MLB Player News

Kerr will be Atlanta's opener in Friday's game versus the Marlins, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

Kerr has topped out at 3.1 innings in his eight appearances for Atlanta this season, but he hasn't thrown more than 35 pitches in any outing so it will be an abbreviated start. Grant Holmes is an option for bulk relief Friday, though Atlanta could also opt for a straight bullpen game. Kerr has yielded just three runs with an 11:1 K:BB over 15.1 innings this season.

The Cubs activated Hollowell (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list Friday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Hollowell has been out since late July with right shoulder inflammation, but he's ready to go after making four rehab appearances. He's taking the roster spot vacated by Edward Cabrera, who was placed on the family medical emergency list.

Assad has made his last four appearances out of the Cubs bullpen, yielding two earned runs on seven hits and no walks while striking out two batters over four innings.

Since making a 4.2-inning spot start against the Marlins on Sept. 5, Assad has shifted back into a relief role. After clinching a wild-card berth Thursday, the Cubs will have little at stake in the regular-season finale Saturday in Boston, so the team could look to get by with a bullpen game that day to keep all of their rotation arms fresh for the playoffs. If Assad isn't needed in Friday's doubleheader, he could end up covering multiple innings as a starter or bulk reliever in Saturday's contest.

Miller allowed a run on one hit and struck out two over one inning to earn the save in Thursday's 4-2 win over the Dodgers.

Miller gave up an RBI double to Shohei Ohtani but was able to preserve the Padres' lead. Miller has given up just 13 runs all season (10 earned), but he's allowed six runs (five earned) over his last 13.2 innings dating back to Aug. 25. The star closer has a 1.30 ERA, 0.84 WHIP and 127:24 K:BB through 69 innings while converting 38 of 41 save chances, but he's not in the best form as the Padres look to lock up a playoff spot.

Pagan allowed one hit and no walks in a scoreless ninth inning to earn the save Thursday against Atlanta. He struck out one.

Pagan continues his ways as a lights-out closer for the Reds. The right-hander last surrendered a run Sep. 1 against the Padres and hasn't blown a save since way back during a May 4 outing against the Cubs. Pagan is positioning himself as the Reds' favorite for closing duties once more in 2027, turning in a 3.38 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 45:11 K:BB with 25 saves (28 attempts) in 42.2 innings in 2026.

Senzatela earned the save in Thursday's 5-1 win over the Phillies, allowing just one walk while striking out one over 1.2 innings.

Senzatela recorded the final five outs Thursday to log his fourth save this season, his first since joining the Brewers at the trade deadline. The right-hander has allowed just two runs over his last seven appearances (six innings). Overall, Senzatela sports a 4.07 ERA with a 1.36 WHIP and 59:26 K:BB across 73 innings between Milwaukee and Colorado this year.

Palencia worked around a walk to toss a scoreless inning of relief and earn a hold in Thursday's 2-1 win over the Marlins.

After seven strong innings from starter Matthew Boyd, Palencia served as an effective eighth-inning bridge before Ryan Zeferjahn recorded the save. Palencia has now rattled off eight straight appearances without allowing an earned run, and while he's not quite back to regularly closing out games for the Cubs, he does seem to be earning more high leverage work. The righty is now carrying a 3.64 ERA overall and has built some momentum as Chicago heads into the postseason for the second straight year.

Gordon (1-6) took the loss Thursday against the Diamondbacks, allowing 10 runs on 12 hits and four walks over 3.1 innings. He struck out one.

It was a brutal day on the mound for Gordon, with six of the 10 runs charged to the right-hander coming in the first inning. In his last four outings, Gordon's given up 26 earned runs in just 16 frames. He'll finish the year with a 6.68 ERA, 1.66 WHIP and 85:24 K:BB over 103.2 innings.

Atlanta selected Hernandez's contract from Triple-A Gwinnett on Thursday.

With Martin Perez (back) headed to the injured list, Hernandez will rejoin Atlanta's bullpen to fill the open roster spot. The 31-year-old has allowed just three earned runs in 11 innings with the big club this year but owns a 4.64 ERA and 1.43 WHIP across 85.1 innings in the minors. Hurston Waldrep (elbow) was placed on the 60-day IL to clear space on the 40-man roster.

Zeferjahn posted a clean ninth inning with no strikeouts to earn the save Thursday against the Marlins.

Zeferjahn set down the Marlins in order on just nine pitches (seven strikes) to complete his seventh save of the season. It was the right-hander's first appearance permitting no baserunners since Sept. 12 against the Pirates. Since joining the Cubs on Aug. 3, the 28-year-old owns a 4.50 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 19:8 K:BB and three saves in 18 innings.