MLB Player News

Merritt was recalled from Triple-A Columbus on Monday, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

After utilizing their relievers for 7.1 innings during Sunday's game, the Indians will call upon Merritt to provide a fresh arm in their bullpen. The 25-year-old currently sports a 3.36 ERA over 93.2 innings at Columbus this season.

Coulombe notched his fifth hold in Sunday's 7-3 win over the Indians, allowing a hit and recording one out.

The 27-year-old southpaw continues to be one of manager Bob Melvin's most trusted relief options, with Sunday's outing bringing his ERA and WHIP to 2.81 and 1.09, respectively. With fellow lefty Sean Doolittle now in Washington, Coulombe is currently the only left-handed member of the Oakland bullpen and could therefore potentially see increased opportunities.

Hendriks notched his eighth hold in Sunday's 7-3 win over the Indians, getting two outs on two pitches to close out the eighth inning.

Hendriks came on in relief of Daniel Coulombe with one out and one on, and he quickly retired the potent duo of Edwin Encarnacion and Jose Ramirez on a lineout and groundout, respectively. The 28-year-old right-hander has found a semblance of consistency recently after a mostly rocky June, generating scoreless appearances in six of his last seven trips to the mound.

Johnson will be recalled from Triple-A Pawtucket to start Tuesday's game against the Blue Jays, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.

Doug Fister was originally scheduled to pitch Tuesday, but that plan was scrapped after he was forced to cover 2.2 innings in relief in Saturday's 16-inning loss to the Yankees. As a result, Johnson will move up to the big leagues for what will likely just be a spot start. Johnson tossed a complete-game shutout May 27 in one of his four starts with the Red Sox this season, but has otherwise been mediocre, failing to last more than five innings in any other of his three turns.

Leone was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo on Monday, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Leone will join the bullpen in place of Lucas Harrell, who was designated for assignment in a corresponding move. The 25-year-old right-hander had previously made 34 appearances for the Blue Jays this season, mostly as a middle reliever. He carries a 2.95 ERA and 1.16 WHIP over 39.2 innings.

Almonte was optioned to Triple-A Omaha on Monday.

Brought aboard by the Royals for the weekend series with the Rangers while Neftali Feliz was on the paternity list, Almonte will report back to the minors with Feliz being reinstated on the active roster. Almonte, who didn't make an appearance out of the bullpen for the Royals over the weekend, could end up settling into a starting role with Omaha.

Kolarek gave up an earned run on a solo home run over two-thirds of an inning in Sunday's 4-3 loss to the Angels.

Kolarek gave up a 359-foot shot to C.J. Cron in the eighth that gave the Angels what turned out to be an indispensable insurance run. It was the 28-year-old's second homer surrendered in his last three appearances and the third time overall that he's given up at least one earned run. Factoring in Sunday's outing, Kolarek's ERA has ballooned up to 5.40 after he opened his Rays career with a pair of scoreless efforts.

Saupold (2-1) picked up the win Sunday against Toronto by pitching a spotless 11th inning.

Saupold was the seventh Detroit pitcher of the game, and he retired the Blue Jays in order in the top of the 11th. He then won when the Tigers scored on a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the inning. The Australian right-hander now has a 2.14 ERA and 1.01 WHIP while serving as a strong long-relief option in a generally shaky Detroit bullpen.

Abreu, who has been out since June 6, is dealing with a muscle issue in his right shoulder, Mark Sanchez of the New York Post reports.

It was unclear initially what forced the hard-throwing 21-year-old to the DL, and a shoulder ailment is not the most encouraging news. Abreu had a sparkling 1.84 ERA at Low-A this year before moving up to High-A, where he worked to a 5.09 ERA in six starts. He remains without a firm timetable for a return and will likely be treated with extreme caution.

Robertson, who threw a scoreless inning in a non-save situation Sunday, had scouts from the Red Sox and Yankees on hand watching him pitch, Toni Ginnetti of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

The rumors of Robertson being traded to the Nationals were popular during the first half of the season, but Washington made its long speculated move to acquire bullpen help elsewhere Sunday. Ryan Madson and Sean Doolittle were sent from Oakland to Washington, presumably to address the team's closer problems. Other clubs are interested in Robertson, but the Nationals are (or were) in need of a closer, while the Red Sox and Yankees are looking at him as a setup man. The obvious implication of Sunday's development is that Robertson's value will be reduced if he's not closing games, and the potential haul he could get in fantasy circles will be diminished.