MLB Player News

Karinchak (shoulder) has been working out at Cleveland's spring training facility in Arizona, but he may not pitch for the Guardians before the end of the season, MLB.com reports.

With a 3.10 ERA and 22.2 K-BB% in 174 career relief appearances over five seasons in the majors, Karinchak has often been a dominant bullpen arm when available, but shoulder problems cost him a large chunk of the 2022 campaign and cropped up again in spring training. Though the Guardians have classified his injury as fatigue rather than something more severe, Karinchak has made minimal progress since being cleared to resume a throwing program March 11. According to the report, the quality and shape of the right-hander's pitches have degraded, and the team has thus far been unwilling to send him out on a minor-league rehab assignment. Karinchak will continue to work with the staff in Arizona in hopes of regaining his form.

Teng (undisclosed) has struck out five and has given up three earned runs on five hits and one walk over 6.2 innings over two appearances for Triple-A Sacramento since being reinstated from the 7-day injured list July 28.

Teng had been on the shelf for three weeks before he made his return to Sacramento. The 25-year-old righty made four appearances out of the San Francisco bullpen earlier this season but is likely to serve as a swingman for Sacramento for the foreseeable future. He holds an 8.66 ERA and 1.76 WHIP over 44.2 innings for the Triple-A club in 2024.

Romero (5-2) allowed one run on one hit over 1.1 innings Thursday to take the loss versus the Rays.

Romero also allowed an inherited runner to score on a two-run home run by Brandon Lowe, which put the Rays ahead for good. Since the start of July, Romero has allowed just two runs over 11 innings, but he's been charged with three blown saves in that span while adding three holds. He remains the Cardinals' top lefty setup man, posting a 2.44 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 39:9 K:BB with 28 holds and six blown saves over 48 innings this season.

Law leads all big-league relievers with 72.1 innings pitched so far this season, posting a 2.99 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 60:18 K:BB with six wins, 11 holds and a save in 58 appearances.

The veteran right-hander has worked more than an inning in four of his last five appearances as the Nationals' rotation struggles to provide consistent length, putting additional pressure on the bullpen. Per Mark Zuckerman of MASN, Law is on pace to become the first reliever in Nats history to toss more than 100 innings in a season -- Saul Rivera holds the record with 93 innings in 2007. Law has already set new career highs in innings and wins, and he's closing in on his personal bests in holds (14) and strikeouts (67).

Chargois (2-0) got the win over the Tigers on Thursday, firing a perfect ninth inning during which he recorded two strikeouts.

The recent trade acquisition extended a stellar start to his Mariners tenure with his fourth straight perfect appearance since arriving from the Marlins. Chargois has enjoyed an excellent season overall, as he's carrying a 1.29 ERA and 1.10 WHIP over 19 appearances. While he has little track record as a late-inning arm, his performance thus far with the Mariners suggests he could earn some high-leverage work.

The Twins transferred Stewart from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Friday, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.

Stewart will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder Tuesday and is expected to be sidelined for 5-to-6 months. He's been limited to just 16 appearances this season because of nagging shoulder problems. If there's a silver lining, it's that Stewart is undergoing a cleanup procedure and is expected to be healthy in time for spring training. That said, Stewart will turn 33 years old in October and has missed considerable time over the last several years with arm issues, so it's not a given that he'll be as effective upon his return. He holds a 2.28 ERA and 59:19 K:BB over 43.1 frames for the Twins since the beginning of the 2023 season.

Lambert was removed from his relief appearance in Thursday's 9-1 loss to the Mets due to what Rockies manager Bud Black described as a "severely bruised" left thumb, MLB.com reports. "It ballooned up as the outing went on," Black said after Lambert was struck by a Francisco Lindor line drive in the fourth inning. "It got to the point where it was becoming a little bit of a distraction for him to pitch, so that's why we got him out of there. We took X-rays, and they were negative."

Coming on in the top of the fourth inning to replace laboring starter Austin Gomber, Lambert allowed a one-out single to Tyrone Taylor, then got a double play when Lindor's liner ricocheted off the right-hander's glove to shortstop Ezequiel Tovar, who stepped on second base and threw to first. Lambert went on to pitch two more innings and struck out three batters on the day, but his overall effectiveness waned as he pitched through the thumb injury, and he ended up giving up two earned runs on five hits and one walk. Though X-rays came back negative, Lambert could be a candidate to go on the injured list if any issues are discovered once the swelling goes down.

The Guardians recalled Strzelecki from Triple-A Columbus on Friday.

Strzelecki has allowed one run on five hits while striking out five across 4.2 innings during his time with Cleveland this season. He'll give the bullpen a fresh arm.

Triple-A Syracuse activated Hartwig (knee) from its 7-day injured list Tuesday and assigned him to Double-A Binghamton.

Hartwig had been on the shelf at Triple-A since mid-June with a torn meniscus in his left knee, but after making a full recovery from surgery, he was cleared to begin a rehab assignment at Single-A St. Lucie on July 30. After making two appearances, Hartwig was bumped up to Double-A, and he'll likely remain with Binghamton until a spot opens in the Triple-A bullpen. In his first appearance with Binghamton on Tuesday, Hartwig gave up one earned run on two hits and one walk while recording one out.

The Diamondbacks optioned Castellanos to Triple-A Reno on Thursday.

Castellanos served as Arizona's 27th man during Wednesday's doubleheader versus the Guardians, although he didn't make an appearance. The righty could be put back into the rotation at Reno.