MLB Player News

Armstrong (1-0) was credited with the victory in a win over the White Sox on Sunday, firing two scoreless innings during which he issued a walk and recorded four strikeouts.

Following a rocky early-season tenure with the Rays, Armstrong has looked like a different pitcher since returning to the big-league club Tuesday. The right-hander has allowed just a single hit -- a solo home run -- across five innings over three appearances while generating an impressive 8:1 K:BB.

Holmes (illness) was reinstated from the COVID-19 injured list Monday.

Holmes tested positive for COVID-19 nearly two weeks ago but rejoined the Yankees on Thursday. He threw side sessions to test his health but wasn't activated during the team's series against the Twins. However, the right-hander will be available out of the bullpen for Monday's series opener in Atlanta. Holmes has made 12 relief appearances since the All-Star break, and he's posted a 4.97 ERA and 0.95 WHIP in 12.2 innings during that time.

White Sox director of player development Chris Getz said that Stiever underwent season-ending surgery Monday to address a lat injury, James Fegan of The Athletic reports.

Stiever sustained the injury in his Aug. 12 start at Triple-A Charlotte and was placed on the 7-day injured list three days later. After making two spot starts with the White Sox in 2020, Stiever was limited to one relief appearance at the big-league level in 2021 while all the key members of the Chicago rotation have generally maintained good health. Stiever didn't help his case for earning a longer look in the majors by submitting a 5.72 ERA and 1.45 WHIP in 74 innings at Triple-A before being shut down with the lat injury. Getz said Stiever is expected to make a full recovery over the winter and return to action in spring training.

White Sox director of player development Chris Getz said that Kelley exited his start Sunday at Low-A Kannapolis in the first inning due to a right shoulder impingement, James Fegan of The Athletic reports.

While Getz said that a timeline for Kelley's return hasn't been established, the White Sox believe the 2020 second-round pick will pitch again this season. Over 10 starts with Kannapolis, the 19-year-old righty has posted a 6.86 ERA, 2.05 WHIP and 25:22 K:BB across 21 innings.

Speas (elbow) initiated a rehab assignment with the Rangers' rookie-level Arizona Complex League affiliate Aug. 13 and has tossed 3.1 scoreless innings while striking out seven across two outings.

Double-A Frisco placed Speas on its 7-day injured list in late May when he was diagnosed with right elbow inflammation, but he looks to be nearing the finish line in his recovery. Speas worked two innings in his most recent appearance Friday, so he shouldn't need more than another outing or two in the FCL before rejoining the Frisco bullpen.

Karinchak allowed a hit and two walks in one-third of an inning, earning a hold in Sunday's 3-0 win over the Angels.

The right-hander has somewhat rebounded from an ugly July, allowing three runs on five hits and four walks in 7.1 innings in August. Karinchak loaded the bases in the eighth inning Sunday, but Bryan Shaw was able to escape the jam on just two pitches. For the year, Karinchak has a 3.74 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 75:31 K:BB across 53 innings. He's added 11 saves, 12 holds, four blown saves and a 7-3 record, but Emmanuel Clase has emerged as a clearer favorite for ninth-inning duties since the All-Star break.

Hernandez improved to 4-1 after holding the Cubs to one run while striking out eight across seven innings Sunday in the Royals' 9-1 victory. He scattered four hits and three walks in the 107-pitch start.

The seven-inning outing represented a new career high for Hernandez, who brought his ERA under 4.00 for the first time all season. The 24-year-old right-hander has put himself on the mainstream fantasy radar over his last five starts, submitting a 2.05 ERA and 0.98 WHIP while striking out 22 in 30.2 innings over that stretch. He'll get a favorable landing spot in his next projected start in Seattle on Saturday, when he'll face a Mariners offense that ranks in the bottom six in the majors in batting average (.234) and strikeout rate (24.4 percent) in the second half.

Fairbanks (shoulder) allowed an earned run on one hit and recorded a strikeout over one inning in Triple-A Durham's loss to Jacksonville on Sunday.

Fairbanks was making his first rehab appearance alongside several of his recovering fellow Rays relievers, and like teammates J.P. Feyereisen and Nick Anderson, Jacksonville bats broke through against him. Fairbanks was sharp, however, throwing seven of his 10 pitches for strikes, and it remains to be seen if the team will want to see him log at least one more rehab appearance before activation is considered.

Feyereisen (biceps) made rehab appearances with Triple-A Durham both Saturday and Sunday, logging a combined 1.1 innings and surrendering two earned runs on a home run while also issuing a walk and recording two strikeouts.

The trouble came in Sunday's appearance, as Feyereisen worked a perfect inning Saturday in which he recorded the pair of punchouts. Feyereisen threw a total of 19 pitches across the two outings and appears to be steering clear of any physical setbacks, so he could be back with the Rays in relatively short order if he has no residual effects from being called upon on consecutive days.

Puk (0-1) allowed two earned runs on one hit and one walk while striking out one across one inning, taking the loss to the Giants on Sunday.

Puk entered the eighth inning with a one run lead and lost it on a two-run home run by Donovan Solano. He has spent most of the campaign in Triple-A Las Vegas and has pitched just 8.1 innings with the Athletics this season. However, this was his first time giving up any runs across his six appearances.