MLB Player News

areChavez has posted a respectable 3.41 ERA and 1.19 WHIP while striking out 35 over 34.1 innings during the first half of 2016.

A year removed from starting 26 games in Oakland, Chavez has smoothly adjusted to his role in Toronto's bullpen. His ERA and WHIP are both career bests. In addition, the right-hander is issuing fewer walks than ever before while pumping his average fastball (93.4 mph) at its highest speed since 2010. With that said, he's been on the brighter side of luck so far, with an 80-percent strand rate (career 71 percent) and a .288 BABIP (career .317) that are both the best he's had in any of his nine MLB campaigns. Furthermore, Chavez stumbled to the first-half finish line, so beware that he's a prime candidate for a second-half regression.

Kimbrel (knee) underwent successful left knee arthroscopy and partial medial meniscectomy Monday and will be out 3-6 weeks, Evan Drellich of the Boston Herald reports.

Kimbrel's surgery went according to plan. He will now begin the rehab and recovery phase in an attempt to get back to full strength. The 28-year-old has a career high 3.55 ERA through 34 games for the Red Sox but has still converted on 17 of his 19 save opportunities.

Ortiz, 20, has a 3.74 ERA and 28:7 K:BB through 33.2 innings since being promoted to Double-A.

Ortiz has shown superb control, though he has been slightly more hittable at this level than he was at High-A. Opposing batters are hitting .288 against him at Double-A compared to .221 through 27.2 innings at High-A to begin the season. Nevertheless, he will not turn 21 years of age until after the season, so his future remains bright.

Andriese continued to thrive in a relief role Sunday, racking up five strikeouts over 2.2 innings of two-hit, scoreless ball against the Red Sox.

The former starter was particularly sharp, throwing 32 of 44 pitches for strikes and notching an impressive 10 swinging strikes over his relatively brief time on the mound. The 26-year-old righty has posted scoreless efforts in five of his seven relief appearances and has been able to eat up some innings when called upon, giving fellow former starter Erasmo Ramirez more rest. Interestingly, Andriese has notably thrown 2.2 innings or more in four of his seven bullpen outings and has not given up a run in any of them.

Manaea struck out six and did not issue a walk across seven shutout innings Sunday versus Houston. He did not factor into the decision.

The left-hander was rocked in his previous start and faced a difficult road matchup Sunday, but he delivered perhaps the finest outing of his young career, although his offense was unable to pick him up versus Dallas Keuchel. Manaea still owns a hefty 5.24 ERA, but he has shown flashes of the pedigree that made him a top prospect and will look to achieve some consistency heading out of the All-Star break.

The White Sox have optioned Beck to Triple-A Charlotte after their game on Sunday against the Braves.

Beck has struggled in limited relief action with the White Sox this season, compiling an 8.10 ERA with seven walks in 6.2 innings. The 25-year-old will head back to Triple-A Charlotte where he's pitched in 15 games, starting seven and relieving eight.

Burdi is currently on a throwing program in Fort Myers, Mike Berardino of the Pioneer Press reports.

Burdi has been on the disabled list since May 6 with a bone bruise on his right humerus. There is still no timetable for his return, but the fact that he's starting to throw is a step in the right direction.

Putnam (elbow) has been throwing from 120 feet and plans to throw off a mound Saturday, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

Putnam continues a steady progression recovering from elbow soreness, as he threw from 60 feet last week and has now advanced to 120 feet with no problems. If he continues to report no issues this upcoming week then he'll likely throw off a mound on Saturday. The 29-year-old has been one of the White Sox most consistent relievers, giving up more than one earned run in only one appearance this season while maintaining a 2.30 ERA over 27.1 frames.

Saupold (groin) will begin a rehab assignment at High-A Lakeland on Sunday, George Sipple of the Detroit Free Press reports.

With health, Saupold will be a candidate to return to the Tigers' bullpen once play resumes next week following the All-Star break.

Graveman (5-6) allowed only two earned runs on five hits over eight-plus innings in Saturday's 3-2 victory over the Astros. He struck out three.

Although he had to be bailed out after getting into some trouble to start the ninth, the 25-year-old was masterful overall, throwing 66 of 93 pitches for strikes and notching first-pitch strikes on 23 of the 28 batters he faced. It was Graveman's fourth quality start over his last five trips to the mound, and a continuation of an extended stretch of improved performance that's seen him bring his ERA down well over a full run to 4.37 since June 4. After a rough start that saw his record at 1-6 after a May 19 loss to the Yankees, Graveman has now won four consecutive decisions and will try to carry the positive momentum into the second half of the season.