MLB Player News

Graterol (shoulder) is scheduled to pitch Wednesday and Thursday with Triple-A Oklahoma City and could be activated from the 15-day injured list during the Dodgers' three-game series against the Marlins this weekend, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Graterol began the rehab assignment with Oklahoma City last week, and pitching on back-to-back days may be the final hurdle before he rejoins the big-league roster. The 24-year-old has three saves and nine holds with a 3.35 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 35:10 K:BB across 40.1 innings this season, and he could factor into the ninth-inning mix down the stretch if closer Craig Kimbrel continues to struggle.

White will start Saturday against the Yankees, replacing Yusei Kikuchi in the Blue Jays' rotation moving forward, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.

White appeared headed for the bullpen with Ross Stripling (hip) returning from the injured list this week, but he'll instead stick in the rotation with Kikuchi demoted to a relief role. White has given up four earned runs with a 5:4 K:BB over 9.1 frames in two starts since being acquired by Toronto, and he has a 3.72 ERA and 1.27 WHIP for the season.

Triple-A Sugar Land activated Dubin (forearm) from its 7-day injured list Monday.

Dubin has yet to appear for Sugar Land since being activated, but he's ostensibly healthy again after he was on the shelf since late June with a right forearm strain. Prior to being reinstated, Dubin struck out two over a pair of scoreless innings during his two-start rehab assignment in the rookie-level Florida Complex League.

The Dodgers released Betances from his minor-league contract Wednesday.

After undergoing shoulder surgery last summer, Betances didn't sign with the Dodgers until April and then spent the next two months getting ramped up before beginning a rehab assignment in the lower levels of the minors. He made his way to Triple-A Oklahoma City in late June but looked like a shell of his former self over his 15 appearances for the affiliate, posting an 11.08 ERA, 1.85 WHIP and 12:14 K:BB across 13 innings. A series of arm-related injuries have derailed the 34-year-old's once-promising career, and the four-time All-Star may be running out of opportunities at this point.

Littell (oblique) was reinstated from the 15-day injured list Wednesday.

Littell sustained a left oblique strain in early July and spent just over a month on the injured list, but he was in the minors on a rehab assignment for two and a half weeks. The right-hander posted a 4.05 ERA and 1.20 WHIP in 6.2 innings over seven rehab appearances and will rejoin the Giants' bullpen ahead of Wednesday's game against the Diamondbacks.

Kelley was recalled from Triple-A Nashville on Wednesday.

Kelley was sent to Nashville in early July, and he posted a 3.21 ERA, 19:4 K:BB and 1.07 WHIP in 14 innings over 14 appearances following his demotion. However, he'll rejoin the major-league bullpen and should serve mainly as a middle reliever after Jason Alexander was sent down Wednesday.

Sborz (arm) was credited with the win during his relief appearance in Sunday's 5-3 victory over the Mariners after he struck out five over two scoreless innings. He allowed zero hits and one walk during the 34-pitch outing.

Sborz's stellar relief appearance came after he was struck in his pitching arm by a comebacker in his previous outing in the series opener Friday. The Rangers' willingness to use him for multiple innings two days later implies his health won't be a concern moving forward.

The Rangers reinstated Barlow (finger) from the 15-day injured list Wednesday.

Barlow is back on the active roster for the first time since July 13 after he required more time than expected to recover from a blister on his right index finger. During his most recent rehab appearance Sunday at Triple-A Round Rock, Barlow answered any questions about whether the blister was still affecting his control and command, as he struck out two batters while allowing one baserunner over a two-inning outing. He'll likely slot into a setup role as he rejoins the Rangers, with Jonathan Hernandez having at least temporarily seized hold of primary closing duties for the club.

The Rangers transferred Moore (personal) from the paternity list to the bereavement list Wednesday.

According to Levi Weaver of The Athletic, Moore's newborn child and wife are fine; the veteran southpaw asked to spend more than the maximum three days away from the team, and the Rangers were able to facilitate his request by moving him to a different inactive list. Players can spend a maximum of seven days on the bereavement list, so Moore should be expected to rejoin the Rangers by the middle of next week, if not sooner.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Wednesday that Chapman and Scott Effross will serve as the team's primary closing options while Clay Holmes (back) is on the 15-day injured list, Randy Miller of The Newark Star-Ledger reports.

Though the left-handed Chapman has the overwhelming edge over right-handed Effross in terms of closing experience, Boone suggested that a two-pronged approach to the late-inning situations may be the Yankees' best option in the short term. Even so, Chapman still looks like the preferred waiver-wire pickup of the two relievers, especially now that he's seemingly regained top form after a few rocky outings upon his return from an Achilles injury in early July. Though he hasn't picked up any save chances since being activated, Chapman enters Wednesday's game against the Rays having turned in nine straight scoreless appearances while striking out 10 and putting only five runners on base across 9.1 innings.