at home next week against the Orioles.

Jax (5-7) took the loss in the first game of Friday's doubleheader against the Red Sox, coughing up seven runs on eight hits and one walk over five-plus innings. He struck out six.

The right-hander didn't get any help from his offense in a 10-0 rout, but Jax's efforts to keep the game close unraveled in the sixth inning when he led off the frame by hitting Caleb Durbin with a pitch, and then watched the next three Boston batters reach base before he got the hook. Jax tossed 55 of 85 pitches for strikes in his worst outing of the season, and it's the first time since June 1 he's been tagged for more than three runs. He'll take a 4.08 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 77:26 K:BB through 75 innings into his next start, which lines up to come on the road next week in Toronto.

The Diamondbacks recalled Locklear from Triple-A Reno on Friday.

Locklear will join the big club as the roster replacement for Tommy Troy (shoulder), who landed on the IL during the All-Star break. Locklear, 25, has put up just a .532 OPS across 47 games in his MLB career, but he's recently caught fire in the minors, slashing .404/.493/.807 with five homers, 14 RBI, 15 runs scored and a 10:9 BB:K across his last 15 games. He'll begin Friday's contest against St. Louis on the bench, though he could pick up a handful of starts at first base or DH while in the majors.

Manager Dave Roberts said Friday that Smith's neck continued to bother him as he attempted to ramp up his activity, so the Dodgers will fully shut him down for a week, Jack Harris of the California Post reports.

The Dodgers still expect Smith to return at some point this season, and although there's still no clear idea of when exactly that might be, Roberts noted that the earliest possible date for the catcher's return likely will be in mid-August. Dalton Rushing will continue to serve as Los Angeles' primary backstop in the meantime.