Downs (neck) was activated from the 15-day DL on Thursday. A cervical facet sprain forced Downs out of action in early August, but he made it through a live session without issue earlier this week and thus received the green light to return to the Royals' bullpen. Downs' overall numbers this season are ugly, but he's held opposing lefties to a .211/.282/.338 batting line, so he should have little trouble holding onto a specialist role.