Royals recall Josh Rojas from Triple-A Omaha

Barlow carried a 6.48 ERA and 1.35 WHIP across 33 1/3 innings with the Athletics this year. The Royals pen has been rough enough that we suppose anything is on the table eventually for Barlow, but the 33-year-old wouldn’t seem to have an easy path to a roster spot just yet.

Núñez is in the middle stages of his comeback from Tommy John surgery. He was shut down last July and doesn’t figure to rejoin the Mets until the latter two months of the season, assuming his rehab goes well.

After sending Early Connelly to the IL, the Red Sox won’t need a fifth starter until July 11, so this may only wind up being a one-game trial for whoever gets the elevation. Tracy said the team would choose either Sandoval or Brayan Bello. That said, the context of Sandoval nearing the end of his 30-day rehab window for players on the IL sure makes it seem like Sandoval will be the first choice if he escapes his Saturday start feeling well.

Jeffers is reportedly getting close to a rehab assignment. His return will be one to monitor even in shallow leagues, as Jeffers was hitting .295/.408/.541 before going down with the injury in late May.

He missed three days for his new job. Bednar should re-assume closing duties for the Yankees, though there hasn’t been much need for that role over the past seven games as New York’s hit a small tailspin.

Yan has a 3.78 ERA between two levels with the Mets this year, with an astonishing 63 strikeouts in just 33 1/3 innings. He still has no control (24 walks accompany the strikeouts) but it’s possible the Mets give him a shake in the bottom of pen mix at some point this summer.

Tovar has struggled since missing a pair of games with a calf injury in mid-June, hitting .133/.167/.244 over his past 14 games with just one homer and one stolen base. Willi Castro is handling shortstop today.

After three straight days catching, Goodman will take his first breather since June 21. Brett Sullivan is getting a start for the Rockies while Willi Castro bats cleanup. Goodman is hitting .243/.306/.547 with 27 homers in just 340 plate appearances so far this year — the double/homer distribution has been skewed in favor of homers so far this year, much to the delight of fantasy managers.

Hendriks made his debut for the Cubs after signing a minor league deal with them on May 13th. The 37-year-old sat 94.2 mph on his four-seam fastball and got five whiffs on eight total swings, mostly with his slider. Fastball command and velocity will be crucial for Hendriks if he wants to pitch meaningful innings in the Cubs’ bullpen.

The Pirates are just being cautious with their star in his return from a forearm strain. Griffin returned last Friday and will now have sat in two of the team’s seven games since then. We would expect them to go back to playing him nearly every day after the All-Star break. On Thursday, Jared Triolo will bat ninth and play shortstop, and Jake Mangum will move into Griffin’s spot at the top of the order.