MLB Player News

Morales did not factor into the decision Sunday, allowing no hits and five walks over 2.2 scoreless innings against the Orioles. He struck out four.

Morales didn't allow a hit in his first MLB start Sunday, but five walks and just 25 strikes on 57 pitches limited him to recording only eight outs. The rookie debuted Aug. 1 against the Diamondbacks, giving up one run over two innings in relief, before earning his first start. Earlier this year, he regularly worked deep into games for Double-A Midland and Triple-A Las Vegas from mid-April to mid-June, but the right-hander hasn't gone beyond three innings in an outing since the start of July. With the pitching staff in flux and Luis Severino (oblique) now on the injured list, it remains to be seen what role Morales will fill moving forward.

Massey (wrist/back/ankle) went 3-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored with Triple-A Omaha on Sunday.

Massey resumed his rehab assignment Saturday for a fractured right wrist and left ankle sprain after a setback caused by back tightness. He's looked sharp since returning, going 4-for-9 with two RBI over two games at Triple-A Omaha. It's been a frustrating recovery process for the utilityman, with multiple injuries piling up, and he was already scuffling at the plate before landing on the injured list June 10, slashing just .202/.221/.258 in 56 games for the Royals.

Williams struck out the side in a perfect sixth inning against Houston on Sunday.

Williams had been struggling entering Sunday, taking two blown saves and two losses with a 15.43 ERA over his previous five appearances. While he was dominant in fanning all three batters he faced on a combined 11 pitches Sunday, it's perhaps even more notable that he came into the contest in the sixth frame with New York down 4-0. Of note as well is that his entrance was initiated by fill-in manager Brad Ausmus after manager Aaron Boone was ejected in the third inning. It's a complex situation, but Williams' usage Sunday could be an indication that the Yankees want to give him lower-leverage work at least temporarily in order to help him right the ship, as they did earlier in the campaign after the veteran reliever struggled out of the gate. If that is indeed the plan, a move out of the ninth-inning role not be temporary this time given that New York acquired an experienced closer at the trade deadline in David Bednar, who has gone 1-for-3 in save chances since joining the Yankees but has posted a strong 10:3 K:BB with a 3.00 ERA over six innings.

Lorenzen (oblique) struck out four batters and allowed three earned runs on seven hits and three walks over 5.2 innings Sunday in a rehab start with Double-A Northwest Arkansas.

Lorenzen looks ready to return from the 15-day injured list after completing his second rehab start, during which he built up to 85 pitches. Before landing on the injured list July 14 due to an oblique strain, the right-hander posted a 4.61 ERA and 1.30 WHIP over 99.2 innings. While Cole Ragans (shoulder) likely remains week away from coming off the IL, Lorenzen's upcoming return means that Kansas City will have only two rotation spots available for him and trade-deadline pickups Bailey Falter and Ryan Bergert. Though Bergert has pitched well over his first two outings with Kansas City, he has minor-league options remaining, which could put him at the most risk of losing his starting spot once Lorenzen is activated. Lorenzen could make his return to the big club as soon as this weekend's series versus the White Sox.

Fulmer allowed two earned runs on one hit and four walks while striking out three batters over five innings of long relief in Sunday's 9-5 loss to the Tigers.

Jack Kochanowicz started for the Angels and was roughed up, giving up seven runs (six earned) over three-plus frames to get stuck with the loss. Fulmer entered in the fourth and remained on the mound for the remainder of the contest, throwing 85 pitches to Kochanowicz's 84. While Fulmer was wild -- only 49 of his offerings were strikes, and he walked four batters -- the only hit he gave up was a two-run home run to Riley Greene. The right-hander's pitch count was his second-highest of the season, falling just shy of the 88 he tallied against Texas on July 10. Kochanowicz was optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake following the poor start, and while Los Angeles has not yet announced how it plans to handle his spot in the rotation, Fulmer is a logical candidate to step into a starting role, given the hefty workload he handled Sunday.

The Blue Jays promoted Yesavage from Double-A New Hampshire to Triple-A Buffalo on Monday, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.

Yesavage will be moving up to his fourth affiliate of the season after beginning the campaign at Single-A Dunedin. In three stops so far, the 2024 first-round pick has collected a 3.01 ERA and 134:30 K:BB across 80.2 innings. Yesavage could push for a big-league promotion in September, perhaps as a reliever or if a need arises in the Blue Jays rotation.

The Twins activated Buxton (rib) from the 10-day injured list Monday. He'll start in center field and bat leadoff in the Twins' series opener versus the Yankees.

Buxton has been out of commission since late July due to left rib cartilage irritation, but he will skip a rehab assignment and go directly back onto the active roster for the start of the Twins' series in New York. Carson McCusker was sent down to Triple-A St. Paul in a corresponding move.

The Red Sox will designate Burdi for assignment Monday, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

The transaction will free up a spot on the 40-man roster for the addition of left-hander Jovani Moran, who will be called up from Triple-A Worcester. Burdi has allowed two runs with a 4:3 K:BB over three innings at Worcester since returning from a hip injury. The righty reliever has pitched well this season when healthy, so he could receive interest via trade or waivers.

Alexander is expected to pitch in bulk relief behind opening pitcher Elvis Peguero in Monday's game against the Tigers, Jack Ankony of SI.com reports.

Alexander made a 3.1-inning start versus the Phillies on July 30, but his last two appearances have come out of the Chicago bullpen. In his most recent outing last Wednesday against the Mariners, Alexander shined in long relief behind starter Jonathan Cannon, striking out five batters while allowing just two baserunners over 4.1 scoreless frames and 67 pitches. With Cannon having since been demoted to Triple-A Charlotte, Alexander will essentially be taking his spot in the rotation Monday, as Peguero is expected to work just one or two innings before Alexander likely steps in and covers multiple frames out of the bullpen.

Yesavage could be promoted to the majors to make his MLB debut in September, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.

While the Blue Jays may be more likely to use their extra September roster spot for the pitching staff on a relief arm who's already seen time in the majors this season, such as Lazaro Estrada and Paxton Schultz, letting Yesavage get his feet wet at the top level could be tempting for the organization, especially if the Jays think he'll be ready to compete for a rotation spot next spring. The 22-year-old right-hander has risen from Single-A to Double-A this season and soared up prospect lists in his first pro campaign after being the 20th overall pick in the 2024 First-Year Player Draft, posting a combined 3.01 ERA, 0.93 WHIP and 134:30 K:BB in just 80.2 innings across three levels.