MLB Player News

Scribner gave up five runs (two earned) on two hits and four walks with three strikeouts over four innings in a no-decision Friday against Oakland.

Scribner was wild in his first major-league start, but he also wasn't helped by his defense, as a Yunel Escobar throwing error set up a three-run second inning. The rookie flashed some nasty stuff at times, inducing 12 swinging strikeouts in just 74 pitches. The results weren't pretty but should be intriguing enough for the Angels to give him another look.

Santiago (back) will likely be activated next week after making a rehab start Thursday for Triple-A Rochester, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. He gave up one run over 5.1 innings.

Santiago will likely return to a bullpen role. He has a 3.75 ERA and 12.0 K/9 in four minor-league rehab starts.

Diaz saved his 22nd game in Friday's win over Kansas City with a perfect ninth inning.

Diaz struck out a batter and has recorded a strikeout in 38 of his 46 outings this season. The flamethrower has his ERA down to 3.09 and has blown just two saves since May 2.

VerHagen will get the start Saturday against Baltimore, Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press reports.

VerHagen has appeared twice out of Detroit's bullpen and has allowed three home runs in just four innings of work. With Michael Fulmer and Daniel Norris both on the disabled list, however, the Tigers are desperate. VerHagen had just a 4.90 ERA and 1.56 WHIP over 19 starts for Triple-A Toledo this year, so expectations should be kept low.

The Orioles will make a decision this weekend whether to put Castro in the rotation or ship him back to Triple-A Norfolk to develop as a starter, Peter Schmuck of The Baltimore Sun reports.

The 22-year-old has been impressive through 22 games as a reliever for the O's this year, managing a 2.73 ERA over 33 innings. However, Castro has spent recent minor-league seasons being groomed as a starter, and after allowing just one hit over six innings Friday, the right-hander showed he may be ready for a rotation job. Sending Castro back to the bullpen only hurts his development, so that option seems to be off the table. If he does get a crack at a starting job, Chris Tillman is likely to become a reliever in the meantime.

Smith (elbow) is set to begin his rehab assignment Saturday at Double-A Portland, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.

This figures to be a lengthy rehab assignment for Smith, who will be returning to game action for the first time since undergoing Tommy John surgery. The plan is to have Smith work every third day while rehabbing and the Red Sox will not press him into action on back-to-back days in order to limit wear and tear on his surgically repaired elbow. Look for Smith to be back up with the Red Sox in late August or early September if his rehab assignment goes according to plan.

Barnes (shoulder) was activated off the disabled list Friday, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet reports.

The Blue Jays are getting one of their steadier bullpen arms back with Barnes' return from a shoulder injury. Barnes has been particularly effective in limiting base runners, as evidenced by his 1.01 WHIP across 43.2 innings. He'll take Joe Biagini's spot on the roster after Biagini was optioned in a corresponding move.

Pagan (0-2) gave up three runs (two earned) on four hits over two innings in Thursday's 6-4 loss to the Royals.

The 26-year-old had given up just a single earned run over the six appearances he'd logged since his most recent promotion from Triple-A Tacoma, but that impressive stretch ended with a thud. Pagan yielded consecutive RBI singles to Lorenzo Cain and Melky Cabrera in the seventh before surrendering a 375-foot solo blast to Brandon Moss in his second and final inning. Thursday's stumble aside, Pagan's overall body of work has been impressive, and his ability to log multiple innings figures to continue affording him regular work.

Alvarado was recalled by the Rays on Friday.

Alvarado takes the vacant roster spot of starter Blake Snell, who was optioned to Triple-A Durham in a corresponding move, but this likely serves as a temporary promotion. The left-hander owns a 5.89 ERA in 21 relief appearances for Tampa Bay this year and will likely be used exclusively in low-leverage situations.

Boxberger (3-3) fired two scoreless innings in Thursday's 5-3 win over the Astros, recording three strikeouts.

Boxberger breezed through his pair of frames in just 22 pitches, 15 of which he threw for strikes. The veteran reliever hit a brief rough patch in late July during which he gave up four earned runs over two outings, but he's subsequently turned in scoreless efforts in four of his last five trips to the mound. Boxberger continues to rack up the strikeouts as well, as he's now notched multiple whiffs in five appearances and sports a 15:7 K:BB over 12.1 innings.