MLB Player News

Lopez earned a save in Monday's 10-2 win over the Giants, allowing one run on three hits while striking out two batters over three innings.

Lopez was called up from Triple-A Durham earlier in the day and made his first big-league appearance in the bottom of the seventh inning with Tampa Bay holding a 6-1 lead. The southpaw encountered a bases-loaded situation due to an error, single and hit-by-pitch but showed poise in striking out Wade Meckler to end the threat. Lopez then allowed a run in the eighth before retiring the side in order in the ninth to earn the save. He threw 47 pitches in the outing, so he may be out of commission for a few days or sent back down to the minors in favor of a fresh arm.

Bautista earned a save in Monday's 4-1 win over the Padres, allowing two walks in a hitless and scoreless inning.

Bautista didn't make things easy on himself, as he threw only 10 of 21 pitches for strikes and issued a pair of one-out walks to bringing the tying run to the plate in the form of Manny Machado. However, the All-Star closer was able to get Machado to ground into a double play, ending the threat and giving Bautista his AL-best 32nd save. He's had an uncharacteristically tough time of late, though, allowing five runs on six hits and posting a 6:5 K:BB over his past 4.2 innings covering four appearances.

Wittgren (1-0) was not charged with a run but allowed two hits and a walk while striking out one over two-thirds of an inning to earn the win after blowing a save Monday against the Mariners.

Wittgren entered the game with runners on first and second after Austin Cox struggled in the ninth inning. Wittgren proceeded to let both inherited runners to score, but the Royals rallied back for a walk-off win. When he was selected from Triple-A Omaha in May, he began in a low-leverage role, but Wittgren's 10.2-inning scoreless streak has earned him some more important assignments. Overall, he has a mediocre 4.97 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 18:11 K:BB through 29 innings while adding two holds this season, so he's unlikely to perform well enough to interest fantasy managers.

Brash dropped to 8-4 after allowing two runs on two hits in Monday's 7-6 loss to the Royals. He was charged with a blown save and recorded one out.

Brash was given the save chance in a 6-5 game and gave up two runs on a sacrifice fly and a sacrifice bunt. He entered Monday with a nine-inning scoreless streak but saw his ERA climb to 3.35 after the hiccup. Justin Topa threw a scoreless frame while Andres Munoz didn't enter the contest.

Tarnok is dealing with a Grade 2 right calf strain, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

Tarnok was placed on the 15-day injured list earlier Tuesday, and the reason for his deactivation is now known. Manager Mark Kotsay said Tarnok will be shut down in the interim, so the rookie looks set to miss more time than the minimum 15 days.

Kelly (elbow) could face hitters next week, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

This is the first update on Kelly's status since he underwent an elbow procedure in early May, but he has apparently made good progress in his recovery and is on the verge of reaching a key step in the process.

The Rays selected Lopez's contract from Triple-A Durham on Monday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Lopez will join the bullpen, likely in a multi-inning role, after registering a sharp 2.67 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 110:41 K:BB through 84.1 frames (19 starts, two relief appearances) this season between Triple-A and Double-A Montgomery. The 25-year-old left-hander was a 26th-round pick of the Giants in the 2018 First-Year Player Draft.

Brentz (elbow) is expected tobegin a rehab assignment Wednesday with Kansas City's rookie-level Arizona Complex League affiliate.

Brentz has been out of action since undergoing Tommy John surgery in July 2022, but he has made good progress in his recovery and is nearly ready for the final phase of his rehab program. If all continues going as planned, chances are he will return from the 60-day injured list and get a look out of the big-league bullpen before the 2023 campaign comes to a close.

Tarnok (undisclosed) was placed on the 15-day injured list Monday.

Tarnok appeared set to make another start for Oakland, but he will instead spend at least a couple weeks on the injured list. It's unclear what is ailing him, so a precise target date for his return is uncertain.

Thornton (0-1) took the extra-inning loss against the Orioles on Sunday, allowing two runs (one earned) on two hits over one inning. He struck out one.

Thornton's outing was actually better than his final line would indicate, as his one major mistake was a four-seam fastball that Cedric Mullins deposited in the right-field bleachers with Gunnar Henderson aboard for what would prove to be the game-winning homer. Thornton owned a solid 2.53 ERA and 9.3 K/9 across 10.2 innings between his time with the Blue Jays and Mariners coming into Sunday, so he's largely been a trustworthy bullpen option. It's worth noting his appearance in such a high-leverage spot was atypical and the byproduct of Justin Topa, Matt Brash and Andres Munoz all having already worked an inning apiece earlier in the game.