MLB Player News

Navarro was recalled from Triple-A Charlotte on Wednesday, Vinnie Duber of AllCHGO.com reports.

Navarro yielded a couple runs while striking out five over three innings during an earlier stint with the White Sox. He figures to operate in middle relief for the Pale Hose.

Romano picked up the save Tuesday against Baltimore. He struck out two in a perfect inning.

After Toronto took a 6-3 lead in the top of the 10th inning, Romano shut the door in the bottom half of the frame, striking out a pair to strand the free runner at second base and earn his 31st save. The right-hander is 3-for-3 in save chances since returning from the IL on Aug 15, allowing just one hit over three scoreless innings. Overall, Romano sports a 2.60 ERA with a 1.16 WHIP and 56:16 K:BB across 45 innings this season.

Munoz notched his eighth save in a win over the White Sox on Tuesday, recording the final out of the game on a strikeout.

Despite its brevity, Munoz's save opportunity was anything but easy considering it involved retiring the dangerous Luis Robert with a man aboard. The right-hander got the job done on just four pitches, putting the prodigious slugger away swinging on a 97-mph sinker to convert his second straight save chance and generate his third consecutive scoreless appearance. Munoz appears to be settling into the primary closer role, although the ninth-inning job in Seattle isn't as centered on one pitcher as it is on other clubs around baseball.

Topa (3-3) got the victory over the White Sox on Tuesday, firing 1.1 perfect innings during which he recorded a strikeout.

Topa breezed through his brief time in the game, impressively firing nine of his 11 pitches for strikes while getting Eloy Jimenez on an inning-ending groundout with two aboard when he first entered in the seventh. The right-hander hasn't allowed a run since July 22, a span of 13.1 innings during which he's recorded two wins overall alongside seven holds.

Coulombe (biceps) began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Norfolk on Tuesday and struck out two batters over a scoreless inning.

The reliever is eligible to return from the 15-day injured list Thursday and would appear to be in line to rejoin the Orioles at that time or shortly thereafter. Coulombe has been terrific out of the Orioles bullpen this season, holding a 2.77 ERA and 48:9 K:BB over 39 innings.

Texas manager Bruce Bochy said Smith's recent bout of ineffectiveness was due to lack of command of his fastball, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reports. "It's kind of been a one-plane pitch instead of working the four different quadrants of the strike zone," the manager said. "We need to get back and locate that fastball. Command, as I've said many times, is more important than velocity."

Smith has blown two saves and sports a 15.19 ERA over his last seven outings. He agreed with the manager that location is the reason for the recent struggles. Bochy did not give a clear answer when discussing the closing role, but the manager had Aroldis Chapman attempt to close Monday's game, which eventually went to extra innings where Smith blew the save. There was a stretch earlier this month when it looked like the back end of the bullpen was set with Josh Sborz, Chapman and Smith, in that order. However, recent events mean fantasy managers should understand that Smith is not guaranteed to close every game. The Rangers are off Wednesday, and the manager hopes the bullpen can reset.

Zerpa (1-2) allowed five runs (four earned) on four hits and a walk while striking out four over three innings to take the loss Tuesday versus the Athletics.

Zerpa served as more of an opener, allowing the Royals to ease Zack Greinke back in for his return from an elbow injury. Zerpa ended up giving up all the runs the Athletics scored during his time on the mound, and his future in the rotation for the rest of this season is likely in doubt. He's pitched to a poor 7.16 ERA, 1.53 WHIP and 13:4 K:BB through 16.1 innings over six appearances (two starts).

May struck out one in a perfect inning to earn the save in Tuesday's 5-4 win over the Royals.

May threw 14 pitches (eight strikes) to submit his second straight clean inning against the Royals. He's pitched three of the last four days, so it's possible he may not be available to close if Wednesday's day game presents a save opportunity. May is at a 4.37 ERA, 1.51 WHIP and 29:26 K:BB with 13 saves in 16 chances over 35 innings this season. Lucas Erceg would be the most likely candidate to collect a save chance if May is resting Wednesday.

Harris (3-6) earned the win Tuesday in the Athletics' 5-4 victory over the Royals, allowing four runs on five hits and two walks while striking out five over 3.2 innings.

Harris wasn't sharp, throwing 54 of 86 pitches for strikes in the bulk-relief outing, but he was able to keep the Athletics ahead after they took the lead in the second inning. It's an improvement on the eight runs in three innings he gave up Aug. 2 versus the Dodgers in his previous major-league outing. Harris has an uninspiring 6.00 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 56:28 K:BB over 63 innings through 14 appearances (six starts) in the majors this year. With Luis Medina (finger) on the injured list, Harris could stick as part of the rotation even if he continues to work behind an opener. Harris is tentatively lined up for a favorable road outing versus the White Sox over the weekend.

Ortega exited Tuesday's game against the Brewers with lower back tightness, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

Ortega entered the game in the seventh inning and got two outs while walking three across 25 pitches. He grimaced after throwing a slider in the dirt and then exited the game. While the length of his absence is unclear, it's seemingly a positive that he avoided an arm issue.