MLB Player News

The Twins plan to call Winder up from Triple-A St. Paul to start Tuesday's game against the White Sox in Chicago, Phil Miller of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

Chris Archer had previously been confirmed as Tuesday's starter, but he's been scratched from the assignment while he tends to an unspecified injury. As a result, Winder, who was scratched from his scheduled Triple-A start Monday in light of Archer's injury, is in line to join the big club for at least one turn through the rotation. However, Miller notes that rain is in the forecast for Chicago ahead of Tuesday's 8:10 p.m. ET start time, so the Twins may not officially activate Winder if the game is at risk of postponement.

The Twins plan to call Winder up from Triple-A St. Paul to start Tuesday's game against the White Sox in Chicago, Phil Miller of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

Chris Archer had previously been confirmed as Tuesday's starter, but he's been scratched from the assignment while he tends to an unspecified injury. As a result, Winder, who was scratched from his scheduled Triple-A start Monday in light of Archer's injury, is in line to join the big club for at least one turn through the rotation. However, Miller notes that rain is in the forecast for Chicago ahead of Tuesday's 8:10 p.m. ET start time, so the Twins may not officially activate Winder if the game is at risk of postponement.

The Tigers designated Howard for assignment Tuesday.

He'll cede his spot on the 40-man roster to right-hander Drew Hutchison, whose contract was selected from Triple-A Toledo ahead of his scheduled start Tuesday against the Guardians. After being claimed off waivers from the Pirates in mid-May, Howard had pitched exclusively at the Triple-A level with his new organization. In 14 appearances out of the Toledo bullpen, Howard posted a 3.75 ERA and 1.42 WHIP in 12 innings.

Stephan (3-3) allowed a run on two hits and struck out two in 1.1 innings, taking the loss in Game 2 of Monday's doubleheader versus the Tigers.

Stephan navigated a single in the fifth inning without trouble, but he let Spencer Torkelson aboard in the sixth. Bryan Shaw allowed the inherited runner to score, leaving Stephan with the loss when the Guardians failed to pull even. This ended a 6.2-inning scoreless streak for Stephan, who has put together a solid campaign outside of an ugly May. He owns a 3.30 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 32:9 K:BB while adding a save, a blown save and four holds through 30 innings.

The Rays optioned Fleming to Triple-A Durham on Tuesday.

Fleming will return to Triple-A after he served as the primary pitcher behind opener Jalen Beeks in Monday's 4-0 loss to the Red Sox. The lefty was handed the loss after he surrendered all four runs (three earned) on eight hits while striking out four over five innings. Jeffrey Springs (personal) was activated from the family medical emergency list ahead of his scheduled start Tuesday in a corresponding move.

Winder was scratched from his scheduled start Monday for Triple-A St. Paul and joined the Twins' taxi squad, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports. Manager Rocco Baldelli said Winder could make an appearance during the remaining two games of the Twins' series with the White Sox.

Winder is on the cusp of rejoining the Twins after he most recently threw six scoreless innings for the club in a June 28 spot start during a doubleheader. Though he's pitched well enough this season to warrant a rotation spot with Minnesota, the team doesn't appear to have an opening for him at the moment. The Twins could still find spots to use him as an occasional starter or tandem long reliever.

Barlow (2-2) took the loss Monday as the Royals fell 7-6 to the Astros, giving up one run on one hit in two-thirds of an inning.

The rest of Kansas City's bullpen had already blown a 6-3 lead when Barlow entered the game in the bottom of the ninth inning, but he completed the collapse by serving up a walkoff solo homer to Yordan Alvarez. It's only the fourth time in 15 appearances since the beginning of June that Barlow has been tagged for any runs, a stretch during which he's posted a 3.45 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 17:4 K:BB over 15.2 innings while converting seven of eight save chances.

Heasley didn't factor into the decision in Monday's 7-6 loss to the Astros, giving up two runs (one earned) on three hits and two walks over six innings. He struck out three.

The rookie right-hander delivered his fourth quality start in 10 trips to the mound this year on 92 pitches (57 strikes), but Heasley was denied his second win when the Royals' bullpen imploded. He'll carry a 4.76 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 38:26 K:BB through 51 innings into his next outing.

Jimenez (shoulder) played catch for the first time in his recovery process Monday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

The right-hander has been on the injured list since June 21, and Monday's development naturally represents a significant benchmark. How Jimenez's shoulder responds to Monday's activity will determine how much of a ramp-up his throwing program is subject to over the coming days.

Pilkington didn't factor into the decision during Monday's 5-3 loss to Detroit in Game 2 of a doubleheader, allowing three runs (one earned) on four hits and two walks with two strikeouts in four innings.

Called up as the 27th man for Monday's nightcap, Pilkington surrendered one run in the third and two more in the fourth as a result of his own error. The 24-year-old's two strikeouts match a season low for games he's started, though the 46 game score is actually the third highest of his seven turns. Pilkington now possesses a 4.08 ERA and 1.67 WHIP with 34 strikeouts in 35.1 innings and will most likely return to the minors barring a change in Cleveland's plans.