MLB Player News

Graveman is 2-1 with a 4.50 ERA and 1.75 WHIP over 24 innings across four outings with Triple-A Nashville, but he's now produced three consecutive quality starts.

The right-hander got off to a rough start in Nashville on May 1, allowing six earned runs on 11 hits over 5.2 innings to Colorado Springs. However, he's subsequently rebounded to pitch at least six innings and give up no more than two earned runs in each of his last three trips to the mound with the Sounds, and he also picked a win over the Yankees in a big-league spot start May 11. Graveman has generated a 13:4 K:BB over that span as well, and it appears the Athletics will continue to allow him to build his confidence at the Triple-A level for the time being before considering him for another promotion.

Hendriks (groin, hip) grabbed the win in Triple-A Nashville's victory over Round Rock on Thursday, firing a perfect sixth inning in which he recorded a strikeout.

It was the reliever's first rehab outing after a long recovery from both groin and hip issues. The veteran had no trouble with velocity, as Sounds play-by-play announcer Jeff Hem reports he hit 95 mph on the radar gun. Hendriks got through his one frame on just 10 pitches, so he's likely to log at least a couple of more appearances before being deemed ready for activation.

Alexander was promoted to Triple-A Toledo on Friday, Emily Waldon of The Athletic Detroit reports.

Alexander -- a 2015 second-round pick -- has been at Double-A Erie since the end of the 2016 season, and has a 3.75 ERA and 1.52 WHIP with 35 strikeouts and nine walks over 48 innings for the SeaWolves this season. The 23-year-old has allowed seven home runs and a .325 opponent batting average, but will nonetheless head to the Triple-A level for the first time in his career.

Yarbrough compiled nine strikeouts and allowed three earned runs on five hits and three walks over 5.2 innings in a loss to the Athletics on Thursday. He didn't factor into the decision.

Yarbrough was called on in the second when "bullpen day" starter Ryne Stanek was pulled after 1.1 innings. Despite missing plenty of bats, Yarbrough was also touched up for a pair of home runs in the seventh by Matt Olson and Matt Chapman, and he had his share of control problems as well. The 26-year-old southpaw logged a heavy workload in May as both a reliever and spot starter, compiling a 3-1 record, a 2.91 ERA and a 36:7 K:BB over 34 innings. However, he also had trouble keeping the ball in the park, giving up five home runs over that stretch.

Stanek (1-1) started Thursday's loss to the Athletics and allowed two earned runs on a hit and a walk over 1.1 innings.

Stanek became the latest Rays reliever to be called on for a "bullpen day" start, but he quickly ran into trouble in the second after a 1-2-3 opening frame. The hard-throwing right-hander gave up an inning-opening double to the returning Khris Davis and walked Chad Pinder two batters later. That led to his exit after 25 pitches, but the two runs Stephen Piscotty subsequently plated with a two-bagger off Ryan Yarbrough went on Stanek's ledger. Moving forward, the 26-year-old is still likely to be deployed as a reliever in the majority of his appearances, although he could certainly be called on for the occasional spot start given manager Kevin Cash's eccentric methods of deploying his pitching staff.

Giles allowed one hit and one walk while striking out two to record his 10th save of the season Thursday against the Red Sox.

Giles got the save opportunity Thursday after Chris Devenski blew a chance Tuesday, and he is now 10-for-10 in save opportunities this season. That is a bit deceiving, as he has allowed three and four earned runs in separate appearances in the month of May. While he isn't the only option to close games in Houston, he does lead the team in saves with no other member of the bullpen recording more than two this season.

Pomeranz (1-3) allowed four earned runs on six hits and two walks while striking out five across five innings to take the loss Thursday against the Astros.

While the bar hasn't been set very high, this was a relatively good outing for Pomeranz and the deepest he has pitched into the game in his past five starts. The big blow came on a two-run home run by Carlos Correa in the first inning, with the other two runs coming largely on a series of balls in play that did not leave the infield. While he did not struggle to this degree last season, Pomeranz did start sluggishly before posting a 3.01 ERA in the second half of the season. That said, there is hope that he can improve as the season wears on and this start was a small step in that direction. His next start comes Wednesday against the Tigers.

Graterol will miss his next scheduled start for Low-A Cedar Rapids due to a right wrist injury, Jeff Johnson of the Cedar Rapids Gazette reports.

Graterol's wrist was swollen and wrapped in ice after Thursday's game, according to the report which didn't specify how he suffered the injury. Graterol is having a strong season with a 1.78 ERA and an impressive 12.9 K/9 to this point.

Treinen recorded the final out in Thursday's win over the Rays to collect his 13th save this season.

Treinen entered the contest with two outs in the final inning with two men on base and his team holding a four-run lead. He needed just one pitch to get Johnny Field to pop out to the shortstop and end the game. The closer has now tossed seven consecutive scoreless appearances and holds a strong 0.99 ERA on the year.

Mengden (6-4) picked up the win Thursday against the Rays. He allowed three runs on six hits and two walks with five strikeouts over eight innings.

Mengden was brilliant through the first eight frames of Thursday's game, blanking the Rays on just three hits. He took the mound again in the ninth inning but was chased from the contest after allowing consecutive hits to the first three batters who all eventually came around to score. The surging right-hander has now tossed seven or more innings in his past three starts and has earned a winning decision in his last four outings. His string of dominance won't last forever, but fantasy owners should be confident in rolling him out there until he shows signs of slowing. He'll take on the Rangers on Wednesday in his next scheduled start.