MLB Player News

Puk will undergo shoulder surgery next week, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Shoulder issues first popped up for Puk in early March, and his health has become something of a saga since then. He appeared to be on the mend before being shut down in late July, but he'd been making more encouraging progress since then. He was shut down a second time earlier this week, however, and will end up losing the remainder of the season. Depending on the exact nature of the surgery, it's possible he misses a meaningful portion of the 2021 campaign as well. It's been a brutal stretch for the young lefty, who missed all of 2018 and much of 2019 due to Tommy John surgery. He'll enter 2021 having thrown just 36.2 total innings over the last three seasons.

Bummber (biceps) could be activated off the injured list during the White Sox's final road trip of the season, which begins Sept. 18 in Cincinnati, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

The left-hander has been on the shelf since early August due to the left biceps strain and subsequent nerve issue, but he appears to be closing in on a return. Bummer allowed only one run with a 12:4 K:BB over 7.1 innings to begin the season and had a 2.13 ERA and 0.99 WHIP with 27 holds in 2019, so he could provide a significant boost to the bullpen for the closing stretch.

Leone was designated for assignment by the Indians on Friday.

The veteran right-hander never found much consistency this season and had an 8.38 ERA and 1.97 WHIP while appearing in only 12 games. Leone could head to the team's alternate training site if he goes unclaimed on waivers.

Hill was recalled from the alternate training site Friday.

Hill had a 3.95 ERA, 0.66 WHIP and 11:3 K:BB over 13.2 innings before being demoted at the start of September, so it's not a surprise to see him back in the majors. Dominic Leone was designated for assignment in a corresponding move.

Lopez will start Saturday's game against the Tigers, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

The 26-year-old will rejoin the rotation this weekend with Dallas Keuchel (back) landing on the injured list. Lopez allowed seven runs (five earned) with a 10:6 K:BB over nine frames in his three starts after returning from the injured list in August before being demoted to the alternate training site. The right-hander should be a bit more stretched out now, but he's unlikely to receive multiple starts barring unforeseen circumstances.

Giles (forearm) was activated from the 45-day injured list Friday.

Giles made just two appearances this season before landing on the injured list with a strained flexor mass in his right forearm in late July. He avoided surgery, however, and has been throwing for nearly a month. He's expected to make his first appearance or two in a lower-leverage role, as the lack of minor-league baseball this season has prevented him from making any rehab appearances, but he'll likely return to the closer position before the end of the year.

Fairbanks (4-2) was charged with the loss in a defeat at the hands of the Red Sox on Thursday, allowing an earned run on two hits and a walk over one inning. He struck out two.

It was an eventful 23-pitch outing for Fairbanks, who allowed a go-ahead RBI single to Rafael Devers that turned out to be the difference in the game. The 26-year-old right-hander saw his string of five straight scoreless efforts snapped with Thursday's stumble, and the earned run he surrendered was his first since Aug. 10, when he allowed two overall to these same Red Sox.

Alvarado (shoulder) was playing catch at Tropicana Field on Friday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

The 25-year-old was shut down from throwing Aug. 19, but he's returned been cleared to resume playing catch. Alvarado was shifted to the 45-day injured list in early September and won't be able to return before the end of the regular season, but he could rejoin the team for a potential playoff run.

Smeltzer was recalled from Minnesota's alternate training site in St. Paul on Friday and added to the 28-man roster.

Smeltzer has thrown 16 innings for the Twins this season, making one start and six relief appearances, but he struggled with a 6.75 ERA. With five healthy starters in the rotation and Jake Odorizzi nearing a return, Smeltzer will be used more in middle and long relief than a starter or primary pitcher.

Alexander worked behind starter Jordan Zimmermann in the Tigers' 6-3 win over the Cardinals in the second game of Thursday's doubleheader. He tossed 1.2 innings and gave up two runs on three hits and two walks while striking out two.

Alexander's previous appearance Sept. 4 had come in a starting role, but he shifted back to the bullpen with Zimmermann's return from a forearm injury providing Detroit with another healthy rotation arm. However, since Zimmermann had been sidelined all season before being activated Thursday, he was pulled after three innings (42 pitches), which allowed Alexander to piggyback him. Detroit should have a fairly normal schedule for the rest of the season with no more doubleheaders currently on tap, so Alexander could have fewer opportunities to work multiple innings.