MLB Player News

The Rangers optioned King to Triple-A Round Rock on Wednesday.

King will head back to Triple-A after being called up Saturday, having failed to appear in a game while with the Rangers. Alex Speas had his contract selected from Round Rock on Wednesday and will replace King in the Rangers' bullpen.

The Rangers selected Speas' contract from Triple-A Round Rock on Wednesday.

Speas will join the major-league roster for the first time in his career after being selected in the second round of the 2016 MLB Draft. The right-hander has produced a 2.35 ERA and 1.11 WHIP with 12 strikeouts over 7.2 innings in five appearances with Round Rock this season. In order to make a spot on the 40-man roster for Speas, left-hander Taylor Hearn was designated for assignment Wednesday.

May allowed a hit and struck out one in a scoreless inning to earn the save in Tuesday's 3-0 win over the Red Sox.

May has collected all seven of his saves this year over his last 13 appearances. He's given up six runs (five earned), eight hits and 10 walks in that span, but he's been moderately effective at limiting the damage. The veteran reliever is now at a 5.11 ERA, 1.66 WHIP and 20:20 K:BB through 24.2 innings this season.

Murphy allowed two hits and a walk while striking out six over 4.2 scoreless innings, taking a no-decision versus the Athletics on Tuesday.

Opener Joe Jacques gave up all three runs on home runs in the second inning before Murphy entered for a bulk-relief assignment. While the deficit didn't get any worse, the Red Sox were unable to generate any support for Murphy. The southpaw has held his own as a multi-inning reliever this season, posting a 1.69 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 23:9 K:BB over 21.1 innings through seven appearances. With three off days between now and the end of July, the Red Sox will likely be able to get by with their three starters and Nick Pivetta working in a bulk role for a while, so Murphy may be limited to mop-up duty.

Smith didn't allow a baserunner during the ninth inning to earn the save Tuesday against Tampa Bay. He didn't strike out or walk any batters.

Smith entered for the ninth inning with a two-run lead and quickly retired the side in order on just 10 pitches for his 17th save in 19 opportunities. The veteran lefty has given up just one hit across his past five outings and has a 2.75 ERA, 0.81 WHIP and 38:8 K:BB over 36 innings this season. Manager Bruce Bochy recently named Smith and Aroldis Chapman as co-closers, with the former picking up Texas' last two saves.

Silseth will be recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake on Wednesday to start against the Yankees, Erica Weston of Bally Sports West reports.

Silseth was optioned to Triple-A on June 3 and has since put up a 4.50 ERA and 1.14 WHIP through 22 innings across five starts. Despite the relatively unremarkable numbers, he'll be called upon to start Wednesday, joining the rotation as a replacement for Jaime Barria, who has been working out of the bullpen since the All-Star break. Silseth has only two major-league appearances this season that lasted at least three innings.

Littell will serve as the Rays' opener Wednesday against the Rangers, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Wednesday will mark the third time this season Littell has served in an opener role. The 27-year-old righty holds a 6.05 ERA and 1.55 WHIP through 19.1 innings this season and will presumably stay in the game for one or two innings before turning things over to the bullpen.

Fleming (elbow) is scheduled to begin a minor-league rehab assignment this weekend in the Florida Complex League, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

He'll go around two innings the first time out and build up from there. On the shelf since early June due to a nagging left elbow issue, Fleming looks poised to return to a swingman role with the Rays before the end of July.

Kittredge (elbow) shifted his rehab assignment Tuesday to Triple-A Durham, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Kittredge is moving right along in his recovery from Tommy John surgery, having tallied six strikeouts -- with no walks -- over three scoreless innings in the Florida Complex League to begin his minor-league rehab stint. He's now just one step away from becoming a bullpen option for the first-place Rays, though the 33-year-old figures to spend at least a week making appearances at Triple-A.

Hendriks (elbow) will throw a simulated game Wednesday, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

After being cleared to throw June 27, Hendriks will advance to the next step in his recovery process Wednesday. Assuming all goes well during his sim game, the 34-year-old closer will presumably embark on a rehab assignment before returning to Chicago's bullpen. Hendriks has pitched just five innings this season, surrendering three runs on four hits and two walks while striking out three batters.