MLB Player News

Miller earned his fifth save of the season in Friday's 4-2 win over the Rays, allowing one run on one hit and two walks while striking out two in the ninth inning.

With Aroldis Chapman unavailable due to a lat issue, the Red Sox turned to Miller for the ninth inning to protect the team's 4-1 lead. It turned out to be a dramatic finish for Boston, with Miller tossing two wild pitches in the inning and loading the bases. Luckily for the southpaw, he limited the damage to just one run to secure the win for the Red Sox, who are inching closer toward punching their spot in the American League playoffs. Miller and Garrett Whitlock figure to be the top closer options for the Red Sox for as long as Chapman is sidelined.

The Rangers transferred Winn (shoulder) to the 60-day injured list Friday.

Winn was placed on the injured list Aug. 31 with a right rotator cuff strain, and moving to the 60-day IL will ensure he remains out for the rest of the season. His place on the 40-man roster will be given to Michel Otanez, who was selected to the active roster Friday.

The Rangers promoted Otanez from Triple-A Round Rock on Friday, per Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News.

Otanez will rejoin the big-league club for the first time since being designated for assignment June 13. With Round Rock this season, the right-hander owns a 5-1 record, 4.42 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 74:42 K:BB over 55 innings. Texas optioned Robby Ahlstrom to Triple-A in a corresponding move.

Texas optioned Ahlstrom to Triple-A Round Rock on Friday, per Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News.

Ahlstrom will head back to Triple-A after spending just under three weeks with the big-league club. In six games after being called up, the southpaw yielded four earned runs while striking out six over 5.2 innings. The Rangers are recalling Michel Otanez to replace Ahlstrom on the active roster.

Holderman was forced to exit Thursday's rehab outing with Triple-A Columbus after aggravating his right wrist injury, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.

Holderman was in the final stages of his recovery from right wrist inflammation that caused him to land on the 15-day injured list. However, the 30-year-old relief pitcher has suffered a setback in his rehab program and will undergo more tests to determine next steps.

Chapman downplayed his lat issue Friday, saying he's "not worried at all" about the injury and plans to pitch again during Boston's final regular-season homestand next week, Sean McAdam of MassLive.com reports.

Chapman said he first felt the injury Tuesday, and he's improved throughout the week. With Boston closing in on a playoff berth, the team will likely be conservative with its star closer. Garrett Whitlock handled the ninth inning of Thursday's 4-3 win over the Rangers, locking down his fourth save of the season. it sounds like Chapman will be unavailable for this weekend's set with the Rays.

The Blue Jays selected Rodriguez's contract from Triple-A Buffalo on Friday, Mitch Bannon of The Athletic reports.

Acquired from the Dodgers back on Sept. 1, Rodriguez takes the roster spot vacated by Michael Lorenzen, who was DFA'd in a corresponding move. Rodriguez pitched to a 3.38 ERA and 36:18 K:BB across 29.1 innings with Triple-A Oklahoma City prior to being dealt to Toronto.

The Blue Jays designated Lorenzen for assignment Friday, Mitch Bannon of The Athletic reports.

Lorenzen was tagged for five runs on four hits and three walks with just one strikeout across two innings in Tuesday's 10-1 loss to the Tigers, as he was saddled with his 13th loss of the campaign. After joining Toronto last month, Lorenzen pitched in six games out of the bullpen, yielding 11 runs on 18 hits and five walks with eight strikeouts over 11.2 frames.

The Athletics optioned Rock to Triple-A Las Vegas on Friday.

Rock spent the previous three days with the big club and was touched up for two runs on one hit and two walks while failing to record an out in Thursday's 10-1 loss to the Rays. Mason Barnett has been recalled from Triple-A in a corresponding move.

The Athletics recalled Barnett from Triple-A Las Vegas on Friday.

Barnett will start Friday's game against Cleveland, and Joe Rock has been optioned to Las Vegas in a corresponding move. Barnett has appeared in 18 games with the Athletics this season, making four starts, and owns an ugly 7.08 ERA, 1.62 WHIP and 38:24 K:BB across 40.2 innings. He's started each of his last four appearances with the club and has functioned as a starter in Triple-A, so Barnett should be stretched out.