MLB Player News

Fulmer allowed a hit and struck out four to earn the save in Wednesday's 4-1 win over Milwaukee.

The right-hander protected a three-run lead over the last two innings of the contest to earn his ninth save of the year. He's posted 6.1 consecutive scoreless innings while adding three holds in his last five appearances. Fulmer has a 3.29 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 67:17 K:BB across 63 innings this year while earning a place in Detroit's closer committee, although he's often played second fiddle to Gregory Soto.

Lovelady (elbow) was transferred to the 60-day injured list Wednesday.

Lovelady was already expected to miss the rest of the season after being diagnosed with a sprained UCL in his left elbow in late August, and the move to the 60-day IL frees up a spot on the 40-man roster. The 26-year-old hasn't undergone Tommy John surgery and is instead going through a rest and rehab program, so he should be able to pitch next season if all goes well in his recovery.

Speier had his contract selected by the Royals on Wednesday.

Speier will receive his first look in the majors this season after posting a 2.98 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 57:9 K:BB over 45.1 innings for Triple-A Omaha. The 26-year-old appeared in 17 games for the Royals over the previous two seasons and surrendered 11 runs across 13 innings.

Yang was designated for assignment by the Rangers on Wednesday.

Yang was sent to Triple-A Round Rock on Tuesday, but he'll now be removed from the 40-man roster to make room for Willie Calhoun (forearm), who was reinstated from the 60-day injured list Wednesday. The southpaw made 12 appearances (four starts) in the majors this year and generated a 5.60 ERA and 1.64 WHIP in 35.1 innings.

Scrubb (shoulder) was reinstated from the 60-day injured list and optioned to Triple-A Sugar Land on Wednesday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Scrubb began a rehab assignment at the end of August and recorded a 1.69 ERA and 1.31 WHIP in 5.1 innings across 5.1 innings. He'll remain in the minors now that he's healthy but will be considered for a call-up if the Astros need a fresh bullpen arm late in the season.

Montero (lat) was transferred to the 60-day injured list Wednesday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Montero has been on the injured list since Aug. 10 due to a lat strain, so his move to the 60-day IL means that he won't have enough time to return during the regular season. The Astros haven't yet indicated whether Wednesday's transaction was prompted by a setback in the right-hander's recovery, and it's not clear whether he could be available for a potential postseason run.

Marte (undisclosed) could be activated for the Angels' series finale against Oakland on Sunday, per MLB.com.

Marte's only appearance on the mound for the Angels this season took place Aug. 20. He was placed on the injured list without a designation shortly thereafter, and he wasn't able to rejoin the club until early September. The right-hander has since been tossing bullpens and appears nearly ready to return to the active roster.

Fairbanks secured his 14th hold in a win over the Blue Jays on Tuesday, allowing a hit over a scoreless sixth inning.

Fairbanks' control could hardly have been sharper, as he got all nine offerings into the strike zone during a blink-and-you-missed-it frame. The right-hander's dominant performance was a nice bounce-back effort after he took the loss against Detroit his last time out by allowing three earned runs in two-thirds of an inning.

Barnes is scheduled to make a rehab appearance for Triple-A Worcester on Wednesday and is expected to be activated from the COVID-19 injured list Friday, Bill Koch of The Providence Journal reports.

Barnes initially appeared on tap to return from the IL ahead of Wednesday's series finale in Seattle, but the Red Sox will instead have him pitch in a tune-up outing in the minors before he rejoins the big club. Assuming Barnes feels fine physically following the outing, he should be ready to take on a late-inning role with Boston over the weekend. Before testing positive for the virus Aug. 30, Barnes was already on the ropes as the Red Sox's closer after blowing his last two save chances and allowing 10 earned runs across his last 10 appearances. Adam Ottavino, Hansel Robles and Garrett Whitlock have all picked up saves while Barnes has been sidelined, though none of the three has truly run away with the closer's gig.

Hernandez is starting Wednesday's game against the Athletics, Alec Lewis of The Athletic reports.

Hernandez was initially scheduled to start Thursday, but he'll be moved up a day since the Royals will shift their rotation plans. The right-hander has earned wins in three of his last four outings and has posted a 1.09 ERA and 0.89 WHIP in 24.2 innings during that time.