MLB Player News
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Tyler Alexander RP | TEX
Rays' Tyler Alexander: Delivers 4.1 scoreless frames
Alexander didn't factor into the decision Friday against Toronto, allowing two hits and a walk over 4.1 shutout innings. He struck out six.
Alexander was sharp Friday, holding Toronto to just two singles, though he'd fail to qualify for the win as the Rays turned to the bullpen in the fifth inning after Alexander hit 65 pitches. Still, it was an encouraging performance from the left-hander, who had allowed 20 earned runs and eight homers in his previous six outings (27.1 innings). Overall, Alexander is 6-5 with a 5.35 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 84:24 K:BB over 102.2 innings this year. He's lined up to face the Tigers on the road next week in what will likely be his final start of the season.
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Josh Hader RP | HOU
Astros' Josh Hader: Notches 33rd save
Hader struck out two in a perfect ninth inning Friday to record his 33rd save of the season in a 9-7 win over the Angels.
The Houston closer has been dominant to close out the regular season, striking out multiple batters in eight of his last 15 appearances while posting a 1.69 ERA, 0.56 WHIP and 22:4 K:BB through 16 innings over that stretch. Hader has reached triple-digit strikeouts on the season for the fourth time in his career, and he's produced at least 33 saves in four straight campaigns.
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Griffin Jax RP | TB
Twins' Griffin Jax: Notches 10th save
Jax yielded an unearned run and struck out one batter in one inning Friday. He earned a save in the extra-innings win over Boston.
Jax allowed the automatic runner to score after a pair of groundouts in the 12th inning but had no trouble finishing off the 4-2 victory. It was his second save over his last three appearances after not converting one since Aug. 5. Jhoan Duran threw a scoreless eighth inning while the game was tied 1-1. Jax has racked up 10 saves while posting an impressive 91:15 K:BB and 2.10 ERA through 68.2 innings this season.
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Hunter Bigge P | TB
Rays' Hunter Bigge: Records first big-league save
Bigge earned the save in Friday's 1-0 win over Toronto, striking out two in a perfect ninth inning.
Bigge put the finishing touches on the Rays' shutout victory, retiring the side in order to lock down his first save in the majors. The 26-year-old Bigge has allowed just two earned runs in 11.2 innings with Tampa Bay this season. Overall, he's posted a 1.80 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 19:4 K:BB across 15 innings between the Rays and Cubs this year.
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Richard Fitts SP | STL
Red Sox's Richard Fitts: Turns in scoreless appearance
Fitts allowed five hits and a walk over five shutout innings in a no-decision Friday. He struck out three during the extra-innings loss to Minnesota.
Fitts worked around a few tight spots to keep the Twins off the board and was in line for the win when he exited the game. The 24-year-old rookie has delivered 15.2 scoreless innings in his first three career MLB starts. However, that comes with a lackluster 7:5 K:BB. On the bright side, he generated eight whiffs Friday after totaling just seven in his first two starts. Fitts is currently lined up for a start in Toronto next week.
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Tyler Holton RP | DET
Tigers' Tyler Holton: Takes loss as opener Friday
Holton (7-2) allowed two runs on two hits over an inning of work to take the loss Friday against the Orioles. He struck out one.
Holton served as the opener and quickly ran into some trouble, as he allowed a leadoff double to Gunnar Henderson. The lefty retired the next two batters but then gave up a two-run home run to slugger Anthony Santander. Holton has been mostly excellent lately, as this was the first time he allowed an earned run in his last 10 appearances and he owns a 2.30 ERA overall, so he should bounce back from this subpar effort.
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Kenley Jansen RP | DET
Red Sox's Kenley Jansen: Returns with clean frame
Jansen (shoulder) threw a perfect ninth inning in Friday's extra-innings loss to the Twins. He did not record a strikeout.
Jansen was said to be dealing with a shoulder issue earlier in the week, but he was available in his normal spot Friday and ended up retiring the side on 11 pitches (nine strikes). While the veteran's command and velocity have both been affected by the shoulder recently, there has been nothing to suggest the team will need to shut him down early, though that's not completely out of the question with Boston's playoff chances dwindling. Jansen is a free agent this winter.
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Luke Weaver SP | NYM
Yankees' Luke Weaver: Grabs third save
Weaver allowed an unearned run on one hit and struck out three over one inning to earn the save in Friday's 4-2 extra-inning win over the Athletics.
Weaver was able to protect a three-run lead despite yielding a run on JJ Bleday's RBI single. This was just the third time in 19 outings since the start of August that Weaver has been scored on, and he gave up multiple runs in each of the other two instances. He's up to three saves and 23 holds this year while maintaining a 2.99 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 98:26 K:BB over 81.1 innings. Weaver has thrived in his second stint as a reliever, and while he's not the official closer for the Yankees just yet, he appears to be the team's top high-leverage arm.
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Liam Hendriks RP | BOS
Red Sox's Liam Hendriks: Unlikely to pitch this season
Manager Alex Cora said Friday that Hendriks (elbow) is likely to be shut down for the rest of the regular season, Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald reports.
Hendriks has been on the shelf all season while recovering from Tommy John surgery performed last August. He began a rehab assignment in mid-August, and it looked like the 35-year-old reliever was poised to join the Red Sox bullpen in early September until he suffered a setback. There was still some hope that he would be able to return after receiving a cortisone injection in his right elbow Monday, but Cora relayed Friday that Hendriks hasn't played catch since getting the shot. With just nine games left in the regular season, it appears the veteran reliever will have to wait until 2025 to make his debut in a Red Sox uniform.
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Burch Smith RP | PIT
Orioles' Burch Smith: Lands on IL with groin strain
The Orioles placed Smith on the 15-day injured list Friday due to a groin strain, Andy Kostka of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports.
Smith will be forced to sit for the rest of the regular season, and it's unclear whether the severity of the groin strain will keep him out of action for Baltimore's postseason run. Smith joined the Orioles in late June after being DFA'd and subsequently released by the Marlins. Working out of Baltimore's bullpen, Smith has posted a 5.74 ERA and 1.05 WHIP across 26.2 innings. Southpaw reliever Danny Coulombe (elbow) was activated from the 60-day IL in a corresponding move.