MLB Player News

Leclerc gave up one walk and struck out two in a scoreless appearance to earn the save in a 4-1 victory over the Blue Jays on Sunday.

Leclerc didn't have the most efficient outing as he needed 24 pitches to retire the side. However, he got the job done and ultimately only allowed one baserunner before striking out Vladimir Guerrero to close out the victory and pick up his fourth save of the season. All four of Leclerc's saves have come since Aug. 14 and he has only given up an earned run or more in two appearances over that stretch.

Yarbrough covered five scoreless innings out of the bullpen in Sunday's 10-4 loss to the Yankees. He struck out three and gave up two hits while issuing no walks.

Coming into the day, Yarbrough hadn't been expected to pitch, but the Rays needed him to mop up after starter Luis Patino recorded just four outs before departing. Even though Yarbrough was excellent in long relief, his performance didn't mean much since he entered the contest with the Rays already trailing by nine runs. Yarbrough will likely be deployed as a primary pitcher out of the bullpen or as a starter at some point during next weekend's series with the Rangers.

The Rays plan to select Criswell's contract from Triple-A Durham to have him start Monday's game in Toronto, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Monday likely would have been Ryan Yarbrough's day to pitch, but he was needed to cover five innings in long relief during Sunday's 10-4 loss to the Yankees after starter Luis Patino coughed up nine earned runs while recording just four outs before departing the contest. As a result, the Rays will turn to Criswell to make his team debut Monday in what could end up being a brief stint in the big leagues. Since being claimed off waivers from the Angels in mid-July and outrighted off the 40-man roster a few days later, Criswell has been pitching 3-to-4 innings in his starts with Durham. Over 27.1 total innings with the affiliate this season, Criswell has produced a 3.95 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 22:5 K:BB.

Pilkington is scheduled to start Monday's series opener against the Angels at Progressive Field.

Since getting called up from Triple-A Columbus just over a week ago, Pilkington has made only one two-inning relief appearance for Cleveland, but he'll get the chance to join the rotation while Zach Plesac (hand) and Aaron Civale (forearm) are on the injured list. Though Pilkington was a full-time starter at Columbus and previously made nine starts for Cleveland earlier this season, he may not be counted on to work more than 4-to-5 innings Monday as the Guardians aim to optimize his performance. Long reliever Kirk McCarty could be called upon to piggyback Pilkington, if the Guardians elect to go that route.

Littell (3-3) earned the win Sunday over the Cubs, allowed two hits and striking out two over 1.2 scoreless innings without walking a batter.

Littell was in the game when Thairo Estrada's solo home run in the seventh inning put the Giants ahead. Through five outings in September, Littell's allowed four runs in five innings, though those all came in one outing against the Dodgers on Wednesday. The right-hander has posted a 4.74 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 39:12 K:BB through 43.2 innings overall in a low-leverage role.

Doval earned the save during Sunday's 4-2 win against the Cubs, allowing one hit and hitting a batter in 1.1 scoreless innings. He failed to record a strikeout.

Doval was brought in with two on and two out in the eighth inning and was able to escape the jam before navigating around two baserunners in the ninth with the help of a double play. The 25-year-old flamethrower has now posted five straight scoreless outings and has allowed an earned run in only one of his last 15 appearances, lowering his ERA from 3.21 to 2.58 with the effective stretch. His 22 saves rank 13th in MLB.

Robertson struck out the side in a perfect inning to earn a save over the Phillies on Sunday.

After blowing a save in his last outing, Robertson bounced back with a dominant performance Sunday. He lowered his season ERA to 2.38 with a 75:28 K:BB while converting 19 of his 26 save chances. Seranthony Dominguez (triceps) returned from the injured list Sunday and pitched the eighth inning.

Dominguez struck out one batter in a scoreless inning and notched a hold against the Nationals on Sunday.

Dominguez was activated from the injured list Sunday and made his first appearance since Aug. 17. He recorded his 14th hold of the season while David Robertson secured his 19th save of the year. Dominguez had converted his last nine save chances prior to going on the injured list.

Faucher was optioned to Triple-A Durham following Sunday's loss to the Yankees, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Faucher was called up by the Rays at the end of August, but he allowed three runs in 1.2 innings over a pair of relief appearances during the team's weekend series against the Yankees. He'll attempt to sort things out in Durham, where he's posted a 3.73 ERA and 1.49 WHIP in 41 innings over 32 appearances (four starts) this year.

Patino was optioned to Triple-A Durham following Sunday's loss to the Yankees, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Patino made two turns through the Rays' rotation over the last week, but he'll head back to the minors after he gave up nine runs on five hits and four walks while failing to strike out a batter in 1.1 innings Sunday. The right-hander has posted a 4.50 ERA and 1.32 WHIP in 34 innings over nine Triple-A starts and could be an option to rejoin the major-league club if the Rays need a spot starter down the stretch.