MLB Player News

Tampa Bay scratched Walls from the lineup for Saturday's game against the Mariners due to lower-back tightness, Ryan Bass of Rays.tv reports.

Walls was penciled in for a fifth consecutive start at shortstop but will instead hit the bench due to the back issue. Carson Williams will replace Walls at shortstop and bat ninth for Tampa Bay.

Urena (7-8) took the loss Saturday, coughing up four runs on four hits and three walks over 2.1 innings as the Angels were routed 7-0 by the Marlins. He struck out two.

The rookie right-hander faced the minimum six batters through the first two innings, but the wheels came off in the third, and Urena got the hook after just 50 pitches (30 strikes) in his shortest appearance since moving into the rotation in mid-April. The rough outing ended a streak of three straight quality starts for Urena, and he allowed just three earned runs total over his last five outings. He'll take a 2.83 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 97:55 K:BB through 101.2 innings into his next start, which is set to come at home next week against the Rangers.

Bennett (7-5) took the loss Saturday, giving up four runs on five hits and three walks over 5.1 innings as the Red Sox were downed 7-3 by the A's. He struck out five.

After an impressive beginning to his career, big-league hitters may have figured Bennett out. The left-hander has been tagged for at least three runs in four straight outings, stumbling to a 5.09 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 17:7 K:BB over 23 innings. He has worked at least five frames in all 13 of his starts for Boston, however, and with the team's pitching depth depleted by trades and injuries, his spot in the rotation seems secure even if his performance continues to regress. Bennett lines up to make his next start on the road next weekend in Pittsburgh.

Tampa Bay announced that Legumina will open Saturday's matchup with the Mariners, Ryan Bass of Rays.tv reports.

With original starter Griffin Jax (elbow) sidelined as a late scratch, the Rays will turn to Legumina as the opener for Saturday's affair. Legumina, who was a Mariner earlier this season before being dealt to Tampa Bay, will make his second appearance against his former team this year. This will be the 29-year-old's fifth start of the campaign. Through 48.1 innings this season, the right-hander owns a 4.28 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 33:13 K:BB in 38 appearances.

Tampa Bay scratched Jax from his scheduled start against the Mariners on Saturday due to right elbow discomfort, per Ryan Bass of Rays.tv.

The Rays will resort to a bullpen game after scratching Jax from the second game of a three-game set with the Mariners due to discomfort in his right elbow. Tampa Bay named Casey Legumina its opener for Saturday's affair. Jax owns a 6-9 record with a 3.63 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 100:30 K:BB in 91.2 innings this season.

Harris gave up a run on three hits and a walk over 1.1 innings Saturday to record his 10th save of the season in a 7-3 win over the Red Sox. He struck out two.

The southpaw got the final out of the eighth inning with the tying run on deck and the A's ahead 6-2 to qualify for a save chance, but Harris created his own jam in the ninth and escaped a bases-loaded, two-out situation by getting Eli White to line out to center field. Harris has been tagged for at least one run in three of his last four appearances, inflating his ERA from 3.09 to 3.71, but his hold on the closer job appears fairly secure -- no other A's reliever has picked up a save since Mason Barnett on June 25.

Jump (5-7) picked up the win Saturday, allowing two runs on six hits and two walks over six innings in a 7-3 victory over the Red Sox. He struck out 11.

The 11 Ks were a career high for the rookie left-hander in his 14th big-league start, while the quality start was his fifth. Jump has completed six innings in two of four outings since the All-Star break, but he got tagged for 12 runs in 8.1 frames in the other two trips to the mound. He'll take a 4.46 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 84:33 K:BB through 72.2 innings into his next start, which is scheduled to come at home next weekend against the Rangers.

Lombard went 2-for-3 with a walk, a solo home run and a second run scored in Saturday's 5-4 win over Atlanta.

The rookie shortstop continues to impress. Lombard took Victor Mederos deep in the seventh inning, his second homer in his first four big-league contests, and he's hit safely in all four games while batting .385 (5-for-13) with a 3:4 BB:K. Lombard had 10 homers in 76 games between Double-A and Triple-A prior to his promotion, so the 21-year-old's initial burst of power may not be a mirage.

Bednar recorded his 26th save of the season in a 5-4 win over Atlanta, allowing one run on one hit and one walk in the ninth inning Saturday. He struck out one.

The veteran closer made things interesting, but Bednar finally shut the door by getting Drake Baldwin to line out to right field. Bednar hasn't blown a save since May 17, converting 16 straight chances while posting a 1.14 ERA, 0.73 WHIP and 35:10 K:BB in 31.2 innings and adding four wins to his ledger, but after working Friday and Saturday he likely won't be available should the Yankees have another late lead to protect in the series finale Sunday.

The Red Sox are expected option Burgos to Triple-A Worcester on Sunday, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.

After being called up from Triple-A on Friday, Burgos will head back to Worcester after two appearances with the big-league club. The 27-year-old pitched a scoreless three innings with two strikeouts in Friday's 13-1 win over the Athletics en route to earning a save, then mopped up for three innings in Saturday's 7-3 loss while giving up a pair of solo home runs. The Red Sox will make the transaction official prior to Sunday's series finale and will presumably call up a fresh bullpen arm in a corresponding move.