MLB Player News
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Nick Sandlin RP | LAA
Guardians' Nick Sandlin: Takes another loss
Sandlin (5-5) allowed one run on one hit without recording an out to take the loss in Friday's 9-8 defeat at the hands of the Rays.
Sandlin served up a walk-off solo home run to Wander Franco just three pitches into his ninth-inning appearance after the Guardians had rallied to tie the game. With three runs allowed over three innings plus two losses to begin August, it's been a rough stretch for Sandlin. He has a 3.65 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 49:16 K:BB through 44.1 innings this season.
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Will Smith RP | KC
Rangers' Will Smith: Yields run, secures 22nd save
Smith allowed a run on one hit in one inning to earn the save in Friday's 2-1 win over the Giants.
Smith has given up four runs over his last six innings, but he's been able to protect leads all the same with five saves in that span. The southpaw gave up a double and an RBI groundout in Friday's somewhat shaky outing. Smith is up to 22 saves in 24 chances with a 3.14 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and 43:10 K:BB through 43 innings this season as the Rangers' closer.
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Pete Fairbanks RP | MIA
Rays' Pete Fairbanks: Lifted from save chance
Fairbanks was removed from a save opportunity Friday versus the Guardians after retiring just two of six batters he faced.
Fairbanks couldn't have asked for an easier save chance in coming in to face a weak Guardians lineup nursing a three-run lead. He was all over the place, though, loading the bases on two walks and a hit-by-pitch before recording an out. Fairbanks recorded a pair of strikeouts around a run-scoring wild pitch, but another wild pitch to allow a run followed by a walk finally ended his night. A final run was charged to his ledger when Robert Stephenson let the tying run score on a wild pitch of his own. The blown save officially goes to Stephenson, but most of this was Fairbanks' doing. His ERA has climbed from 1.73 to 2.93 over his last two appearances.
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Xzavion Curry RP | MIA
Guardians' Xzavion Curry: Struggles in Tampa Bay
Curry was charged with five runs on six hits and two walks over five-plus innings Friday, taking a no-decision in a 9-8 loss to the Rays. He struck out one.
Curry retired the side in order each of the first two innings but then labored in the third as the Rays sent eight men to the plate and scored three runs. He bounced back with a scoreless fourth and fifth, but a double ahead of an Isaac Paredes two-run homer in the sixth ended his night. In addition to just one strikeout, Curry managed only two whiffs among 70 pitches. He could get another start as the Guardians continue to patch together their rotation around numerous injuries, but fantasy managers can probably do better.
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Chris Murphy RP | CHW
Red Sox's Chris Murphy: Earns three-inning save
Murphy issued two walks over three no-hit, shutout frames Friday, striking out four and earning a save over Detroit.
It was an impressive rebound after Murphy was tagged with six runs against Toronto in his last appearance. The southpaw lowered his ERA to 2.94 with a 34:15 K:BB through 33.2 frames.
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Phil Maton RP | CHC
Astros' Phil Maton: Exits after being hit by comebacker
Maton was removed from Friday's appearance versus the Angels after being hit by a comebacker in the right elbow, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
He was facing his first batter in the top of the ninth when Eduardo Escobar smoked a 90.2 mph line drive back up the middle and off Maton's pitching elbow. He'll head for testing after the game.
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Hagen Danner RP | CIN
Blue Jays' Hagen Danner: Dealing with side soreness
Danner was lifted from Friday's appearance against the Cubs due to left side discomfort, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
Danner lasted just one batter into his major-league debut before getting hurt. He'll be re-evaluated Saturday before more is known about his status, but a stint on the injured list could be on the table.
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Shawn Armstrong RP | CLE
Rays' Shawn Armstrong: Opening Saturday
Armstrong will serve as the Rays' opening pitcher for Saturday's game versus the Guardians, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
The Rays haven't assigned a bulk reliever to work behind Armstrong, but they have a few candidates who can cover multiple innings and could also make a roster move prior to the game. The opener assignment will be Armstrong's fourth this season. Armstrong has maxed out at three innings over his 28 appearances between the minors and majors this season and likely can't be counted on to work more than once through the batting order.
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Hagen Danner RP | CIN
Blue Jays' Hagen Danner: Leaves appearance with injury
Danner was removed from an appearance Friday versus the Cubs with an apparent back injury, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
Danner was making his major-league debut and wound up facing and retiring just one batter before grabbing at his back/side area and eventually walking off the field. The Blue Jays should have more on the 24-year-old reliever shortly, but he could be headed for an injured list stint.