MLB Player News

The Rays have optioned pitcher Kirby Yates to make room for Drew Smyly, who is set to start Sunday, per the Tampa Tribune.

Yates pitched twice in his latest stint in the bigs. He allowed three runs in two innings of relief against Boston.

A poor start Friday has Twins right-hander Trevor May headed back to the bullpen as Tyler Duffey has been rewarded with another chance to start, per ESPN.

Duffey performed very well Saturday night against Cleveland after a miserable major league debut.

The team has also announced that fellow pitcher Michael Tonkin, who was recalled Friday, has been optioned to Triple-A Rochester.

May opened the year in the rotation, but his start Friday was his first since July 1.

The Indians have officially recalled pitcher Josh Tomlin from Triple-A. Tomlin will start Saturday's game against the Twins, in what will be his first big-league action of the season.

To clear room for him on the roster, right-hander Shawn Armstrong was optioned to Triple-A Columbus. Armstrong made a pair of relief outings after being recalled last week. He did not allow a run in 2 2/3 innings of work.

Twins starter Trevor May suffered a loss to Cleveland on Friday, losing for the first time since July 1. That was also the date of May's last start. He made 13 relief appearances before starting again on Friday. 

May allowed two runs on five hits in three innings, his shortest start since June 26. 

Red Sox pitcher Joe Kelly improved to 3-0 in August with a win over Seattle on Friday. 

After allowing seven runs on 16 hits over 10 1/3 innings in his first two August starts, Kelly allowed just one run on four hits over six innings on Friday. 

Kelly improved to 5-6. 

Athletics right-hander Jesse Chavez performed quite well Thursday considering only an injury to Sonny Gray had him on the mound and that he was facing a sizzling offensive juggernaut in the Blue Jays on their home field.

It wasn't good enough, however. Chavez was merely added to the list of recent Toronto victims. He surrendered four runs on six hits, but did walk none and strike out nine.

He blanked the Blue Jays in every inning aside from the second, but that frame was a disaster. He let the bottom of the lineup do the damage as Kevin Pillar hit an RBI single and Ryan Goins followed with a three-run homer. Chavez retired 14 of the next 15 batters, including seven by strikeout.

Chavez has managed just two quality starts in his last 10 outings, but his ERA remains a decent 3.84.

With the Twins placing starting pitcher Phil Hughes on the 15-day disabled list due to a lower back injury, the team announced Trevor May will take his spot in the rotation. He will start Friday against the Indians.

The Twins also announced Tyler Duffey will be recalled from the minors to start the second game of the series Saturday and Tommy Milone, who is on the 15-day disabled list with an elbow injury, will pitch the series finale Sunday.

As expected, the Rangers recalled starting pitcher Chi Chi Gonzalez from Triple-A Round Rock on Thursday to start against the Twins. To clear a roster spot, pitcher Nick Martinez was optioned to Round Rock.

Athletics starting pitcher Sonny Gray was scratched from Thursday's start against the Blue Jays due to back spasms. Jesse Chavez stepped in to start in Gray's absence.

The All-Star Gray is 2-0 with a 1.13 ERA in his last four starts. He also has a .193 opponents' batting average in that span.

Chavez has not had a strong start to the second half. He is 2-2 with a 5.11 ERA through five starts after the All-Star break. Although, he did allowed one run in seven innings in a win in his last start against the Astros.

White Sox pitcher David Robertson could not hold onto a one-run lead in the ninth inning of Wednesday's game against the Angels.

Robertson failed to convert the save after allowing one run to score on two hits. He also struck out one batter during one inning of work. It was his sixth blown save of the season. The White Sox won the game 3-2 in extra innings.