MLB Player News

Kittredge (5-5) struck out one in a perfect inning to earn the win over the Rockies on Tuesday.

Kittredge has earned three of his five wins this season in September, allowing just two runs on seven hits and four walks while striking out 14 over 13 innings this month. The right-handed reliever was the beneficiary of the Cardinals' go-ahead rally in the eighth inning Tuesday. He's now at a 2.88 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 65:20 K:BB while adding a save and 36 holds through 68.2 innings this season.

Hader struck out three over 1.1 perfect innings to earn the save in Tuesday's 4-3 win over the Mariners.

Hader stranded runners on the corners he inherited from Ryan Pressly in the eighth inning before pitching a perfect ninth for the save. Over his last seven outings, Hader has gone 5-for-7 in save chances while picking up a win and a loss in that span. He's been scored on in five of his last 13 outings and now has a 3.60 ERA, 0.93 WHIP and 104:24 K:BB with 34 saves in 38 chances over 70 innings this season.

Tinoco struck out one without allowing a baserunner over 1.2 innings to earn the save in Tuesday's 4-1 win over the Twins.

Anthony Bender left two on with one out in the eighth inning, but Tinoco avoided trouble in that frame. Tinoco also tossed a perfect ninth and has now gone 3.2 innings without allowing a baserunner. He's earned three saves over his last five appearances, taking over the closing role since Calvin Faucher (shoulder) landed on the injured list. Tinoco has a 1.55 ERA, 0.59 WHIP and 29:4 K:BB over 25 innings with the Marlins, an improvement on his 3.23 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and 41:11 K:BB through 39 innings for the year, which includes time with the Rangers and the Cubs.

Dominguez picked up the save in Tuesday's 5-3 victory over the Yankees, pitching a clean two-thirds of an inning with no strikeouts.

The Baltimore closer collected his first save since Sept. 10 to send the Orioles back to the postseason. After Gregory Soto faced two left-handed batters -- Jazz Chisholm and Anthony Rizzo -- to open the ninth, Dominguez relieved him to tidily retire the next two batters on just seven pitches. Since joining Baltimore on July 26, Dominguez has collected 10 saves while pitching to a 3.43 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 26:7 K:BB across 21 innings.

Erceg picked up the save Tuesday against the Nationals, pitching a clean inning with two strikeouts.

The Kansas City right-hander made quick work of Washington in the bottom of the tenth inning, firing nine strikes out of his 12 total pitches. Since joining the Royals on July 31, Erceg has been a stalwart, collecting nine saves while pitching to a 3.13 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 29:3 K:BB across 23 innings. Overall, he now sports a 3.47 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 70:16 K:BB with 12 saves over 59.2 total innings this season.

Murfee (elbow) threw live batting practice Tuesday, Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Murfee was pulled off his rehab assignment nearly a month ago after reporting soreness in his surgically repaired right elbow, and he's now worked his way back to facing live hitters. It remains unclear how far away he is from a return to the active roster, though it's worth noting he hasn't yet been ruled out from making another appearance in the regular season.

Spiers (5-7) took the loss Tuesday at Cleveland, pitching four innings while allowing three runs on five hits and two walks. He struck out two.

Spiers made his first start since Aug. 20, subbing in for the injured Julian Aguiar (shoulder). Things began poorly for the 26-year-old righty, as the Guardians tagged him for three runs, including two homers in the opening frame. He managed to generate only six whiffs out of his 69 total pitches. Spiers has been rough as a starter this season, pitching to a 6.62 ERA, 1.49 WHIP and 47:15 K:BB across 51.2 innings. If this marks his final appearance of the season -- Spiers could possibly appear in relief during the weekend -- he wraps the campaign with a 5.46 ERA over 90.2 innings total.

The Rangers reinstated Sborz (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list Tuesday.

Sborz initially landed on the injured list in mid-August due to shoulder fatigue, but after a month of rehab, he's been given the green light to return to Texas' bullpen. The 30-year-old righty allowed five earned runs over just 3.1 innings during his minor-league assignment, but he won't have to worry about pitching under pressure during the final week of the regular season with the Rangers out of the playoff picture. Walter Pennington was optioned to Triple-A Round Rock in a corresponding move.

The Rangers optioned Pennington to Triple-A Round Rock on Tuesday.

Pennington has been solid out of the bullpen since joining the Rangers in August, posting a 2.76 ERA and 1.59 WHIP through 16.1 frames. However, he gave up three earned runs in just two-thirds of an inning during his most recent appearance, which will ultimately cost him his spot on the active roster. Josh Sborz (shoulder) returned from the 15-day IL in a corresponding move to take Pennington's place.

Topa (knee/elbow) said Tuesday that he feels ready to return after making two rehab appearances with Triple-A St. Paul, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.

Topa allowed three runs in the first of those outings before bouncing back with two strikeouts in a scoreless frame in the second appearance. He's been out all season, first while recovering from a torn patellar tendon in his left knee and more recently due to right elbow inflammation. While Topa appears healthy now, it's unclear how eager the Twins would be to throw him into action during the final week of the season when they're pushing for a playoff spot.