MLB Player News

Kelly (elbow) is expected to be activated from the 60-day injured list Friday, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.

Kelly has missed most of this season after undergoing a ulnar nerve transposition revision in his right elbow. He's made six rehab appearances and is nearly ready to rejoin Boston's bullpen following a lengthy absence.

Newcomb (knee) was transferred to the 60-day injured list Wednesday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

The transaction clears a spot on the 40-man roster for Joey Estes. Newcomb is done for the season following left knee lateral meniscus surgery but is expected to be ready for spring training.

Sweet was optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas on Wednesday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

Sweet yielded two runs over two innings during his brief time with the Athletics after being claimed off waivers. He's clearing out to make room for Wednesday's starting pitcher, Joey Estes.

Santos was placed on the 15-day injured list Wednesday with right elbow inflammation.

Given that he last pitched Sept. 16, Santos will be ineligible to return this season. He was given an opportunity to run with the closer's role after the trade deadline, but Santos logged a 6.00 ERA and 1.47 WHIP while going 3-for-6 in save situations over the past six weeks. Bryan Shaw, who blew a save Tuesday, and Aaron Bummer are presumably next up for save chances the rest of the way.

Crochet (shoulder) was reinstated from the 15-day injured list Wednesday.

Crochet is returning from his rehab assignment at Triple-A Charlotte. The reliever has not made an appearance in the majors since June 15, when he suffered a shoulder injury. He struck out 10 while allowing one hit and zero walks over four scoreless innings during this latest rehab assignment.

Kelly (back) gave up three runs (two earned) on two hits and one walk while striking out one over one inning of relief in his return from the 15-day injured list in Tuesday's 7-6 loss to the Royals.

The Guardians opened up a spot on the 28-man active roster for Kelly when they exposed Matt Moore to waivers, with the southpaw reliever ultimately getting claimed by Miami. While making his first appearance for the big club in more than a month, Kelly was roughed up by the Royals and needed 28 pitches just to record three outs. He'll likely work in middle relief or lower-leverage spots over the rest of the season.

Snider worked a perfect ninth inning Tuesday to record his first career save in a 7-6 win over the Guardians.

The Royals continue to mix and match high-leverage relief options as they take a look at bullpen options for 2024. Taylor Clarke, who picked up two saves last weekend, combined with Carlos Hernandez to work the seventh inning, while James McArthur handled the eighth after getting the job done in a save situation Monday. Snider hasn't done much since being called back up in late August to suggest he's well-suited for the closer role, posting a 4:4 K:BB through 9.2 innings, but his 2.79 ERA and 1.24 WHIP over that stretch are at least solid.

Leclerc picked up the save Tuesday against the Red Sox. He struck out one over a perfect inning.

Leclerc was handed the ball for the ninth inning Tuesday, following up Aroldis Chapman's 1.2 shutout innings, and delivered his third save of the season. He bounced back from a blown save in his last appearance and appears to still be in contention with Chapman and Will Smith for ninth-inning duties. In 52 appearances this season, Leclerc owns a 2.98 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 58:27 K:BB.

Chapman (6-4) struck out three over 1.2 innings to earn Tuesday's win over the Red Sox.

Texas manager Bruce Bochy, who told Shawn McFarland of the Dallas Morning News on Tuesday afternoon that he's trying to avoid using Chapman for more than one inning, did just that. Chapman entered the seventh inning with Boston rallying and ended the threat. The reliever managed a perfect eighth before Jose Leclerc picked up the save. The bullpen has blown leads late in two recent games, as Bochy avoided bringing Chapman in before the ninth inning. However, the manager altered course Tuesday, saying "we've got find a way to win ballgames." Bochy perhaps took that approach because the Rangers' bullpen has an AL-worst 6.38 ERA since Aug. 16.

Lange (7-5) took the loss and a blown save in Tuesday's 3-2 loss to the Dodgers, allowing one run on three hits, a walk and a hit batsman over one inning.

Lange entered in the eighth inning and allowed a runner inherited from Jason Foley to score the tying run. In the ninth, Lange gave up a walk-off single to Max Muncy to complete the collapse. Lange has blown saves in two of his last three appearances. He's now at a 3.92 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 74:44 K:BB through 62 innings this season while going 24-for-30 in save chances.