MLB Player News
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Brock Burke RP | CIN
Rangers' Brock Burke: Moved off 40-man roster
The Rangers designated Burke for assignment Sunday.
The transaction opens up a spot on the 40-man roster and in the big-league bullpen for right-hander Matt Festa, who was called up from Triple-A Round Rock. Since breaking his right hand in April and missing two months of action, Burke struggled to bounce back upon returning from the shelf. Over his eight appearances with Texas since being activated, Burke posted a 7.59 ERA and 1.88 WHIP across 10.2 innings.
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Josh Sborz RP | TEX
Rangers' Josh Sborz: Shut down with shoulder fatigue
The Rangers placed Sborz on the 15-day injured list Sunday due to right shoulder fatigue.
Sborz's placement on IL is retroactive to Thursday, so he'll be eligible for activation as soon as Aug. 23. The right-hander has been a key setup man for the Rangers when available this season but had struggled of late, giving up a run in three of his last five appearances. Texas called up right-hander Matt Festa from Triple-A Round Rock to take Sborz's spot in the bullpen.
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Walter Pennington RP | BAL
Rangers' Walter Pennington: Called up from Triple-A
The Rangers recalled Pennington from Triple-A Round Rock on Sunday.
Pennington will replace fellow left-hander Brock Burke in the Texas bullpen after the Rangers designated Burke for assignment. Acquired from the Royals on July 29 in the deal that sent right-hander Michael Lorenzen to Kansas City, Pennington previously made his Rangers debut last Sunday against the Red Sox, working one inning while giving up an earned run on one hit and three walks. He'll likely occupy a low-leverage role during his upcoming stint with Texas.
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Matt Festa RP | CLE
Rangers' Matt Festa: Joins big-league bullpen
The Rangers selected Festa's contract from Triple-A Round Rock on Sunday.
He'll join the big-league bullpen as a replacement for right-hander Josh Sborz, who was placed on the 15-day injured list due to right shoulder fatigue. After signing a minor-league contract with the Rangers in July, Festa made six appearances for Round Rock and gave up one earned run on six hits and three walks while striking out 13 batters over 8.2 innings.
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Dany Jimenez RP | ATL
Athletics' Dany Jimenez: Another successful rehab appearance
Jimenez (oblique) fired a scoreless, hitless seventh inning during Triple-A Las Vegas' win over Sacramento on Saturday, allowing a walk and recording a strikeout.
Jimenez put together a scoreless frame for the second time in as many rehab appearances, working up to 15 pitches Saturday. The right-hander appears to have tolerated his first two minor-league outings well thus far, so he may only need one more, if that, before being deemed ready for activation.
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Grant Anderson RP | MIL
Rangers' Grant Anderson: Sent back to minors
The Rangers optioned Anderson to Triple-A Round Rock on Sunday.
Anderson will head back to the minors after he served as the Rangers' 27th man in Saturday's doubleheader with the Yankees. He mopped up in relief during the Rangers' 8-0 loss in the first game of the day, covering 3.2 innings and striking out three while allowing one earned run on one hit and two walks.
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Emmanuel Clase RP | CLE
Guardians' Emmanuel Clase: Perfect in 34th save
Clase struck out one batter in a perfect inning of work to earn a save against the Twins on Saturday.
Cleveland's bullpen went nine-up, nine-down after starter Gavin Williams provided six one-run frames. Clase accounted for the final three outs, which he notched with relative ease on 13 pitches. With 34 saves on the season, Clase ranks second in the majors behind Ryan Helsley (37). Clase needs six more saves to reach 40 for the third consecutive campaign.
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Lucas Erceg RP | KC
Royals' Lucas Erceg: Notches first save as Royal
Erceg earned a save against the Cardinals on Saturday, allowing two hits and striking out two batters over 1.1 scoreless innings.
Erceg entered in a tight situation with a three-run lead and two outs in the top of the eighth frame, as the Cardinals had two runners on base and Paul Goldschmidt -- who homered earlier in the contest -- at the plate. The righty reliever fanned Goldschmidt to end the frame, then remained in the contest after the Royals put up two runs in the bottom of the inning. Erceg allowed back-to-back singles to begin the ninth but retired the next three batters to secure his first save since joining Kansas City at the trade deadline. He's been lights out since becoming a Royal, recording 6.1 scoreless frames during which he's posted an 8:0 K:BB. James McArthur has been struggling and Hunter Harvey (back) landed on the injured list Saturday, so Erceg appears to be the team's reliever most likely to see save opportunities, at least for the time being.
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Tyler Alexander RP | TEX
Rays' Tyler Alexander: Decent in bulk-relief role
Alexander allowed one run on six hits and two walks while striking out three over 4.2 innings Saturday versus the Orioles. He did not factor in the decision.
Alexander continues to operate in a bulk-relief role, and he's had success during his current stint in the majors. He's allowed two runs and posted a 15:3 K:BB over 14.1 innings over his last four appearances, and Saturday was the first time in that span he didn't come away with a win. Alexander has a 5.20 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 63:16 K:BB over 71 innings in 15 appearances (six starts) in the majors this year. If Ryan Pepiot (knee) returns to the majors next week, Alexander may be moved off the 26-man roster or feature as a traditional multi-inning reliever going forward.
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Josh Hader RP | HOU
Astros' Josh Hader: Earns 25th save
Hader earned a save in Saturday's 5-4 win over the Red Sox, allowing one hit and striking out one in a scoreless ninth inning.
Hader allowed a leadoff double to Rafael Devers but was able to strand him there to secure his 25th consecutive successful save since blowing his first attempt of the season April 2. That total puts the southpaw in a tie for fourth in the majors with Robert Suarez. On the season, Hader owns a 3.68 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 78:18 K:BB across 51.1 innings.