MLB Player News

The Rangers optioned King to Triple-A Round Rock on Wednesday.

King will head back to Triple-A after being called up Saturday, having failed to appear in a game while with the Rangers. Alex Speas had his contract selected from Round Rock on Wednesday and will replace King in the Rangers' bullpen.

The Rangers selected Speas' contract from Triple-A Round Rock on Wednesday.

Speas will join the major-league roster for the first time in his career after being selected in the second round of the 2016 MLB Draft. The right-hander has produced a 2.35 ERA and 1.11 WHIP with 12 strikeouts over 7.2 innings in five appearances with Round Rock this season. In order to make a spot on the 40-man roster for Speas, left-hander Taylor Hearn was designated for assignment Wednesday.

Doval picked up the save Tuesday against the Reds, working around a hit and a walk in a scoreless ninth inning.

After allowing a one-out single and a walk, Doval coaxed a double-play ball from Spencer Steer to earn his league-leading 30th save. The 26-year-old righty has emerged as an elite closing option in San Francisco. He's now 30-for-32 in save chances this season with a 2.40 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 59:18 K:BB across 45 innings.

Ginkel struck out the side in a perfect ninth inning Tuesday to record his first save of the season in a 16-13 win over Atlanta.

The right-hander faced the heart of the order for the NL East leaders and didn't flinch, getting Austin Riley, Matt Olson and Sean Murphy to all chase two-strike sliders. Scott McGough gave up six runs in 1.1 innings over his first two appearances after the All-Star break, so Arizona's closer role could once again be up for grabs, and Ginkel -- who has a 0.00 ERA, 0.32 WHIP and 12:2 K:BB through 12.1 innings since the beginning of June -- appears to be the next man up.

Robertson recorded his 13th save of the season in Tuesday's 11-10 win over the White Sox, giving up a run on a hit and two walks in the ninth inning.

The veteran reliever managed to get only 11 of his 22 pitches over the plate, but he got Tim Anderson to fly out with runners on second and third to escape the jam he had created. Robertson could be wearing down after a busy first half, and over his last eight appearances he has a 4.32 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 6:5 K:BB through 8.1 innings. Adam Ottavino's not pitching any better at the moment, however, and the Mets don't have any other clear alternatives for the closer role, so Robertson's job appears to be safe -- unless the front office decides to have a fire sale at the trade deadline.

Romero (2-0) struck out two in a perfect inning to earn the extra-inning win over the Marlins on Tuesday.

Romero's clean nine-pitch inning set the stage for Nolan Arenado's walk-off blast in the bottom of the 10th. This was Romero's second win in his last four appearances -- in that span, he's allowed a hit and two walks over six innings while adding nine strikeouts. The 26-year-old is trending up in the Cardinals' bullpen, especially after Genesis Cabrera was designated for assignment Monday. The left-handed Romero figures to have a chance for any late-inning matchup-based assignments over the other southpaw in the bullpen, Zack Thompson, who is better suited to multi-inning outings.

Rogers (2-4) allowed a walk in a scoreless and hitless inning to earn the win in Monday's suspended game versus the Reds.

The game resumed Tuesday, and Rogers did his part to keep it tied at 2-2 in the ninth inning before the Giants pulled ahead in the 10th. It's been a shaky July for the right-hander, who has allowed four runs on nine hits and three walks over 7.2 innings this month. Despite the iffy results, he's collected a win, three holds and just one blown save. Rogers is at a 2.25 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 38:13 K:BB through 48 innings this season while adding a National League-leading 21 holds.

May allowed a hit and struck out one in a scoreless inning to earn the save in Tuesday's 3-0 win over the Red Sox.

May has collected all seven of his saves this year over his last 13 appearances. He's given up six runs (five earned), eight hits and 10 walks in that span, but he's been moderately effective at limiting the damage. The veteran reliever is now at a 5.11 ERA, 1.66 WHIP and 20:20 K:BB through 24.2 innings this season.

Murphy allowed two hits and a walk while striking out six over 4.2 scoreless innings, taking a no-decision versus the Athletics on Tuesday.

Opener Joe Jacques gave up all three runs on home runs in the second inning before Murphy entered for a bulk-relief assignment. While the deficit didn't get any worse, the Red Sox were unable to generate any support for Murphy. The southpaw has held his own as a multi-inning reliever this season, posting a 1.69 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 23:9 K:BB over 21.1 innings through seven appearances. With three off days between now and the end of July, the Red Sox will likely be able to get by with their three starters and Nick Pivetta working in a bulk role for a while, so Murphy may be limited to mop-up duty.

Smith didn't allow a baserunner during the ninth inning to earn the save Tuesday against Tampa Bay. He didn't strike out or walk any batters.

Smith entered for the ninth inning with a two-run lead and quickly retired the side in order on just 10 pitches for his 17th save in 19 opportunities. The veteran lefty has given up just one hit across his past five outings and has a 2.75 ERA, 0.81 WHIP and 38:8 K:BB over 36 innings this season. Manager Bruce Bochy recently named Smith and Aroldis Chapman as co-closers, with the former picking up Texas' last two saves.