MLB Player News

Littell was optioned to Triple-A Rochester following Monday's loss to Milwaukee, Dan Hayes of The Athletic Minnesota reports.

Littell was tagged with the loss, as he allowed a run on one hit and two walks while recording just one out. He issued a walkoff walk to Brad Miller in the bottom of the 10th inning. Littell is expected to rejoin the Red Wings' rotation after a short stint in the big leagues.

Borucki allowed two runs on six hits while striking out eight across seven innings as he didn't factor into the decision Monday against Detroit.

Borucki surrendered a run in the first and sixth inning, and he was lifted after the seventh with a one-run deficit. He's made two decent starts this season (four runs allowed with 11 strikeouts through 13 innings) but doesn't have a win to show for it. With both Aaron Sanchez (finger) and Jaime Garcia (shoulder) still on the disabled list, it appears likely that Borucki will be given another start, which figures to come Sunday against the Yankees.

Loaisiga was optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre following Monday's outing against the Braves, Marc Carig of The Athletic New York reports. He allowed three runs on five hits while striking out three across four innings, as he didn't factor into the decision.

Loaisiga put together a short outing, giving up a run in the third, followed by two more in the fourth before being lifted with a one-run deficit. The Yankees would get him off the hook in the fifth inning after a Didi Gregorius sacrifice fly plated Gleyber Torres. Through four starts in the big leagues this season, he's failed to work six full innings, although he owns a 3.00 ERA and 1.28 WHIP with 21 strikeouts in 18 innings. Manager Aaron Boone stated Loaisiga will likely return to the majors to start one of the doubleheader games slated for July 9, Erik Boland of Newsday. reports.

Jimenez (4-1) blew the save but still picked up the win in Monday's game against the Blue Jays. He allowed a run on a hit and three walks in an inning of work.

Jimenez was shaky in his first outing as the team's closer with Shane Greene (shoulder) placed on the disabled list earlier in the day. The 23-year-old had been much stingier issuing walks this season after posting a 4.3 BB/9 in 2017, but control was an issue in this one, as he walked more than two batters in an appearance for the first time this year. Jimenez should still hold onto the closer's gig for however long Greene is out, but if he wants to potentially wrestle the job away for good, he'll have to pitch better than this during his audition.

Hendriks cleared waivers Monday and was outrighted to Triple-A Nashville, Julian McWilliams of The Athletic Bay Area reports.

Hendriks went unclaimed after throwing 11 disappointing innings with a 7.36 ERA. He'll return to the Athletics in an organizational depth role, but now that he's off the 40-man roster he's one step further from returning to the big leagues.

Betances retired both of the batters he faced and notched a strikeout in the Yankees' 11-1 win over the Red Sox on Sunday.

After uncharacteristically allowing four home runs over his first 15 appearances of the season to inflate his ERA to 5.63, Betances has re-emerged as a dominant relief ace ever since. In his subsequent 19.2 innings, the hard-throwing righty has let in just one run on two hits while striking out 33 and collecting 11 holds. Betances' 15.9 K/9 trails only the Brewers' Josh Hader (17.5 K/9) among relievers who have covered at least 20 innings this season.

Smith (shoulder) was moved to the 60-day disabled list Monday, Evan Drellich of NBC Sports Boston reports.

The move opens up a spot on the 40-man roster for the addition of William Cuevas. It has no effect on Smith's timeline, as he's already been ruled out for the season after undergoing shoulder surgery.

Littell was called up from Triple-A Rochester on Monday, Mike Berardino of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

Littell is coming off a pair of quality starts against Syracuse, allowing just two earned runs while striking out 10 over 12 innings, marking his best back-to-back performance since early May. The 22-year-old is set to serve as a middle reliever for Minnesota moving forward, though he has the ability to make a spot start should it be required. During his lone outing with the Twins this year, he gave up six earned runs off six hits and four walks across three innings versus the White Sox on June 5.

Loaisiga will start Monday's game against the Braves, the Associated Press reports.

Since the Yankees temporarily added a sixth starter (Luis Cessa) to the mix last week and had an open date in the schedule June 28, Loaisiga will return to the mound on six days' rest. The extra time off should prove beneficial for the right-hander, who has already compiled 59 innings between three levels this season, exceeding his total from the previous two years combined. The Yankees haven't specified an innings cap for the rookie, but it's expected the his usage will be scaled back in the second half, when the team should have Masahiro Tanaka (hamstrings) back from the disabled list. Loaisiga shouldn't face any limitations for at least Monday's outing and tentatively lines up for a two-start week, with his second turn expected to come Sunday in Toronto.

Jimenez will step in as the Tigers' closer after Shane Greene was placed on the disabled list Monday due to a right shoulder strain, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.

Jimenez has appeared in 42 games this season, logging a 2.77 ERA and 1.08 WHIP. His 2.46 FIP and 44:9 K:BB over 39 innings validate the solid ERA, so Jimenez should be a serviceable option at the back of the bullpen while the Tigers wait for Greene to recover from the injury. Prior to allowing a walkoff home run this past weekend, Jimenez gave up three earned runs against the Athletics on June 25, which marked the first time he allowed a run to cross the plate during the month of June. Greene has been a decent closer for the Tigers this year, converting 19 of his 22 opportunities, but Jimenez could establish himself as the club's top ninth-inning option moving forward if he excels over the next couple of weeks.