MLB Player News

Zych fired 2.1 scoreless innings in Wednesday's 9-6 loss to the Royals, recording four strikeouts.

The right-handed reliever notched a season-high number of whiffs in what was his first multi-strikeout outing since June 6. Zych closed out June by allowing an earned run apiece in his last two appearances of the month, but he's opened July with 2.2 perfect frames across a pair of trips to the mound. Even factoring in some control issues, Zych has largely limited the damage, as evidenced by a solid 2.42 ERA and 1.19 WHIP in 26 innings this season.

Green allowed one run over two innings and struck out two in Wednesday's loss to Toronto.

The 26-year-old entered in the sixth with starter Michael Pineda lasting only three innings. Green gave up a solo home run to Russell Martin in the seventh, which tied the game 6-6. The right-hander has a 2.03 ERA and 0.77 WHIP with 38 strikeouts across 31 innings this season, and has proven to be a valuable long reliever out of the Yankees' bullpen.

Robertson was activated from the paternity list Thursday.

The right-hander was given that designation before Monday's game and will be on the roster card for Friday's series-opening clash with the Rockies. Robertson remains a highly likely candidate to be traded in the coming weeks, so his understudy, Tommy Kahnle, should still be added in many fantasy leagues despite the closer's return.

The Rangers optioned Martinez to Triple-A Round Rock on Thursday.

Texas will make a roster move to fill that spot before Friday's contest. Martinez was tagged for four runs (three earned) while allowing 11 baserunners in a relief outing Tuesday and was deemed replaceable, considering his 4.56 ERA, lowly 4.8 K/9 and lack of a clear avenue to rejoining the rotation. He should park at Round Rock for a bit until he's summoned to take another trip on the shuttle.

Diaz entered in a non-save situation and pitched 1.1 scoreless innings with two strikeouts in Wednesday's loss to Kansas City.

The 23-year-old stranded a pair of inherited runners to keep the game tied 6-6 in the eighth inning, and followed with a scoreless ninth inning. The right-hander has flourished in similar non-save situations this season, but has struggled mightily with a 5.63 ERA and 1.38 WHIP in 16 save opportunities. Diaz is 13 of 16 in save chances and has a 12.0 K/9, but has already allowed eight home runs this season.

Norris (groin) is undergoing an MRI on Thursday to examine the severity of his groin injury, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.

The southpaw's painful Wednesday start might've been influenced by this issue, and the Tigers want to check on how long he may be sidelined. Either way, Norris could avoid missing a turn in the rotation because the All-Star break is coming up. Of course, as Evan Woodbery of MLive.com speculates, Detroit may use this 10-day disabled list stint as a chance to evaluate his major-league roster spot.

Barnes cleaned up Wednesday's 8-2 loss to Texas with a perfect inning.

Barnes had lost himself during a recent road trip, walking six batters over 2.1 innings, which prompted him to adjust his mechanics, per Alex Speier of The Boston Globe. The right-hander replaced a leg lift with a compact slide step to get his front leg to its proper landing spot. That tweak has helped Barnes pitch 5.2 scoreless innings with seven strikeouts and two walks over his last five appearances.

Betances was tagged with the loss Wednesday after he allowed one run on four walks while recording just one out (via strikeout).

It was Betances' second rough outing over his last three appearances, and he has now walked a troublesome eight batters over that span (two innings). He still owns a 3.29 ERA and 16.9 K/9 through 27.1 innings this season, and given his track record, he should work out of this funk and continue to be a solid fantasy piece.

Norris (4-7) gave up five runs on seven hits and four walks over four innings in Wednesday's loss to the Giants.

He's now allowed five runs in three consecutive starts -- the kind of streak that can motivate even the most patient fantasy owners to make a move. Norris owns a solid strikeout rate, but his walks are way up and he's surrendering tons of hits. While some BABIP regression should help his stats down the line, he simply can't be considered a reliable asset at this point.

McHugh completed 3.2 innings in his second rehabilitation start for Double-A Corpus Christi, Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle reports.

McHugh, who was scheduled to throw between 45 and 50 pitches, dialed up his pitch count to 53 in his second rehab start. He was perfect through three innings before allowing two runs in the fourth and struck out five without issuing a walk. He'll need at least two more rehab starts, maybe more, before he's ready to rejoin the major league team.