MLB Player News

With regular closer Casey Janssen sidelined by an injury, the Blue Jays turned to reliever Aaron Loup to close out Saturday's game against the Rangers.

Loup walked the leadoff batter with a three-run lead, but erased the runner with a double-play from the next batter. He finished off the 4-1 win in 11 pitches, for his third save of the season.

Loup has been a dependable option for the Blue Jays out of the bullpen this season, posting a 3.09 ERA and 1.18 WHIP in 46 2/3 innings of work.

White Sox pitcher Scott Carroll is expected to start Tuesday against the Royals, as the hamstring and back issues that forced him out of his last start are no longer an issue. 

Carroll has a 4.19 ERA in 68 2/3 innings this season, and has allowed no runs in 11 2/3 innings over his last two starts. 

Angels pitcher Hector Santiago was forced into relief duty Friday night against the Mariners, leaving his role moving forward somewhat in doubt.

Santiago threw 38 pitches over 2 2/3 scoreless innings as he got the win in a 3-2 victory, striking out two batters. Santiago moved to 2-7 on the season with the win in 16 innings, but it is not clear how this will impact his chances of starting moving forward.

Santiago made his last appearance July 10 as a starter, and was expected to slot back into the rotation after the All-Star break. The Angels have not announces their starter for Tuesday, and it is not clear at this point whether he will be a candidate to take the bump for that evening's game against the Oriles. 

White Sox reliever Zach Putnam picked up his third save Friday against the Astros.

Putnam entered the game with a one-run lead. He tossed a perfect ninth inning, striking out two hitters. Putnam lowered his ERA to 2.43 with the outing. 

Yankees closer David Robertson worked his way past a hit in a scoreless ninth inning to close out a 4-3 win over the Reds at Yankee Stadium on Friday. Robertson has converted 24 of 26 save chances, with a 2.67 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP over 33 2/3 innings of relief.

Astros pitcher Collin McHugh (finger) tossed a bullpen session without any reported setbacks on Friday, manager Bo Porter told MLB.com. It remains to be seen if McHugh will start Tuesday against the A's.

"I'm looking forward to getting back out there on the hill and seeing hitters," McHugh said. "I don't feel like I'm rushing. I feel good at this point."

Rangers pitcherNick Martinez threw a bullpen session prior to Friday's game against Toronto, and reported no setbacks, MLB.com reports. He is scheduled to throw again on Saturday in hopes of being reinstated from the disabled list as early as Monday against the Yankees.

Astros pitcher Collin McHugh will toss a bullpen session Thursday, according to the Houston Chronicle. 

McHugh is dealing with a finger injury, but is expected to return shortly after the All-Star break. Over 82 1/3 innings, he's posted a 3.28 ERA. 

Jose Quintana will get the start Friday as the White Sox open the second half against the Astros, reports CSNChicago.com. After that, it's unclear what the rotation will be.

Manager Robin Ventura said he'll wait to see what Chris Sale does in the All-Star Game before lining up the rest of the rotation, which includes John Danks, Hector Noesi and Scott Carroll. Ventura said he might break up Noesi and Carroll because they have pitched in consecutive starts three straight times.

Indians reliever Bryan Shaw was tagged for two runs on three hits and a walk in one inning of Sunday's 3-2 win over the White Sox, but still emerged with the victory. Shaw benefitted from Cleveland's two-run eighth to improve to 4-1, though his ERA rose to 2.70.

Shaw had put together six scoreless appearances until getting hammered Sunday.