MLB Player News

Diaz pitched a perfect ninth inning Monday to pick up the save against Atlanta. He did not allow a hit or a walk and did not collect a strikeout.

Diaz entered a 1-0 game and kept Atlanta off the bases for his 27th save and third in his last four appearances. Following a rough August where Diaz pitched a 7.00 ERA and blew two saves, Diaz has bounced back in September as he has yet to allow a hit in five appearances in the month. The 27-year-old has been up and down this season but remains one of the more reliable options for saves as he ranks ninth in MLB in that category.

Martinez (8-6) got the win Wednesday against Atlanta, allowing two hits and one walk over seven scoreless innings. He struck out five.

Martinez pitched a gem Monday as he continues to settle into his new role in the rotation. Even though he had started sparingly earlier in the season, Martinez has now received eight straight starts and is pitching to a 3.12 ERA over that span. The 34-year-old veteran threw his fourth career start of seven or more innings without allowing a run, and two of those have come over his last eight starts.

Waguespack (shoulder) gave up an earned run on two hits and no walks over one inning in a rehab appearance with Triple-A Durham on Friday.

Waguespack's appearance marked his first game action at any level since June 25, when he was pulled off a rehab assignment in the Florida Complex League after experiencing a lower-back issue. The right-hander was initially placed on the injured list May 6 with right rotator cuff inflammation. Waguespack likely doesn't have enough time to get fully stretched back out for a starting role, so if he returns from the 60-day IL this season, he'll presumably serve as a reliever.

Graterol (hamstring) will likely be activated from the 15-day injured list prior to Wednesday's game against the Cubs, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Graterol has been out since Aug. 7 after suffering a Grade 3 right hamstring strain, but he's expected to be cleared for the team's final game of the series Wednesday if all goes according to plan. It wouldn't be a surprise to see the club deploy the right-hander in a few low-leverage situations upon his return, as he's logged one-third of an inning so far this season dating back to Aug. 6 against Philly.

Beeter (shoulder) was reinstated from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre's 60-day injured list Saturday and was assigned to Double-A Somerset.

Beeter proceeded to appear out of the Somerset bullpen later that day, striking out two and allowing one hit and no walks over a scoreless inning. The right-hander had turned in a 2.53 ERA over 32 innings with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre before hitting the shelf in May with a right shoulder injury.

Triple-A Durham reinstated Sterner (undisclosed) from the 7-day injured list Thursday.

Sterner went about one month between appearances due to an unspecified injury, though he looked electric in his first game back Friday against Triple-A Columbus. The 28-year-old right-hander fanned three batters in a perfect inning and now owns a 3.67 ERA with 48 strikeouts across 41.2 frames this season with Durham.

The Angels selected Suarez's contract from Triple-A Salt Lake on Monday.

Suarez was removed from the 40-man roster back in June but has made his way back to the majors after posting a 6.54 ERA and 62:17 K:BB over 52.1 innings covering 11 starts. The left-hander will likely operate in a long-relief role.

The Angels optioned Crouse to Triple-A Salt Lake on Monday.

One day after being recalled from Triple-A, Crouse will head back to Salt Lake to make room in the bullpen for a fresher arm in lefty Jose Suarez, who was called up from the minors in a corresponding move. Crouse tossed 27 pitches and retired four hitters in his relief appearance in Sunday's 7-4 loss to the Rangers, allowing no runs on zero hits and two walks while striking out one.

The Mariners claimed Kitchen off waivers from the Marlins on Monday and optioned him to Triple-A Tacoma.

Seattle designated infielder Jason Vosler for assignment to clear room on the 40-man roster for Kitchen, a 27-year-old lefty reliever. He reached the big leagues for the first time this season but was lit up in his four appearances out of the Miami bullpen, giving up 11 earned runs on 16 hits and three walks over seven innings.

Alexander is expected to work in bulk relief behind opening pitcher Cole Sulser in Monday's game against the Phillies, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Alexander is taking over the rotation spot vacated by lefty Jeffrey Springs (elbow), who landed on the injured list Sunday. Over his 19 appearances (seven starts) with Tampa Bay this season, Alexander sports a 6-4 record with a 5.66 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 75:21 K:BB across 89 innings. He's been especially vulnerable to the long ball, giving up a career-high 22 home runs.