MLB Player News

Johnson (elbow) began a rehab assignment with the Orioles' Florida Complex League affiliate, Rich Dubroff of BaltimoreBaseball.com reports.

Johnson was acquired last August as part of a three-team trade and subsequently underwent Tommy John surgery. He hasn't been ruled out for the year, but the right-hander will likely need multiple weeks of rehab appearances before settling in at either High-A Aberdeen or Double-A Bowie to close out the campaign.

De Los Santos (5-2) struck out the only batter he faced and earned the win in Game 2 of Friday's doubleheader versus the Tigers.

De Los Santos got the last out in the top of the eighth inning, and the Guardians' offense rallied ahead in their half of the frame. He's allowed four runs over 6.2 innings in August, but he still has a solid 8:1 K:BB for the month, suggesting he's had a little bad luck. The right-hander is at a 2.84 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 46:19 K:BB while adding 13 holds over 50.2 innings this year as part of the bridge to closer Emmanuel Clase.

Ferguson will serve as the Dodgers' opening pitcher for the first game of Saturday's doubleheader with the Marlins, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

Los Angeles is treating the opening game as a bullpen day, so Ferguson will likely work no more than an inning or two before giving way to Ryan Pepiot, who will be recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City and is expected to cover the bulk of the innings for the contest. Ferguson has excelled in a setup role for Los Angeles this season, logging a 2.38 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 53:20 K:BB across 45.1 innings.

The Diamondbacks recalled Strzelecki from Triple-A Reno ahead of Saturday's doubleheader with the Padres, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.

Since being traded from Milwaukee in exchange for Andrew Chafin ahead of the deadline, Strzelecki has surrendered three runs in just 4.1 innings with Triple-A Reno. He'll now join the D-backs' bullpen for the first time to provide extra depth for Saturday's twin bill, but there's no guarantee Arizona uses him based on his recent struggles.

Lange was not used in a save opportunity Friday against the Guardians and seems to have ceded the job to Jason Foley.

Foley allowed a run but still managed to convert the save in a 4-2 win over Cleveland in the first game of Friday's doubleheader. He's recorded Detroit's last two saves, and it seems like that's pushed Lange out of the closer role for now. The latter's demotion is warranted, as Lange has struggled with control this month, walking 10 batters in just 4.1 innings. If Lange can limit the free passes moving forward, it's possible he re-emerges as the team's closer.

Finnegan struck out one and gave up a solo home run in the ninth inning Friday to record his 20th save of the season in an 8-7 win over the Phillies.

Kyle Schwarber made things interesting by leading off the top of the ninth with a solo shot to right-center field, but Finnegan shook it off and fanned Nick Castellanos for the final out to secure the victory. Hunter Harvey has returned from the injured list but has settled back into a setup role, a result of Finnegan's success in the second half -- Friday's run was the first he'd surrendered since July 14, and he's converted nine straight save chances.

Clase worked a perfect ninth inning in the second game of Friday's doubleheader against the Tigers to record his 33rd save of the season. He didn't walk or strike out a batter.

The right-hander topped out at 100.5 mph with his cutter as he generated his usual weak contact. Since the All-Star break, Clase has posted a 2.13 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 14:1 K:BB through 12.2 innings while converting eight of 10 save chances, and while he hasn't been as dominant in 2023 as he was the last two seasons, he's still tied with Camilo Doval and Alexis Diaz for the major-league lead in saves.

Curry came away with a no-decision in the second game of Friday's doubleheader against the Tigers, allowing one run on five hits and two walks over six innings. He struck out six.

The right-hander delivered his first quality start of the season while establishing a new season high in strikeouts, but Curry was headed for his second loss until Cleveland took the lead in the eighth inning. Since getting stretched out, the 25-year-old has a 4.50 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 11:4 K:BB through 16 innings over his last three starts, working at least five frames each time. With Cal Quantrill (shoulder) expected to return next week, however, Curry's run in the rotation is likely coming to a close.

Diaz (5-4) picked up Friday's win over the Blue Jays. He struck out one over one inning.

Diaz pitched for the just the second time in the last nine days and benefitted from Christian Encarnacion-Strand's walk-off home run. Reds manager David Bell had the luxury of bringing a well-rested Diaz into a scoreless tie in the ninth inning to face the heart of Toronto's order. Like several other overworked members of the Cincinnati bullpen, Diaz endured a tough patch early in the month, but a stretch of relative inactivity appears to have renewed the closer.

Kittredge tossed a perfect 10th inning to earn a save in Friday's win over the Angels.

Kittredge made his season debut Friday after returning from Tommy John rehab. He fired 12 of 15 pitches for strikes and touched 95 mph with his sinker. The 33-year-old is a better candidate for holds than saves at this point. Pete Fairbanks earned a win after pitching the ninth inning Friday.