MLB Player News

Chapman allowed a run on a hit and two walks during the ninth inning of Thursday's win over Seattle.

Since establishing himself as a closer in 2012, Chapman's current 3.65 ERA is the highest mark he's posted in any season. He's been victimized by an unsustainably low 68.4 strand rate, and his 1.84 FIP suggests that smoother outings are ahead. It's also worth noting that pitching in non-save situations is often a letdown spot for closers, so overreacting to Thursday's outing is ill-advised.

Fulmer (10-7) allowed eight runs -- five earned -- on seven hits and a walk while striking out two batters through just 2.2 innings during Thursday's loss to Kansas City.

This was a rough start for Fulmer, and he was definitely a little unlucky. He allowed three runs or fewer in each of his past six outings, and even after Thursday's poor showing, Fulmer still sports a rock-solid 3.35 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 3.33 FIP. Fantasy owners would love to see improvement to his 6.3 K/9, but considering the landscape of the fantasy pitching ranks, it's tough to complain about Fulmer's season. He projects to face the Royals again in his next start, but this time the game will be at Comerica Park.

Weber (biceps) is hoping to play catch Friday for the first time since suffering his injury in mid-May, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports.

The 26-year-old right-hander has been on the disabled list since May 14 and endured a rather slow recovery. Weber's only appearance of 2017 with the Mariners was the May 13 start in which he was injured, but he'd allowed an 0.85 ERA and 0.77 WHIP over 31.2 innings across six appearances (five starts) with Triple-A Tacoma to start the season.

Leone (2-0) picked up the win Thursday against Boston after allowing no hits and one walk while striking out four over 2.1 innings.

After starter Francisco Liriano managed just five outs, Leone answered the bell with his third-longest appearance of the season. The 25-year-old had been charged with two blown saves since being recalled earlier in the week, so Thursday's effort was a much-needed one for Leone. That said, his low-leverage role is unappealing for fantasy purposes.

Diaz will not be available out of the bullpen for Thursday's series opener against the Yankees, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports.

The hard-throwing righty has pitched five of the last six days, so manager Scott Servais will give him the night off Thursday. The recently acquired David Phelps will not report to the team until Friday, so Tony Zych or Steve Cishek would be the primary closing options should a save situation arise.

Povse was called up from Triple-A Tacoma on Thursday.

Povse has only appeared in two games for the Mariners this season, giving up three earned in less than an inning against Detroit and then hurling two scoreless innings just a week after that versus the Angels in late June. Interestingly, his last outing with Tacoma was disastrous, allowing four earned runs off six hits and a walk in just an inning of work. The top-10 prospect will slide into a low-leverage relief role during his time in the big leagues, while Sam Gaviglio heads down to Tacoma in a corresponding move.

Diekman (abdomen) threw a 21-pitch bullpen session Thursday, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reports.

This occasion marked the first legitimate session from the mound since Diekman underwent three operations to rebuild his colon in the spring. He was able to shake off a little rust with eight tosses from the mound Monday, but finally let his arm loose during Thursday's session. Following his brief time on the mound, the left-hander stated that he "could throw 200 mph" right now, but settled for something a little less. There has yet to be a definitive timetable for Diekman, especially coming off an abnormal set of surgeries, so the Rangers will likely continue to take it slow with the reliever before allowing him to head out on a rehab assignment in the next couple weeks.

Kittredge allowed an earned run on three hits over two-thirds of an inning in Wednesday's 7-2 loss to the Athletics.

The 27-year-old enjoyed a solid debut Tuesday by turning a scoreless effort, but the Athletics got to him for a double, single and run-scoring bunt single in the sixth. Kittredge was enjoying a stellar season at Triple-A Durham before being summoned to the big-league club on July 16, so the potential is there for him to serve as another viable option for manager Kevin Cash if the team opts to give him an extended look.

Kelly (hamstring) expects to throw a bullpen this weekend when the team travels to Los Angeles, Evan Drellich of CSN New England reports.

Kelly has been recovering from a left hamstring strain that has kept him off the mound since July 9. The reliever appears to be close to returning, and will likely be reevaluated by the club if he's able to complete a bullpen session at some point this weekend.

Wilson recorded two outs and gave up two runs on a hit, a walk and a walkoff sacrifice fly by Alex Gordon in the bottom of the ninth inning of Wednesday's 4-3 loss to the Royals.

It's just his second blown save of the year in 12 opportunities, and the first runs Wilson has allowed since June 20. The left-hander still has a 2.75 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 12.5 K/9 on the year, and if the Tigers decide to hold a fire sale at the trade deadline he could be viewed by contenders as this year's Andrew Miller.