MLB Player News

Zimmermann is expected to start Sunday in the Orioles' season finale against the Blue Jays in Toronto, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

After a three-and-a-half-month stint on the injured list due to biceps tendinitis and a severe ankle sprain, Zimmermann rejoined the Baltimore rotation Tuesday. He turned in a respectable showing en route to taking a no-decision against the Red Sox, working four innings while allowing a run on two hits and two walks. Zimmermann shouldn't face any significant restrictions with his workload Sunday after building up to 70 pitches Tuesday.

Naughton was optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake on Wednesday.

Naughton was charged with the loss Tuesday when he allowed four runs in two innings against the Rangers, and it's not yet clear whether he'll pitch during the Angels' final series of the year. The southpaw has made seven major-league appearances (five starts) in 2021 and has recorded an 0-4 record with a 6.35 ERA and 1.81 WHIP in 22.2 innings.

The Yankees reinstated Loaisiga (shoulder) from the 10-day injured list Wednesday, Pete Caldera of The Bergen Record reports.

New York optioned Andrew Heaney to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to open up a spot on the 28-man active roster for Loaisiga, who had been out since Sept. 5 with a strained rotator cuff. Before getting shut down with the injury, Loaisiga had factored into the ninth-inning mix, but Aroldis Chapman has since seemed to right the ship and regained security as the Yankees' clear closer. Loaisiga should still prove valuable in a setup role over the final five games of the regular season.

The Royals will call up Zerpa from Triple-A Omaha on Thursday to start the team's series finale with Cleveland at Kauffman Stadium, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

The 22-year-old lefty will be taking the rotation spot of Brady Singer (upper arm), who was placed on the 10-day injured list Wednesday. Zerpa began the season at High-A Quad Cities and submitted a 2.59 ERA and 0.97 WHIP in 41.2 innings, but he's faltered during his brief time in the upper levels of the minors. Between stops at Omaha and Double-A Northwest Arkansas, Zerpa has compiled a 6.36 ERA, 1.56 WHIP and a 55:20 K:BB across 46.2 frames.

King (1-4) earned the win over Toronto on Tuesday, pitching 2.2 innings and allowing one run on two hits and one walk while striking out one.

Yankees starter Jameson Taillon aggravated his right ankle injury in the third frame, resulting in an early entrance for King. The right-handed reliever allowed a run in the fourth inning but otherwise kept the Blue Jays off the scoreboard, and he was ultimately credited with the win. Since returning from the 60-day IL on Sept. 10, King has allowed only two runs while posting a 13:2 K:BB across 13.1 innings.

Chargois was charged with a blown save after walking both of the batters he faced to bring home a pair of runs in Tuesday's 4-3 loss to the Astros.

Chargois was spared the loss along with any damage to his ERA since he entered the contest in the ninth inning with the bases loaded and one out. Tampa Bay initially turned to Josh Fleming for the save chance, only for manager Kevin Cash to pull the lefty after he surrendered a pair of infield singles and an intentional walk. Fourteen pitchers have recorded saves for Tampa Bay this season, and among relievers currently on the roster, Andrew Kittredge leads the way with seven. With that in mind, it's difficult to roster Chargois -- or any Tampa Bay reliever, for that matter -- if fantasy managers are attempting to make up ground in saves during the final week of the season.

Staumont (4-3) struck out one in 1.1 perfect innings to earn the win Tuesday over Cleveland.

In what became a de facto bullpen game for Kansas City after Brady Singer (arm) left in the first inning, Staumont was able to get the last out of the eighth inning and retire the side in the ninth without trouble. The right-hander has kept runs off the board in 11 of 12 appearances in September, posting a 1.46 ERA, 0.65 WHIP and seven holds in 12.1 innings this month. For the season, he's pitched to a 2.92 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 72:27 K:BB, five saves and 16 holds through 64.2 innings, primarily in high-leverage situations.

Anderson (back) said Tuesday that he's "absolutely" confident that he'll be ready to return from the 10-day injured list when the Rays begin postseason play Oct. 7, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Anderson landed on the IL on Monday with a lower-back strain, an injury he said he potentially developed due to a mechanical change in his delivery during a relief appearance a day earlier. Though he won't throw for at least a few more days, Anderson believes that the time to rest will be enough to resolve the back injury while also helping him get more consistency with his velocity and command. Anderson had been sidelined all season with a torn elbow ligament before coming off the 60-day IL on Sept. 12. He proceeded to give up three runs on four hits and two walks while striking out only one hitter in six innings before returning to the shelf.

Maton (5-0) allowed one run on two hits while striking out two over 1.1 innings to earn the win over Tampa Bay on Tuesday.

Maton pitched the ninth inning of a tie game and ceded a solo home run to Randy Arozarena but was bailed out by Houston's offense. The Astros silently walked off the Rays with two bases-loaded walks in the bottom half of the inning to make a winner of Maton. Since being acquired from the Indians at the trade deadline, the right-handed reliever is 3-0 with a 5.25 ERA and 1.58 WHIP over 24 innings for Houston.

Lopez (4-3) allowed one run on two hits while striking out four over six innings as he got the win over the Reds on Tuesday.

Outside of a fifth-inning home run from Eugenio Suarez, Lopez held the Reds in check after allowing just one other hit and not walking a batter. Tuesday was his first win since Aug. 27 and his first time going more than five innings all year. Despite making nine starts this year, Lopez will likely be used out of the bullpen in the postseason unless it's an emergency situation. The 27-year-old has had a fantastic bounceback season with a 2.98 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 55:12 K:BB over 57.1 innings.