MLB Player News

Chargois fired a perfect seventh inning in a win over the Red Sox on Friday, recording a strikeout.

The reliever was put right to work following his trade from the Mariners and displayed top-notch efficiency, getting first-pitch strikes on all three batters he faced and recording three outs on just 12 pitches. The Rays thought highly enough of Chargois to deal away closer Diego Castillo for him, so it's likely the right-hander sees a steady flow of work moving forward.

McHugh (arm) threw a bullpen session Friday, the Associated Press reports.

The veteran is trying to work back as quickly as possible from a bit of a dead arm. McHugh has been an elite component of a strong Rays relief corps while forging a 1.51 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 12.7 K/9, and the team's official site reports there's hope he can return to action sooner than several fellow sidelined bullpen mates.

The Blue Jays optioned Thornton to Triple-A Buffalo on Saturday.

The righty appeared in two games after being recalled Sunday, allowing one hit and striking out one in 1.2 scoreless innings. With a 4.58 ERA in 39.1 innings this season, Thornton has pitched well enough to earn future opportunities with the big-league club. Alek Manoah (back) was activated from the 10-day injured list in a corresponding move Saturday.

Abreu was optioned to Triple-A Sugar Land on Saturday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Abreu will be one of the players to make way as the Astros add their deadline-day acquisitions to the roster. He hasn't excelled this season, though his 4.08 ERA in 35.1 innings is perfectly serviceable, so Abreu could return to the big-league bullpen at some point in the second half.

Zimmermann (biceps) is moving his rehab assignment to High-A Aberdeen on Saturday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

The southpaw is expected to need at least two rehab starts before he could potentially rejoin the Orioles' big-league roster. Zimmermann is still likely at least 10 days away from being activated.

Karinchak (7-3) took the loss Friday versus the White Sox. He allowed two runs on three hits, a walk and a hit batsman while failing to record an out.

Karinchak lacked control throughout the appearance, and the White Sox were able to capitalize. The 25-year-old was done after he threw an errant fastball with the bases loaded that hit Jose Abreu in the head, causing the benches to clear. It's another rough outing in a month full of them in Cleveland's bullpen. Karinchak has given up six runs in 10.2 innings with an 11:6 K:BB in July, pushing his season ERA up to 3.18 through 45.1 innings. With Cleveland acting as sellers at Friday's trade deadline, save chances for both Karinchak and Emmanuel Clase may be fewer and farther between over the last two months of the season.

Hearn is scheduled to start Saturday's game against the Mariners.

After working out of the bullpen nearly all season, Hearn was called upon to make his second start of the campaign last weekend in Houston. The lefty faced a strict pitch count, but he dominated during his three innings on the mound, allowing no hits and issuing one walk while striking out three. With Texas dealing away All-Star Kyle Gibson to Philadelphia ahead of Friday's trade deadline, Hearn should fill a permanent spot in the Rangers' rotation.

Graveman struck out three over 1.1 innings in Friday's 9-6 win over the Giants.

The Astros desperately needed a bullpen upgrade, which is why the traded for Graveman, who rewarded his new team in his debut. The right-hander entered in the seventh inning with trouble afoot -- runners on first and second after San Francisco closed its deficit to 7-5 -- and got out of the jam. He dispatched all three Giant batters in the eighth via the strikeout. Graveman will be the bridge to closer Ryan Pressly and likely get save opportunities when Pressly is unavailable.

Sulser struck out one in a perfect ninth inning Friday to record his fourth save of the season in a 4-3 win over the Tigers.

Paul Fry closed out the seventh inning while Dillon Tate had to bail out Tanner Scott in the eighth, leaving closing duties to Sulser. The 31-year-old has reeled off seven straight scoreless appearances, picking up one win, one save and one hold over that stretch, and on the season he sports a 2.82 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 52:18 K:BB through 38.1 innings.

Romano gave up a run on one hit and a struck out one in the ninth inning Friday to record his ninth save of the season in a 6-4 win over the Royals.

Trade-deadline acquisition Brad Hand worked the eighth inning and also gave up a run, albeit an unearned one, so for now it looks like Romano will remain the top closing option for the Jays. The right-hander stumbles into the final day of July with an 8.10 ERA on the month, but Romano's 2.48 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 44:17 K:BB through 36.1 innings on the season are far more palatable.