MLB Player News

The RBI hit was a popup down the right field line that a running Adam Frazier had go off his glove. Obviously, he’ll take it. Naylor had an awful three-week slump from late July through mid-August, but his last 23 games have seen him hit .338 with five homers, seven doubles and a 13/14 K/BB ratio in 84 plate appearances. His OPS stands at .789, and it’s hard to understand why the Guardians, who are currently employing Kole Calhoun as a cleanup hitter, still have him batting eighth.

It makes some sense. Rocker has allowed 18 runs this season, and 10 of them have come in the first inning. That’s an 11.25 ERA in the first frame. Perhaps giving him an easier start to the game will help to curtail his ratio struggles. It will also make it easier for him to pick up a win, so we do like this move for fantasy purposes.

Foster came on in relief of Trevor Rogers on Monday night and allowed four runs on five hits in 1 1/3 innings of work. He’ll head back to the minors but will likely be shuttled back to Baltimore at some point this summer.

The Orioles bullpen has been taxed by some short starts of late, so they’re calling up Suárez to give them more length out of the pen. The 36-year-old has a 3.45 ERA in 15 2/3 innings for Baltimore this season in six relief appearances.

Handley was optioned to Triple-A on Monday and is now designated for assignment, so Baltimore could add relievers to their 40-man roster. He will likely clear waivers and could sign back with the Orioles.

Adams has allowed three runs on six hits in 3 2/3 innings for the Twins this season. He’ll operate in bulk relief.

Jackson was hitting .239/.295/.511 in 95 plate appearances at Triple-A with seven home runs and 15 RBI. He will likely back up Victor Caratini, who now becomes a must-roster catcher in two-catcher leagues.

This is a brutal blow for Jeffers, who was having his best season ever. The 29-year-old was slashing .295/.408/.541 in 147 plate appearances with seven home runs and 26 RBI. He will be sidelined for a couple of months and could see his power diminished when he does return. Sadly, he doesn’t need to be held in fantasy leagues.

The Twins needed to clear space on the 40-man roster for Orlando Arcia, so Topa will be the one who goes. The 35-year-old at one point seemed like a good bet to be part of the Twins’ closer committee, but he has pitched to an 8.05 ERA in 19 innings for them this season. However, he did have a 3.90 ERA in 60 innings out of the bullpen for Minnesota last season, so there’s a chance that some team puts in a claim to grab him off waivers.

Royce Lewis is headed to the minors, but we will not be getting top prospect Kaelen Culpepper up in Minnesota. Instead, it will be the veteran Arcia. The 31-year-old was hitting .318/.376/.556 in 39 games at Triple-A with eight home runs, 27 RBI, and three steals. That came with a 42.5 percent hard-hit rate and a solid 19 percent strikeout rate. He has played primarily second base and shortstop in the minors this season, but has four starts at third base as well. The Twins could use him to spell Luke Keaschall and Brooks Lee when they get a day off, and he could start at third base against lefties.

Just a week after optioning Matt Wallner to the minors, the Twins will do the same with Lewis. The 26-year-old is hitting .163/.261/.279 in 119 plate appearances with three home runs, 13 RBI, and three steals. That also comes with a 31 percent strikeout rate. Lewis has plenty of promise, but the 26-year-old has failed to produce consistently or stay healthy at the MLB level. Tristan Gray started at third base on Monday and could get a chance to fill that role regularly.