MLB Player News

Newcomb is listed as the Athletics' starting pitcher for Friday's game against the Padres in Oakland.

Because he had initially been working out of the bullpen following his Aug. 23 call-up from Triple-A Las Vegas, Newcomb was on a limited pitch count this past weekend, when he was called upon to make a spot start against the Rangers. He held his own in a tough matchup with a playoff contender, striking out five while allowing no runs on one hit and two walks over four innings. Newcomb was lifted after 62 pitches against the Rangers but should be able to push his count up closer to 80 in his second turn through the Oakland rotation Friday.

Robertson will serve as Boston's opening pitcher in the second game of Thursday's doubleheader against the Yankees, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.

Robertson has allowed 14 runs -- 11 earned -- in 16.1 major-league innings of relief this season between the Dodgers and Red Sox. The 25-year-old right-hander probably won't go more than a frame or two in the nightcap Thursday at Fenway Park.

The Yankees optioned Bowman to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Thursday, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.

Bowman allowed three earned runs over one inning of relief as the Yankees fell 5-0 in the first half of Thursday's doubleheader against the Red Sox. Luke Weaver, claimed off waivers from the Mariners on Tuesday, will officially join New York's active roster ahead of the nightcap in Boston.

The Orioles recalled Baker from Triple-A Norfolk on Thursday.

After being optioned to Triple-A on Aug. 2, Baker posted a 5.40 ERA and 1.46 WHIP over 11.2 innings. Though his performance doesn't necessarily warrant a call-up, Baker has a 3.64 ERA in 45 MLB appearances this year, and he'll be back with the big club and provide a fresh arm out of the bullpen after Nick Vespi was optioned to Norfolk in a corresponding move.

Vespi was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk on Thursday.

Vespi's latest stint in the big leagues lasted only one day without him making an appearance out of the bullpen. Baltimore recalled right-hander Bryan Baker from Norfolk in a corresponding move.

Curry (3-4) allowed an unearned run and walked two batters over one-third of an inning, taking the extra-inning loss versus the Giants on Wednesday.

Curry's two walks loaded the bases, and LaMonte Wade's sacrifice fly was enough for the Giants to walk it off in the 10th inning. This was Curry's second consecutive relief appearance. The right-hander has pitched to a 4.10 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 61:26 K:BB through 85.2 innings over 36 appearances (nine starts) this season. There's currently no room for him in Cleveland's rotation, and with Shane Bieber (elbow) still a possibility to return before the end of the year, Curry will likely remain in the bullpen.

Yankees pitching coach Matt Blake said that King is built up for 85-to-90 pitches in Thursday's start versus the Red Sox, Chris Kirschner of The Athletic reports.

King reached 79 pitches his last time out against the Brewers, when he fanned nine over five innings while yielding just one earned run. The right-hander has been excellent since moving into the Yankees' rotation, collecting a 1.08 ERA and 21:3 K:BB over 16.2 frames. He's making a case to be one of the team's five starters heading into next season.

Sousa was recalled from Triple-A Sugar Land on Thursday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Sousa was claimed off waivers earlier this month and will now get a shot in the Houston bullpen. The left-hander holds a 9.00 ERA and 14:12 K:BB over 23 relief innings at the big-league level the last two seasons.

Mushinski was optioned to Triple-A Sugar Land on Thursday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Mushinski had been scored upon in each of his last four relief appearances. Bennett Sousa is taking his spot in the Astros' bullpen.

Brash recorded his 23rd hold in a win over the Angels on Wednesday, firing a scoreless eighth inning during which he allowed a hit and a walk while recording three strikeouts.

Brash worked the eighth inning while posting his eighth consecutive scoreless appearance, a stretch that dates back to Aug. 29. The right-hander has generated a 13.5 K/9 and snagged six holds over that eight-inning sample, as manager Scott Servais has opted to stick with Andres Munoz as the primary ninth-inning option despite some stumbles while often deploying Brash in a seventh- or eighth-inning role.