MLB Player News

Lopez (bereavement) will start Saturday's game in Kansas City, Rich Dubroff of BaltimoreBaseball.com reports.

Having gone on the bereavement list during the All-Star break, Lopez will not end up missing a start. The righty got hit hard last time out, but only yielded one walk and two runs in this July 9 start. He'll look to continue improving his command in his first second-half start.

The Twins placed Law on the 10-day injured list Saturday with a right shoulder impingement, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

Law allowed one run in 8.2 innings after rejoining the Twins on July 1. Overall in 2021, the righty has pitched 15 innings with the big-league club and posted a 4.20 ERA. It's unclear how long Law will be sidelined.

Coulombe was placed on the paternity list Saturday, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

The lefty held opponents scoreless in five straight relief appearances leading up to the All-Star break, striking out nine and walking just one in that 6.1-inning stretch. Coulombe must miss at least one game while on paternity leave, so he could return to the Twins as soon as Sunday.

Fairbanks fired a scoreless inning Friday to pick up his fourth save of the season in a 7-6 win over Atlanta.

Fairbanks entered in the 10th with the Rays clinging on to a one-run lead after they were able to gain the lead in the top half of the frame. He retired all three batters he faced on eight pitches and left the runner stranded on second. It was his first save since June 14 and he's now put together five straight scoreless outings after a rough ending to June. For the year, Fairbanks owns a 3.29 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 31:14 K:BB over 27.1 innings and will continue to be in line for the occasional save.

Alexander will open a bullpen game in the nightcap of Saturday's doubleheader against the Twins, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.

It will be the third start of 2021 for Alexander, who has a 4.31 ERA and 36:10 K:BB in 39.2 innings of work this season. The lefty only figures to last an inning or two before turning things over to the bullpen to get through the seven-inning contest.

Fulmer (neck) will throw a bullpen session this weekend before progressing to live batting practice, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

Manager AJ Hinch said the righty could begin a rehab assignment if all goes well with the upcoming throwing sessions. Fulmer, who has been sidelined since June 27 with a neck strain, had carved out a late-inning relief role for himself before the injury and figures to rejoin the bullpen in a similar capacity once activated from the injured list.

King (shoulder) may begin a throwing program this weekend.

King was placed on the 10-day injured list retroactive to July 7, but manager Chris Woodward said the pitcher will "maybe pick up a ball" by Saturday or Sunday. At the time of the IL move, the Rangers were hoping he'd return shortly after the All-Star break, but it looks unlikely King will be ready for the first post-break turn of the rotation. "All reports are that he feels good, his arm feels good," Woodward said. "But we won't know until he actually picks up a baseball and throws it." The left-hander has been working as a tandem starter along with Dane Dunning, but the goal is to build up his pitch count to the point where he could become a traditional starter.

The Twins transferred Smeltzer (elbow) to the 60-day injured list Friday.

The move is simply procedural, as the Twins needed a roster spot to add Saturday's starter Charlie Barnes to the 40-man roster. Smeltzer, who began a rehab assignment June 28, is still expected back from left elbow inflammation around the end of July.

Bummer allowed four runs on two hits, one walk and two wild pitches over two-thirds of an inning in Friday's 7-1 loss to the Astros.

Bummer, who was reinstated from the 10-day injured list Friday, had issues with control and threw 29 pitches without finishing the inning. On the plus side, he hit 96.3 mph.

Staumont (1-2) pitched a perfect inning and struck out two, earning the win Friday versus Baltimore.

Staumont worked the sixth inning and was awarded the win after starter Danny Duffy was removed as a precaution after four innings. Through 35.2 innings this year, Staumont has a 3.53 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 41:18 K:BB. He's added five saves and three holds, but he hasn't picked up a save since May 19, as manager Mike Matheny seems to prefer Greg Holland for closing duties.