MLB Player News

Lange pitched a scoreless inning of relief to earn the save in Monday's 6-4 win over the Royals. He did not allow any hits or walks.

Despite having 38 strikeouts this year in just 29.1 innings, Lange did not record any Monday, though he still managed to retire the side in order on 12 pitches. The righty is now 11-for-13 in save opportunities this season with a 3.99 ERA overall. He's struggled some lately, though, allowing two or more runs three times in just eight appearances this month. However, Lange should stick in the closer role for a Detroit team that doesn't have many other established end-game options.

Alexander (2-1) tossed two scoreless innings of relief to earn the win Monday against the Royals. He allowed one hit and one walk, while striking out four.

After a quality start from Reese Olson, Alexander worked through the seventh and eighth innings, scattering the two baserunners. It was the lefty's first win since May 3, though he's pitched fairly well lately, allowing just two earned runs over his last 13.2 innings. That's allowed Alexander to lower his ERA for the season to 4.66. He should stick in a long relief role for the Tigers, where he could vulture a few more wins, though fantasy impact may be hard to come by regularly.

Banks dropped to 0-2 after striking out three and surrendering three runs on five hits over 3.2 innings in Monday's 5-2 loss to Texas.

Though Banks was serving as the White Sox's opening pitcher of the day, he ended up working the longest of the six hurlers that manager Pedro Grifol deployed on the night. Banks gave up a run in each of the first, third and fourth innings, raising his season ERA to 4.70 across 15.1 frames. On a more positive note, he has a solid 13:2 K:BB on the campaign.

Coulombe (illness) returned to action Wednesday and has since made three appearances out of the Baltimore bullpen, allowing two earned runs on three hits and a walk while striking out one over two innings.

Coulombe went over a week without an appearance -- in part due to reportedly feeling under the weather. The 33-year-old avoided a trip to the injured list and should resume filling a middle-innings role out of the Baltimore bullpen.

Smith allowed a hit and one walk in a scoreless inning Monday, striking out one and earning a save in the Rangers' 5-2 win over the White Sox.

Smith put two runners on base to open the inning but escaped unscathed in the 5-2 victory. He's now converted nine consecutive save chances and has picked up 13 of his 14 opportunities on the year. The veteran southpaw dropped his ERA to 2.89 alongside a 31:8 K:BB through 28 frames this season.

White Sox general manager Rick Hahn said Monday that he's hopeful Hendriks (elbow) can resume a throwing program within the next week or so, Vinnie Duber of AllCHGO.com reports.

Hendriks has been given both a cortisone shot and a platelet-rich plasma injection in hopes that they will help speed along the healing process as he works his way back from right elbow inflammation. He'll need to go through a throwing progression and is presumably still multiple weeks away from a return.

Pop (hamstring) restarted a rehab assignment with Triple-A Buffalo on Saturday, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Pop had to be pulled off his initial rehab assignment earlier this month following a setback with his right hamstring, but he returned to game action over the weekend and is slated for another appearance with Buffalo on Wednesday. The reliever might be ready for activation after that if he can avoid another setback.

Padilla was recalled from Triple-A Charlotte on Monday, LaMond Pope of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Padilla was knocked around in his lone appearance in the majors last month. He'll provide the White Sox with a fresh arm as they have a bullpen game Monday.

The Blue Jays optioned Francis to Triple-A Buffalo on Monday.

Toronto will swap Francis out of its bullpen for a fresher arm in Trent Thornton, who was called up from Buffalo in a corresponding move. Francis had most recently covered 2.2 scoreless innings out of the bullpen Saturday against the Rangers, striking out two while allowing four baserunners. As he returns to the minors, Francis will likely get stretched back out for starting duty.

The Blue Jays recalled Thornton from Triple-A Buffalo on Monday.

He'll join the big club for the first time this season after he had previously been optioned to Triple-A late in spring training. Over 23.2 innings out of the Buffalo bullpen, Thornton pitched to a 3.04 ERA, 1.51 WHIP and 22:14 K:BB. He'll presumably be limited to lower-leverage spots in relief while he's up with the big club.