MLB Player News

Lange gave up a hit and struck out two in a scoreless ninth inning Saturday to record his 10th save of the season in a 3-2 win over the Tigers.

The 30-year-old right-hander has had a rough July, getting tagged for eight earned runs in 5.2 innings across six appearances to leave him with a bloated 6.00 ERA on the season. However, Lange continues to hold down the fort as the Royals' closer. Carlos Estevez (shoulder) remains without a clear timeline for his return, but with Kansas City likely to be sellers at the trade deadline, the biggest threat to Lange's save total might be the chance he gets dealt to a contender and lands in a lower-leverage role.

Minnesota reinstated Raya (shoulder) from the injured list Saturday and optioned him to Triple-A St. Paul, Aaron Gleeman of AaronGleeman.com reports.

After missing a little over two weeks with a right shoulder impingement, Raya is healthy again and will make his way to the Triple-A squad. Raya made just three appearances with the big-league club before being sidelined. With St. Paul, the 23-year-old has posted a 6.26 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 44:16 K:BB in 41.2 innings.

Basso is listed as the Athletics' starting pitcher against the Twins on Saturday.

Per Jason Burke of Roundtable.io, Mason Barnett was originally scheduled to start for the Athletics on Saturday. Instead, the club will turn to an opener in the form of Basso, who has started in two games for Triple-A Las Vegas this season. He has a 6.48 ERA and 1.92 WHIP across 8.1 innings in the majors this season.

Barnett is not listed as the Athletics' starter for Saturday's game against the Twins.

Jason Burke of Roundtable.io originally reported that Barnett would start Saturday. Instead, it'll be left-hander Brady Basso who will serve as the opener in what is shaping up to be a bullpen game for the Athletics. Barnett could still pitch in bulk relief Saturday. He has a 4.64 ERA and 1.34 WHIP over 21.1 innings this season.

The Astros recalled King from Triple-A Sugar Land on Saturday, Julia Morales of Space City Home Network reports.

King was sent down to Triple-A last week after giving up eight earned runs over his last four outings (spanning five innings). Prior to that four-game stretch, he boasted a 2.02 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 12 holds, six saves (on nine chances) and a 31:14 K:BB across 40 innings. Despite his recent struggles, King is back with the big club after the Astros placed Spencer Arrighetti (foot) on the 15-day injured list.

The Guardians recalled Dion from Triple-A Columbus on Saturday.

After being sent down to Triple-A on Friday, Dion will now turn around and rejoin the big-league bullpen to make up for the loss of Shawn Armstrong (calf). Dion owns a 5.17 ERA and 1.66 WHIP through 15.2 frames with Cleveland this year and will likely be limited to low-leverage work as long as he's in the majors.

The Guardians placed Armstrong on the 15-day injured list Saturday with a left calf strain.

Armstrong gave up three runs in just two-thirds of an inning during his outing Friday, and the Guardians will now be without his services until at least Aug. 9. Will Dion will return to the majors to fill the vacancy in Cleveland's bullpen.

The Rays optioned Roycroft to Triple-A Durham on Saturday.

After joining Tampa Bay's bullpen July 6, Roycroft gave up eight earned runs in 13 innings while striking out 11 batters and walking three. He'll now lose his place on the active roster to make room for Steven Matz (ankle), who returned from the injured list Saturday.

Merryweather (hamstring) allowed one hit and no walks over a scoreless inning of relief Wednesday after being reinstated from Triple-A St. Paul's 7-day injured list Tuesday.

Merryweather was placed on St. Paul's IL coming out of spring training after suffering a Grade 1 hamstring strain in late February, and he then suffered a setback shortly after beginning a rehab assignment in the rookie-level Florida Complex League in early May. The veteran righty restarted his rehab assignment July 4 and compiled a 2.84 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 10:1 K:BB in 6.1 innings over six appearances between the FCL and Single-A Fort Myers before St. Paul brought him back from the IL.

Bradford (elbow) struck out four and allowed three hits and no walks across three innings in a rehab start Friday with Double-A Frisco.

Since resuming his rehab assignment July 12, Bradford has now tacked on an inning to his workload in his subsequent two starts. Overall, the southpaw has yielded one earned run on four hits and two walks while striking out nine across six innings. He built up to 48 pitches (39 strikes) in Friday's outing, so Bradford will likely need to push his pitch count up to the 70-to-80 range over the course of two more rehab starts before coming back from the 60-day injured list and slotting into the Texas rotation. Bradford has been on the shelf all season while recovering from the internal brace surgery he underwent last June and a setback that cropped up during his initial rehab assignment back in April.