AL CENTRAL NEWS AND NOTES

CHICAGO WHITE SOX

The White Sox will use a committee approach at closer after the trade of Joakim Soria.

Manager Rick Renteria said he will mix and match his relievers in late-game situations. However, one reliever who figures to get at least some save opportunities is rookie lefthander Jace Fry, the White Sox’s third-round draft pick in 2014. He had a 4.50 ERA and one save through 35 games.

Soria was dealt to the Milwaukee Brewers on July 26 for two minor league pitchers after recording 16 saves with a 2.55 ERA during his first season with the White Sox. The White Sox also sent $1,064,516 to the Brewers to cover part of the $4,145,161 remaining in the guaranteed portion of Soria’s three-year, $25 million contract.

❚ Rookie right-handed relievers Thyago Vieria and Tyler Danish were called up from Class AAA Charlotte (North Carolina) on July 27. Vieria had a 5.05 ERA and six saves in 36 games in the International League, and Danish had a 3.06 ERA in 29 games.

Veteran right-hander Chris Volstad was designated for assignment to open one roster spot. He was 1-5 with a 6.27 ERA in 33 games, including one start.

CLEVELAND INDIANS

Shane Bieber had a rough return to the major leagues.

The rookie right-hander was recalled from Class AAA Columbus (Ohio) to start against the Pittsburgh Pirates and lasted 1 2 / 3 innings while getting hammered for seven runs. Bieber had gone 5-1 with a 3.53 ERA in his first seven career starts.

The Indians optioned Bieber to Columbus on July 13 so he could continue to pitch during the All-Star break. The 23-yearold was their fourth-round draft pick in 2016.

❚ Left-handed reliever Andrew Miller had consecutive rocky rehab outings as he works his way back from the right knee pain that has sidelined him since May 26. Miller gave up four runs in one-third of an inning while pitching for Class AA Akron (Ohio), then allowed four runs (two earned) in two-thirds of an inning four days later in an appearance with low Class A Lake County (Eastlake, Ohio).

DETROIT TIGERS

Blaine Hardy has shown his versatility this season after being exclusively a relief pitcher during the first four seasons of his career.

The left-hander made his 10th start July 28 and beat the American League Central-leading Indians. That improved Hardy’s record to 4-2 with a 4.01 ERA as a starter, to go with his 1.69 ERA in 10 relief appearances. Hardy had pitched in relief 167 times until his first start May 13 against the Seattle Mariners.

Hardy held the Indians, who entered the game No. 2 in the major leagues in runs scored, to one run and four hits in five innings.

❚ Hardy started in place of left-hander Francisco Liriano,

who was scratched because of an allergic reaction that gave him a rash on his back. Liriano was 3-5 with a 4.73 ERA in 16 starts but was holding lefthanded batters to a .117 average.

KANSAS CITY ROYALS

The Royals acquired two young major leaguers from the Milwaukee Brewers in a trade for veteran third baseman Mike Moustakas.

Outfielder Brett Phillips was added to the major league roster July 29, two days after the late-night trade was completed. Right-handed reliever Jorge Lopez was optioned to Class AAA Omaha (Papillion, Nebraska) but is expected to be recalled before the end of the season.

Phillips, 24, hit a combined .257 with four home runs in 52 games with the Brewers over the past two seasons. Lopez, 25, saw action with the Brewers in 2015 and again in 2017 and 2018, compiling a 3.69 ERA in 13 games, including two starts.

Moustakas hit .249 with 20 homers in 98 games for Kansas City this season and had spent his entire eight-year career with the Royals.

❚ Veteran utility player Alcides Escobar and rookie corner infielder Hunter Dozier started at third base in the first three games after the trade. Right-handed-hitting Dozier also has been platooning with Lucas Duda at first base.

MINNESOTA TWINS

Miguel Sano’s exile to the minor leagues is over.

The Twins recalled the slugging third baseman from Class AAA Rochester (New York) on July 28 after he hit a combined .309 with four home runs in 28 games with the Red Wings and high Class A Fort Myers (Florida). Selected to his first All-Star Game last season, Sano was optioned to Fort Myers on June 14 after batting .203 with seven homers in 37 games.

Sano thought the demotion helped: “This is my future. It was on the line. I understand what they did. It wasn’t negative. It was something positive now that I look back at it. It helped me realize the steps I needed to do to be back here.”

❚ Sano’s promotion came a day after infielder Eduardo Escobar was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks and right-handed reliever Ryan Pressly was dealt to the Houston Astros. The trades netted five prospects.

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT

MITCH GARVER, TWINS: The rookie has filled in capably as Minnesota’s primary catcher since Jason Castro had season-ending right knee surgery in mid-May. Garver, 27, was hitting .264 with five home runs through 68 games, including batting .351 in a 28-game span from June 10 to July 26. The Twins selected him in the ninth round of the 2013 amateur draft from the University of New Mexico.