MLB Player News

Stanek hit a batter and walked two over two-thirds of an inning in Thursday's 8-4 win over Oakland.

Stanek left with the bases juiced but avoided damage to his ERA when Ryan Pressly induced an inning-ending groundout. For Stanek, who had emerged as a high-leverage reliever, it was the third straight shaky outing, and he could be losing that key role. He's allowed five runs on three hits and six walks over his last 1.2 innings.

Pressly retired the only batter faced in the eighth inning of Thursday's 8-4 win over the Athletics.

He entered with Houston leading 6-3 and the bases loaded courtesy of Ryne Stanek's wildness. Pressly squelched the uprising by getting former Astro Tony Kemp to ground out after five pitches. When the Astros went on to score two runs in the top of the ninth inning to take a four-run lead, manager Dusty Baker had Andre Scrubb mop up instead of giving Pressly the opportunity for a four-out save. Pulling Pressly, who had not pitched since May 15, potentially keeps him available if needed to pitch both Friday and Saturday at Texas.

Robles pitched a 1-2-3 seventh with two strikeouts to save Thursday's 6-3 win over the Angels in Game 2 of a doubleheader.

Robles quickly retired all three Angels batters to record his second save in the past week as Minnesota's closer carousel has spun in his favor lately. Robles, Alex Colome and Taylor Rogers now have two saves apiece, though it's important to note that Rogers pitched the sixth Thursday against the meat of Los Angeles' lineup.

Baumann (elbow) threw three scoreless and hitless innings with four strikeouts and no walks in a rehab outing with Low-A Delmarva on Thursday, Steve Melewski of MASNSports.com reports.

Baumann has slowly been working his way back from a right flexor strain, and he was able to throw 30 pitches in his second rehab outing. Once he's ready to be activated, Baumann is likely to slot into the Triple-A Norfolk rotation to begin his season.

Duffey has agreed to serve a two-game suspension for intentionally throwing at the White Sox's Yermin Mercedes on Tuesday, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

Duffey pitched in the first game of Thursday's doubleheader against the Angels while appealing his initial three-game ban. He allowed three runs on four hits and no walks while striking out one in one inning. He'll begin serving his reduced suspension in Thursday's nightcap and will be unavailable to pitch Friday.

Chapman fired a scoreless inning to pick up the save against the Rangers on Thursday, allowing one walk while striking out two.

Another game, another unbeatable performance by Chapman. The southpaw has still yet to give up a run or blow a save opportunity this season, rendering him a top-ranked closer. He's given up just five hits and six walks while whiffing 36 batters across 17 innings of work.

Bazardo (lat) is receiving treatment and will undergo more testing to determine the extent of his injury, Bill Koch of The Providence Journal reports.

Bazardo has been diagnosed with a right lat strain after he left his appearance for Triple-A Worcester on Tuesday. A better idea of his return timetable could come into focus once the results of his tests are known.

MLB suspended Duffey three games and handed him an undisclosed fine for intentionally throwing at the White Sox's Yermin Mercedes in the seventh inning of Tuesday's 5-4 win, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports. Duffey is appealing the suspension.

Duffey's three-game ban comes after he attempted to get revenge on Mercedes for swinging away (and hitting a home run) on a 3-0 pitch in the ninth inning of a 15-4 game one day earlier. Though Duffey's pitch didn't hit Mercedes, the intent was obvious enough for MLB to levy punishment. Twins manager Rocco Baldelli was also handed a one-game suspension, which he will serve in the second half of Minnesota's doubleheader with the Angels on Thursday. Expect Duffey's appeal to be heard in the next few days before an announcement is made regarding whether the three-game ban is upheld or reduced.

Quijada was optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake on Thursday.

Quijada was recalled by the Angels on Tuesday, but he'll now return to the minors after he struck out two in 1.2 scoreless innings Wednesday. The southpaw could be available as a low-leverage reliever later in the season.

Manager Dusty Baker said Thursday that Taylor (ankle) will begin a minor-league rehab assignment "in the next couple days," Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Taylor was carted off the field in mid-April due to a severely sprained right ankle and has now been sidelined for over a month. However, the left-hander appears to be nearing his return to the major-league bullpen. Taylor is unlikely to need much time to build up once he begins his rehab assignment.