MLB Player News

Baltimore optioned Baker to Triple-A Norfolk on Wednesday.

This move frees up a 26-man roster spot for starter Jack Flaherty, who was acquired from the Cardinals just before Tuesday's trade deadline. Baker has posted a steady 3.64 ERA and 51:24 K:BB through 42 innings of relief this season with the Orioles and should return to their bullpen mix at some point down the stretch.

Romano (back) played catch on flat ground Wednesday, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Romano picked up a baseball for the first time since he landed on the 15-day injured list this past Saturday due to lower-back inflammation. He could advance to mound work sometime this weekend and might be able to return to the Blue Jays when first eligible Aug. 13. Yimi Garcia logged the most recent save for Toronto last Friday against the Angels, and the Jays also added Jordan Hicks from the Cardinals ahead of Tuesday's trade deadline. Once Romano is healthy, however, he shouldn't face any competition for saves.

Silseth is scheduled to start Sunday versus the Mariners at Angel Stadium.

Silseth was expected to lose his spot in the rotation after the Angels acquired Lucas Giolito from the White Sox last week, but the right-hander will end up making two starts this week after Griffin Canning (calf) was unexpectedly scratched Monday before moving to the 15-day injured list a day later. The Angels are hopeful that Canning will be able to return from the IL when first eligible Aug. 13, so Silseth's upcoming start could be his last before he heads back to the bullpen or to Triple-A Salt Lake. Silseth has held his own against the Yankees and Atlanta his last two times out, picking up wins on both occasions while striking out 14 and issuing only two walks over 10.2 innings.

Lambert was recalled from Triple-A Charlotte on Wednesday.

The 28-year-old right-hander will fill the bullpen spot left vacant by Tuesday's trade of Keynan Middleton to the Yankees. Lambert was a key contributor out of the White Sox bullpen in 2022, but he has struggled to a 6.29 ERA and 1.77 WHIP through 24.1 major-league innings this season.

Brash is in line to see more eighth-inning opportunities as part of the domino effect of Paul Sewald's trade to the Diamondbacks on Monday, and he could also be a candidate for some save chances, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.

Brash happens to be coming off what manager Scott Servais has termed as "probably the best month of his career," as the hard-throwing right-hander finished July with a 2-0 record, eight holds and a 13.9 K/9 without giving up a home run across 11 innings (12 appearances). Brash has been more successful as a reliever since transitioning to the bullpen and is exhibiting improved control this season. With a fastball that averages 98 mph and a 15.3 K/9 across 52 appearances, he's projected to see a nice bump in setup work, at minimum, in front of projected primary closer Andres Munoz.

Munoz is in line to serve as the Mariners' primary closer following the trade of Paul Sewald to the Diamondbacks on Monday, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.

Sewald had logged 24 save chances overall for the Mariners and Seattle is expected to remain a viable wild-card contender for the foreseeable future. Therefore, the potential closing workload Sewald's exit creates should afford Munoz his fair share of save chances, and the hard-throwing right-hander certainly has the stuff -- including a fastball that averages 99.1 mph -- for a ninth-inning role. However, the newfound opportunity comes in the midst of a handful of recent hiccups for Munoz, who's allowed an earned run in four of his last 10 appearances while taking three losses. The 24-year-old has converted two of the three save opportunities he's seen across 24 appearances thus far in 2023, and if he were to struggle as a closing option, fellow right-hander Matt Brash could conceivably be given a look in that role as well.

The Angels optioned Mederos to Double-A Rocket City on Wednesday.

Mederos' stay with the big club lasted just one day, with the young right-hander tossing a scoreless inning out of the bullpen in Tuesday's 5-1 loss to Atlanta. He'll cede his spot on the 26-man active roster and in the bullpen to right-hander Dominic Leone, whom the Angels acquired from the Mets ahead of Tuesday's trade deadline.

Snead, who was recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas earlier in the day, allowed an earned run on two hits and a walk over one inning in a loss to the Dodgers on Tuesday.

The 28-year-old southpaw was making his 2023 MLB debut after being optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas on July 1 following an extended stint on the injured list due to a shoulder strain. Snead had pitched to plenty of contact with the Aviators and got only 13 of his 24 pitches in for strikes Tuesday, so he's likely to be relegated to low-leverage work with the Athletics for the foreseeable future.

Houston optioned Gage to Triple-A Sugar Land on Wednesday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Ronel Blanco has been called up in a corresponding roster move to start Wednesday's game against the Guardians. Gage did not make an appearance during his two-day stint in the Astros' bullpen.

Houston recalled Blanco from Triple-A Sugar Land ahead of his start Wednesday against the Guardians, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Blanco has posted an underwhelming 4.70 ERA and 1.44 WHIP through 46 major-league innings this season and he had allowed 16 runs -- 15 earned -- in 15 frames (three starts) since being optioned back to Triple-A in early July. The 29-year-old right-hander makes for a risky fantasy streaming option, even versus Cleveland's lackluster offense.