MLB Player News

Triple-A Durham placed Vernon (elbow) on its full-season injured list Friday.

The Rays initially shut Vernon down due to right elbow soreness back during spring training. The right-hander then went on a minor-league rehab assignment in May, making five appearances as a reliever, before going back on the shelf for good. His 2026 season ends with a 1.42 ERA, 0.79 WHIP and 8:2 K:BB across 6.1 innings in the Florida Complex League and for High-A Bowling Green.

Lange earned the save Sunday against the White Sox, retiring the side in order in the ninth inning of a 5-4 win.

Lange was called upon to protect a one-run lead and needed just 10 pitches to retire Chicago in order, locking down his seventh save of the season. It was an encouraging bounce-back after he was tagged for five runs while recording just one out in his previous appearance. Despite the uneven results recently, Lange appears to have a firm grip on Kansas City's primary closer role. He now owns a 4.95 ERA, 1.49 WHIP and 37:21 K:BB across 36.1 innings.

Avila did not factor into the decision Sunday, allowing four runs on six hits and three walks while striking out four over four innings against the White Sox.

Avila ran into trouble immediately, walking the first batter he faced before serving up a two-run homer to Miguel Vargas. He was tagged again in the second inning, allowing three consecutive hits that led to two more runs. Command continues to be the biggest concern for the right-hander, as he has now issued at least three walks in five of his six starts since joining the rotation. During that stretch, Avila owns a 5.68 ERA and 23:18 K:BB. His next start is set to come Sunday at home against the Phillies.

Smith earned the save Sunday against the Mariners, allowing one unearned run on two hits while striking out one in the ninth inning.

After Cleveland erupted for five runs in the eighth inning, Smith was called on to protect a two-run lead. He allowed back-to-back singles before a throwing error by Victor Robles allowed a run to score. The right-hander stranded runners on second and third to preserve his 26th save of the season. Following a brief rough patch over his last few appearances, Smith has begun to steady himself and lower his ratios. He owns a 3.05 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and a 57:10 K:BB across 38.1 innings.

Jansen (1-4) allowed four runs (three earned) on two hits and a walk across 1.1 innings of relief to take the loss in Sunday's extra-inning contest against the Astros. He struck out one.

Jansen got through the top of the ninth inning of a 3-3 game without any problems, but things came unraveled in the 10th. The veteran started the frame by allowing a walk, a single and a three-run home run. The rough outing pushed Jansen's ERA from 4.26 up to 5.31. It's been a poor campaign overall with four blown saves and now four losses as well. He's become increasingly hard to trust in fantasy leagues.

Alexander will operate as the Rangers' opening pitcher Monday in Cleveland, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Alexander is set to become the first pitcher since 1969 to record saves in back-to-back games and then start the following contest. He'll likely handle no more than an inning or two before turning the game over to the bullpen. The Rangers haven't indicated whether a pitcher will work in bulk relief behind Alexander, but Winston Santos is the freshest arm in the bullpen and had worked at least four innings in each of his last six outings at Double-A Frisco before being recalled Wednesday.

The Orioles claimed Zulueta off waivers from the Cubs on Sunday and optioned him to Triple-A Norfolk, Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun reports.

The 28-year-old righty reliever will move on to his fifth different organization since the start of 2024 despite having posted mediocre numbers at the big-league level over the past two seasons (5.32 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 25:11 K:BB in 23.2 innings) and at the Triple-A level in 2026 (7.54 ERA, 1.90 WHIP, 24:20 K:BB in 22.2 innings). Zulueta boasts a big fastball that can hit 100 mph, and the Orioles are hoping that their staff can help him harness his control at the Triple-A level and emerge as an effective reliever for the big club down the road.

Alexander earned the save in Sunday's 3-2 win over the Blue Jays, striking out one in a perfect ninth inning.

Alexander has now recorded saves in back-to-back games after going nearly three months without a save opportunity. The left-hander has allowed just one run in his last nine appearances (9.1 innings) to lower his ERA to 2.62 with a 1.31 WHIP and 27:10 K:BB across 34.1 innings this season.

The Rays optioned Grove to Triple-A Durham on Sunday.

The right-hander was called up from Durham on Thursday and made his Rays debut Saturday, when he fired three scoreless frames to pick up the victory. Grove is now being sent down in favor of a fresh arm, but his strong first impression should help him to get another look in Tampa Bay later this summer.

The Rays recalled Martin from Triple-A Durham on Sunday.

The rookie right-hander will be up with the big club for the fourth time this season after giving up five earned runs with a 6:4 K:BB across 10.1 frames in his first five MLB appearances. Martin should fill a low-leverage relief role while he's with the Rays.