MLB Player News

Torkelson went 2-for-2 with a two-run home run in Sunday's 7-5, 10-inning loss to the Astros.

Torkelson started the contest on the bench and didn't enter until the eighth, but he provided a single in his first at-bat, then delivered his 13th home run of the season in the 10th. It was the slugger's first long ball since June 15, and he went just 7-for-37 with 11 strikeouts in between homers. Torkelson remains a boom-or-bust fantasy option who can be frustrating due to his propensity for falling into slumps.

Hoskins went 2-for-2 with a double and two RBI in Sunday's 6-5 win over the Mariners.

Hoskins entered the game as a pinch hitter for Kyle Manzardo in the seventh inning and made an immediate impact. After singling in his first plate appearance, he came through with a go-ahead two-run double in Cleveland's five-run eighth inning to help complete the comeback victory. The veteran's afternoon was a welcome boost amid an otherwise difficult month, as he is batting just .161 with a 35.2 percent strikeout rate in June.

McKinstry went 2-for-5 with a two-run home run in Sunday's 7-5, 10-inning loss to the Astros,

McKinstry hit just his third home run of the season in the second inning to give the Tigers an early lead. It's mostly been an offensive struggle for the utility player, as he's batting just .191 with a .574 OPS, though he does now have consecutive multi-hit efforts. McKinstry is also seeing more regular time at shortstop recently, and he could start to raise his fantasy value a bit if he can string together a few more good performances.

Smith earned the save Sunday against the Mariners, allowing one unearned run on two hits while striking out one in the ninth inning.

After Cleveland erupted for five runs in the eighth inning, Smith was called on to protect a two-run lead. He allowed back-to-back singles before a throwing error by Victor Robles allowed a run to score. The right-hander stranded runners on second and third to preserve his 26th save of the season. Following a brief rough patch over his last few appearances, Smith has begun to steady himself and lower his ratios. He owns a 3.05 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and a 57:10 K:BB across 38.1 innings.

Jansen (1-4) allowed four runs (three earned) on two hits and a walk across 1.1 innings of relief to take the loss in Sunday's extra-inning contest against the Astros. He struck out one.

Jansen got through the top of the ninth inning of a 3-3 game without any problems, but things came unraveled in the 10th. The veteran started the frame by allowing a walk, a single and a three-run home run. The rough outing pushed Jansen's ERA from 4.26 up to 5.31. It's been a poor campaign overall with four blown saves and now four losses as well. He's become increasingly hard to trust in fantasy leagues.

Alexander will operate as the Rangers' opening pitcher Monday in Cleveland, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Alexander is set to become the first pitcher since 1969 to record saves in back-to-back games and then start the following contest. He'll likely handle no more than an inning or two before turning the game over to the bullpen. The Rangers haven't indicated whether a pitcher will work in bulk relief behind Alexander, but Winston Santos is the freshest arm in the bullpen and had worked at least four innings in each of his last six outings at Double-A Frisco before being recalled Wednesday.

Webb (3-2) worked around a hit and a walk to toss a scoreless inning of relief and earn the win in Sunday's 4-3, extra-inning victory over the Brewers. He struck out three.

Webb got into some trouble in the bottom of the ninth inning in a 1-1 game by putting two runners on base, but his ability to generate strikeouts helped bail him out. The righty reliever then earned the win when the Cubs scored three times in the top of the 10th. Webb now has a 3.47 ERA and 45 strikeouts across 36.1 innings this season, and he's presumably Chicago's top option for saves at the moment with Daniel Palencia (elbow) on the injured list.

Wicks worked around a walk to toss a scoreless inning of relief and earn the save in Sunday's 4-3, extra inning win over the Brewers.

With the Cubs starting opener Ryan Rolison, the team had already gone through six pitchers by the time Wicks came on in the 10th. The lefty did a good job of working out of some trouble left behind by Ethan Roberts, and that earned Wicks his first save of the season and just the second of his MLB career. The 26-year-old is still sitting with a rough 13.50 ERA overall, and he's not really in the mix for saves most days as more of a low-leverage option.

Williams did not factor into the decision Sunday against the Mariners, allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits and three walks while striking out six over five innings.

Williams threw 64 of his 103 pitches for strikes and generated 13 swinging strikes, but Seattle pushed across a run in the second inning before adding two more in the third. The right-hander was lifted after five innings, marking his fifth consecutive start without completing six frames after reaching at that mark in each of his previous eight outings. Williams will carry a 3.81 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and a 117:34 K:BB into his next scheduled start against the White Sox at home.

Adames left Sunday's 3-2 win over Atlanta in the top of the eighth inning after his lower back locked up on him, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Adames struck out swinging in his final at-bat of the game in the bottom of the seventh, finishing the day 1-for-4 with three punchouts. He has been dealing with back spasms for about a week according to manager Tony Vitello, and he is also battling the flu. Adames can be considered day-to-day ahead of Monday's series opener on the road against Diamondbacks.