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.

Smith underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder Aug. 31, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

The procedure brings an end to Smith's season, after the right-hander struggled to bounce back upon hitting the injured list May 22 due to shoulder inflammation. Before being deactivated, Smith turned in a 3.18 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 20:7 K:BB across 17 innings over 13 appearances for Detroit. The 36-year-old righty is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agency this winter.

The Yankees recalled Beck from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Friday.

Beck is slated to start the first game of Friday's doubleheader against the Orioles. The 27-year-old has made one start and two relief appearances in the majors this season, yielding seven runs with a 5:5 K:BB over 7.2 innings. Beck had a terrific year with SWB, logging a 2.93 ERA and 151:40 K:BB over 135.1 frames covering 25 starts.

The Yankees recalled De Los Santos from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Friday.

De Los Santos will provide manager Aaron Boone with a fresh bullpen arm ahead of Friday's doubleheader versus the Orioles. The 28-year-old reliever has managed a 1.35 ERA in 15 appearances out of the Yankees' bullpen this season, though that's come with an undesirable 15:8 K:BB.

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.

Watson struck out two in a perfect inning to earn the save in Thursday's 6-4 win over the Mariners.

Ben Joyce (shoulder) is done for the year, so Watson is poised to handle the closing duties in the last series of 2026. The 28-year-old Watson has allowed just one run with an 11:1 K:BB over 8.1 innings in September. He's at a 4.00 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 65:23 K:BB across 72 innings between the Angels and the Red Sox this season. He's converted four of six save chances and added eight holds.

Barnett allowed four runs on four hits and two walks while striking out eight over six innings in a no-decision versus the Astros on Thursday.

Barnett gave up a three-run home run to Lucas Spence and a solo shot to Isaac Paredes. The 25-year-old Barnett was most effective as a reliever this year while struggling in a starting role later in the campaign. He will likely end 2026 with a 7.02 ERA, 1.66 WHIP and 50:30 K:BB over 50 innings across 20 games (six starts). He'll have minimal fantasy appeal as long as he's calling Sutter Health Park his home field in the majors.

Abreu allowed a hit and a walk over 1.1 scoreless innings to earn the save in Thursday's 7-5 win over the Athletics.

Josh Hader took the loss in a 44-pitch appearance Wednesday, which is why Abreu got the ball Thursday. Abreu has remained steady in September, allowing just three runs over 10 innings with a 12:2 K:BB this month. On the year, the veteran reliever has a 3.73 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 80:41 K:BB while converting nine of 11 save chances and adding 16 holds across 62.2 innings.