MLB Player News

Patino was optioned to Triple-A Durham on Saturday.

Patino was recalled Wednesday and made his first big-league appearance of the year Friday against the Rangers, giving up a pair of solo homers in two innings of work. He'll return to the minors, where he's also fared poorly, struggling to a 7.64 ERA in 35.1 innings. Jose Lopez takes his spot in the bullpen.

Lopez's contract was selected by the Rays on Saturday.

The 24-year-old lefty was selected by the Padres in the Rule 5 Draft over the winter but was returned to the Rays when he failed to crack San Diego's roster. He hasn't been particularly impressive for Triple-A Durham, posting a 5.19 ERA in 26 innings of work, but he'll get a look at the big-league level for the Rays nonetheless. Luis Patino was optioned in a corresponding move.

Howard was optioned to Triple-A Round Rock on Saturday.

Howard made his season debut Friday after missing the first two months of the season with a lat strain, and it couldn't have gone much worse. The Rays bullied him to the tune of four runs in one-third of an inning, as he walked one batter, hit another and gave up four hits. Per Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News, the Rangers believe they called Howard up too early, as he joined the team after making just two rehab outings. He'll continue to get stretched out in the minors and is a potential rotation option if the Rangers get hit with more injuries.

Rodriguez was recalled from Triple-A Round Rock on Saturday.

Rodriguez made four relief appearances for the Rangers earlier in the year but didn't do much of note, allowing two runs on four hits across four innings while striking out one batter and walking two. His 4.91 ERA and 16.9 percent walk rate in 15 outings for Round Rock suggest he'll be limited to low-leverage duty in the majors. Spencer Howard was demoted in a corresponding move.

Houston placed Stanek on the family medical emergency list Saturday, Matt Young of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Stanek will take some time away from the Astros for at least a few days while dealing with more important matters. Houston will announce a corresponding transaction before Sunday's game against the Guardians.

Moore (oblique) has been cleared to begin a throwing program in the coming days, per MLB.com.

Moore underwent an MRI in late May and was diagnosed with a Grade 2 oblique strain. While his ability to resume throwing soon is clearly a positive development, the lefty reliever will likely need to build up on flat ground before returning to a mound. Moore was thriving prior to the injury, posting a 1.44 ERA, 0.80 WHIP and 21:7 K:BB over 25 innings. He leads the team with 12 holds.

Richards will start Saturday's game against the Twins, though he isn't expected to throw more than three innings, Mike Wilner of the Toronto Star reports.

Richards will make the start which would have previously gone to Alek Manoah, who was demoted after struggling to a 6.36 ERA in 13 starts. Richards has starting experience, with 56 of his 200 MLB appearances coming in that role, but he's likely to wind up somewhere between an opener and a true starter in Saturday's contest given that he's exclusively pitched in relief this season, only once recording more than six outs. Bowden Francis and Mitch White are available to provide length behind him. Whether the Blue Jays elect to build Richards up to a starter's workload and keep him in the rotation going forward or move him back to the bullpen following Saturday's outing remains to be seen.

Curry (3-0) allowed an unearned run on one hit over one inning to earn the win in Friday's 14-inning 10-9 win over the Astros.

The Guardians weren't quite out of bullpen options by the 14th inning, but putting Curry in was likely to eat innings if the marathon game continued. He gave up an RBI single to Kyle Tucker, but Cleveland rallied for two runs to end the contest. Curry has earned all three of his wins this season over his last four appearances despite allowing three runs (two earned) over seven innings in that span. He's at a 2.51 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 21:7 K:BB over 32.1 innings overall as a long-relief option.

Vespi was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk on Saturday.

Vespi was recalled Friday and didn't pitch in that game before getting a quick ticket back to Norfolk. He has a 1.77 ERA and seven saves in 20.1 innings across 19 appearances out of the Triple-A bullpen.

Pressly blew his second save of the season in Friday's 10-9 extra-innings loss to the Guardians, giving up a run on a hit and a walk in the ninth inning. He struck out one.

The Astros had already seen a 5-4 lead slip away, but after they re-took the lead in the top of the eighth inning, Pressly got the call to try and secure his 12th save. Instead, Cleveland tied it up again, something the Guardians would do twice more in extra innings before finally taking their first and only lead of the night in the 14th. Pressly has been tagged for a run in three of his last four appearances, but the stumble seems to be more a product of bad luck than bad performance -- over his last 12 games, the veteran closer has an 18:2 K:BB in 12 innings.