MLB Player News

Giles (1-3) allowed two runs without retiring a batter in Friday's 9-8 loss to the Athletics. He gave up three hits and a walk.

A wild game in Oakland ended with Giles blowing his fourth save in 33 opportunities. Giles had saved his previous seven chances and entered Friday's game having allowed just five hits and two walks over the past 12.2 innings. This should be viewed as a minor blip as Giles has been very good at closing out games this season.

Belisle struck out two in a clean ninth inning Friday for his seventh save.

Belisle has a mediocre 4.36 ERA on the season, but he has performed admirably since taking over as closer in the wake of the Brandon Kintzler deal. He is now 7-for-8 in save opportunities with a 3.27 ERA and a nifty 16:3 K:BB over 11 innings, as he has stepped up just when the surging Twins needed him.

McHugh was forced to leave Friday's game against Oakland after just three innings and 50 pitches with a right middle fingernail avulsion, Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle reports.

In English, that's a detached fingernail for McHugh. The fingernail is hugely important for proper grip and spin, so McHugh may have to skip a start to let it heal. Consider him day-to-day going forward. He had allowed three runs on four hits and a walk before the injury.

Pomeranz (15-5) allowed two runs on two hits and two walks while striking out seven across six innings to earn the victory Friday against the Rays.

Pomeranz held the Rays scoreless through four innings, and by that time he already had a 8-0 lead, as he easily coasted to his 15th victory of the season. This is the first time in five outings that he's posted a quality start, but he's still been a major fantasy factor for the entire campaign. He'll make his next start Thursday against the Athletics.

Farmer (4-2) allowed two runs, one of which was earned, on five hits and two walks while striking out three across five innings to earn the victory Friday against the Blue Jays.

Farmer fired four innings of shutout ball before allowing single runs in the fifth and sixth innings, but he left the game with the 4-2 lead, which was enough to help him earn his fourth victory of the campaign. This was the first time he's allowed fewer than three runs in any of his last five outings, and his 6.32 ERA makes him a difficult player to trust in fantasy lineups this late in the season. He'll make his next start Wednesday against the Indians.

Santiago (back) is unlikely to return to the mound this season, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Santiago recently suffered a setback during his rehab assignment, and appears to have pitched his last game until spring training. The 29-year-old felt tightness in his lower back, and could use some time off to rest before pushing his body to return to the field.

Alexander will see more chances out of the ninth inning in the near future, following manager Ned Yost's removal of Kelvin Herrera from the closer's role prior to Friday's contest, Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com reports.

Alexander has picked up three saves throughout the course of the 2017 season, all coming within the past three weeks as Kelvin Herrara has continued to struggle and nurse a forearm injury. Yost stated that Brandon Maurer, Mike Minor and Alexander will split the duties moving forward, and although it remains to be seen how that will eventually shake out, it appears as though Maurer will get the first crack at the job, as he's recorded 21 saves during his time between San Diego and Kansas City this season. During 48 relief appearances for Alexander, he's posted a 2.12 ERA and 1.23 WHIP this year.

Maurer will get an opportunity to earn saves in the closer's role with Mike Minor and Scott Alexander following Kelvin Herrera's removal from the ninth-inning perch, Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com reports.

Maurer delivered in his first save opportunity as the Royals' closer during Sunday's victory against the Twins. That chance came along due to the fact that Herrera was dealing with a forearm strain, but now it appears as though the ninth-inning role in wide open as the club makes a push for a wild-card spot. Even though Minor and Alexander will also get their opportunities, and have been much better this season, they have only combined to notch three combined saves all year, which could give Maurer the upper hand moving forward.

Fulmer, who was tapped to start Sunday's game against the Giants, is not necessarily in the rotation for the rest of the season, Colleen Kane of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Manager Rick Renteria said he could grant spot starts to left-hander David Holmberg and right-hander Dylan Covey this month, but with Carlos Rodon (shoulder) scratched from his most recent start, there will be no shortage of opportunities for Fulmer.

Belisle retired all three Royals he faced Thursday en route to his sixth save.

Belisle worked a clean bottom of the ninth after Minnesota's offense scored three runs off Kansas City closer Kelvin Herrera to turn a 2-1 deficit into a 4-2 lead in the top of the frame. He has transitioned seamlessly into the closer role with six saves in seven tries since taking over for Brandon Kintzler.