MLB Player News

Clase pitched a perfect inning to earn the save in Monday's 5-2 extra-inning win over Toronto.

After a rough patch around the All-Star break, Clase has strung together 7.2 scoreless innings while adding three saves and three holds in those seven appearances. The 23-year-old has had his wild moments at times, but he appears locked in currently. Even better for Clase, James Karinchak pitched the seventh inning Monday -- the latter has struggled recently as well, muddying the waters for closing duties in Cleveland. Clase has a 1.81 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 47:14 K:BB across 44.2 innings while converting 14 of 18 save chances this year.

Morgan allowed two runs on five hits and a walk with nine strikeouts in six innings versus Toronto on Monday. He did not factor in the decision.

The right-hander delivered five shutout innings before allowing a two-run blast to Vladimir Guerrero in the sixth. Long balls continue to be a problem for Morgan, but Monday's start was both his longest and best of the year. The 25-year-old lowered his ERA to 6.75 with a 1.31 WHIP and 42:6 K:BB across 37.1 innings this season. If he remains in the rotation going forward, he lines up to face Detroit this weekend.

Manager Chris Woodward said Howard (finger) could make his Rangers debut Thursday against the Angels, Chris Halicke of SI.com reports.

The right-hander exited his last start July 26 with a finger blister before being acquired from the Rangers on Friday, and he's apparently ready to pitch for his new team. Howard could end up working in tandem with Taylor Hearn, who threw 52 pitches in his last outing Saturday.

Williams is likely to fill in as Milwaukee's closer after Josh Hader (illness) was placed on the COVID-19 injured list Monday.

Hader is the fourth reliever, and fifth player overall, on the COVID IL for the Brewers, and Williams should now have the chance to work as the closer for a brief period. The right-hander has yet to record a save in 75 big-league appearances, but he's been a key bullpen piece for manager Craig Counsell over the past two years as a setup man. Williams struggled over the first few weeks of the season, but over his past 33 outings he has a 1.82 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 48:15 K:BB in 29.2 innings.

Rodriguez was promoted to Triple-A Round Rock from Double-A Frisco on Monday.

Rodriguez had a 2.61 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 64:21 K:BB over 51.2 innings for Frisco this season to earn the promotion. The right-hander could be in the mix for a late-season call-up to the Rangers if he continues to pitch well at Triple-A.

Chafin has posted 2.2 scoreless innings across his first three appearances with the Athletics since his trade from the Cubs last Monday.

The 31-year-old southpaw was considered an excellent trade-deadline addition to an already strong bullpen, and Chafin has wasted no time in validating that sentiment. The fact Chafin has also been immediately put to work by manager Bob Melvin certainly bodes well for his chances of continuing to add to his already impressive tally of 17 holds.

Swanson (0-1) was charged with the loss in a defeat at the hands of the Rangers on Sunday, allowing three earned runs on three hits without recording an out in the ninth inning.

Asked to preserve a 3-1 lead when presented with only his second save opportunity of the season, Swanson immediately encountered trouble by allowing Nathaniel Lowe to reach on a single and then surrendered back-to-back home runs Andy Ibanez and Jonah Heim, the latter a game-winning blast. The stumble was highly uncharacteristic of Swanson, who'd last allowed a run May 8, a span of 12.2 innings across 12 appearances.

Kranick will stick in the Pittsburgh rotation and make his next start Tuesday in Milwaukee, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.

Kranick was moved back into the rotation last week as a replacement for Tyler Anderson, who was dealt away to the Mariners ahead of the deadline. The rookie right-hander also faced the Brewers in that start, and he was lit up for six runs on 10 hits and one walk over five innings. Since tossing five no-hit innings in his MLB debut June 27, Kranick has submitted a 10.64 ERA and 2.36 WHIP in three starts with Pittsburgh.

Castro (undisclosed) was placed on the COVID-19 injured list Monday, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

The Mets apparently haven't reported a positive test for the virus, so it appears Castro is sidelined due to contact tracing. Assuming that remains the case, he should be able to rejoin the team relatively quickly if he continues to test negative.

Hernandez (quadriceps) will make his next rehab start Thursday with Triple-A Jacksonville, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

The 26-year-old made his first rehab outing Saturday for Double-A Pensacola, and he allowed one hit with three strikeouts and zero walks over 2.2 scoreless innings. Hernandez should continue ramping up his workload and will likely need another rehab start or after Thursday's appearance before rejoining the Marlins.