MLB Player News

The Rangers optioned Anderson to Triple-A Round Rock on Thursday.

Anderson's latest stint in the majors lasted just one day, and he struck out two in a scoreless inning in Wednesday's win over the Mariners. He's being replaced in the bullpen by Josh Sborz (shoulder), who was reinstated from the 15-day injured list.

The Rangers activated Sborz (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list Thursday.

Sborz made one rehab appearance with Double-A Frisco on Tuesday, and that was enough to convince the Rangers he was ready to go. The reliever had three scoreless outings for the Rangers earlier this month before going down with a rotator cuff strain. Sborz should regain his high-leverage relief role immediately.

Anderson is slated to start Thursday's game against the Guardians in Cleveland, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

With Brayan Bello (lat) joining Nick Pivetta (elbow), Garrett Whitlock (oblique) and Lucas Giolito (elbow) on the injured list Wednesday, Anderson will step into the injury-riddled Red Sox rotation for the first time all season. Anderson hasn't covered more than three innings in any of his six relief outings with Boston this season, but he has plenty of starting experience under his belt, having previously made 200 starts over his MLB career across stops with Arizona, Milwaukee, Toronto, Philadelphia, Cincinnati, Colorado and Tampa Bay. However, since he'll be pitching on three days' rest after tossing two innings out of the bullpen Sunday, Anderson may be operating under a workload restriction in his first start with Boston.

The Twins optioned Henriquez to Triple-A St. Paul on Thursday.

Henriquez tossed two scoreless frames in his lone appearance while he was up with the big club. He's clearing out to make room for right-hander Simeon Woods Richardson, who was recalled from St. Paul ahead of his scheduled start Thursday versus the White Sox.

Alexander came away with a no-decision in Wednesday's 7-5 win over the Tigers, giving up two runs on three hits and a walk over four relief innings. He struck out four.

The lefty entered the game in the second inning as the primary pitcher after Shawn Armstrong worked the first frame as the opener, but Alexander wound up missing out on a win after Chris Devenski coughed up a 4-3 lead in the sixth. Alexander tossed 56 pitches (38 strikes), and he's lasted at least four innings in all five of his outings this season, including two starts. He'll take a 4.74 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 20:7 K:BB through 24.2 innings into his next appearance, which should come early next week in Milwaukee if he remains on turn. With Taj Bradley (pectoral) about to begin a rehab assignment, though, Alexander's time as a rotation stopgap figures to last only a few more weeks.

Kimbrel picked up the save against the Angels on Wednesday, allowing one unearned run on one hit and one walk over one inning while striking out one.

Kimbrel surrendered a leadoff single to Ehire Adrianza to open the bottom of the ninth, who then advanced to third on a throwing error by Jorge Mateo. This would lead to a run coming home for Los Angeles in the frame on a groundout to make it a 6-5 game, though Kimbrel was able to retire two of the next three batters to nail down his seventh save of the season. The veteran reliever has now converted each of his last seven save attempts after blowing the save to open the campaign, but he's also allowed a hit and a walk in each of his last two appearances.

Adam struck out two across two scoreless innings without allowing a baserunner to earn a hold Wednesday against the Tigers.

Adam was the presumed closer with Pete Fairbanks (arm) sidelined, but he instead was used in the highest-leverage spot. He entered the game in the seventh inning to face the top of the Tigers' order and protect a two-run lead. Adam was very effective and picked up his seventh hold of the campaign, but Garrett Cleavinger was ultimately the reliever to pick up the save.

Jax pitched a perfect ninth inning and struck out one to pick up his third save of the season Wednesday against the White Sox.

Jax seems to have taken hold of the closing job in place of Jhoan Duran, who's in the midst of a rehab assignment after suffering an oblique injury late in camp. Jax has twirled back-to-back perfect innings for a pair of saves and owns a 2.70 ERA with a 14:3 K:BB over 11 appearances (10 innings), but his run in the ninth inning will likely come to an end soon with Duran nearing activation.

Criswell (1-1) earned the win Wednesday over the Guardians, allowing three hits and no walks while striking out three over five scoreless innings.

Criswell was impressive in his second start this year, as he held the Guardians scoreless through five innings while throwing just 72 pitches en route to his first victory. The 27-year-old right-hander lowered his ERA to 2.38 on the season with a 1.15 WHIP and 7:2 K:BB across 11.1 innings. The Red Sox will likely continue to stretch out Criswell as a starter with Brayan Bello (lat), Nick Pivetta (elbow) and Garrett Whitlock (oblique) all on the IL. Criswell is currently lined up for a home matchup with the Giants early next week.

Henriquez will be optioned to Triple-A St. Paul on Thursday, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.

The 23-year-old reliever was selected from St. Paul on Monday to add depth to Minnesota's bullpen, but he will head back across the Mississippi River on Thursday to make room for Simeon Woods Richardson. In his first big-league stint of the season, Henriquez struck out two batters across two scoreless innings during his lone appearance.