MLB Player News

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Sunday that Kopech (knee) will face hitters in live batting practice Monday in Anaheim, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

After making it out of his recent string of bullpen sessions no worse for the wear, Kopech is ready to move on to the next phase of his rehab program as he bounces back from a right knee meniscectomy. The right-hander will likely need to face hitters at least once more after Monday before the Dodgers map out a rehab assignment for him. Kopech is eligible to return from the 60-day injured list in late August and could be ready to rejoin the Los Angeles bullpen by that time if he steers clear of any setbacks over the next couple of weeks.

The Rockies signed Curry to a minor-league contract Sunday and assigned him to Triple-A Albuquerque.

Curry briefly worked out of the Miami bullpen early in the season, but he was dropped from the 40-man roster April 14 before being released just under two months later. He then signed with Mexican League club Tigres de Quintana Roo on July 1 but was granted his release to pursue an opportunity with the Rockies. He'll likely serve as a swingman at Albuquerque and could earn a call-up to Colorado before season's end if the big club has a need for a spot starter or long man out of the bullpen.

Romero allowed three hits and a walk over 1.1 scoreless innings to earn the save in Sunday's 3-2 win over the Cubs.

Romero got out of a little trouble in the eighth inning, then created some more traffic on the basepaths before locking things down in the ninth. Since taking over as closer to begin August, Romero has allowed seven hits and three walks over 5.2 innings, but he's given up just one earned run in that span. He's at a 1.98 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 38:18 K:BB through 41 innings on the year while adding three saves and 16 holds. With the Cardinals at 60-59 following Sunday's game, Romero figures to be a decent speculative option for fantasy managers chasing saves as long as the team is still plausibly in the hunt for a wild-card spot.

Brash picked up the save Sunday against the Rays, striking out one batter during a perfect ninth inning.

Brash took the mound in the ninth inning for a save opportunity as regular closer Andres Munoz got some rest after pitching three times in the last four days. It was Brash's second save in three games, and his third save of the campaign. The 27-year-old reliever has been outstanding in 2025, boasting a 1.16 ERA and a 35:12 K:BB in 31 innings pitched.

Wentz (3-3) earned the win against the Marlins on Sunday, allowing one run four hits and three walks with two strikeouts over 5.1 innings.

Wentz generated just five whiffs on 88 pitches and allowed 11 hard-hit balls but limited the Marlins to a single run in the second inning. Since joining the rotation July 19, the southpaw has posted a 3.16 ERA over 25.2 innings. He'll carry a 5.03 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 54:30 K:BB across 62.2 frames this season into a road matchup with the Guardians next weekend.

Atlanta manager Brian Snitker indicated after Saturday's doubleheader against the Marlins that Waldrep will remain in the big-league rotation, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports. "He was a first-round pick because he had arm strength and an out pitch with the split, but now he's pitching [well]," Snitker said. "He's mixing the curveball, the split's still a really good pitch for him, the sinker instead of [four-seamer]. He's not having to pitch at 98 [miles per hour] to be effective. His command's a lot better."

Atlanta is looking ahead to 2026, and Waldrep will get a prolonged audition in the majors as a result. The 2023 first-round pick has a 1.54 ERA and 10:3 K:BB over 11.2 innings with the big club in August, extending a hot streak that had seen the right-hander post a 1.99 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 36:16 K:BB across his last 40.2 innings at Triple-A Gwinnett. Assuming Atlanta elects to maintain a five-man rotation during the upcoming week, Erick Fedde or Carlos Carrasco will likely be pushed to the bullpen or off the roster entirely to accommodate Waldrep.

Newcomb pitched a scoreless inning, allowing one hit and a walk in Sunday's 3-2 win over the Orioles.

Newcomb extended his scoreless outings streak to seven straight appearances, and he's surrendered four hits and three walks while striking out 12 batters over nine innings during that stretch. The left-hander has been vaulted into a late-inning role with the A's, helping to fill the void left by Mason Miller, who was dealt to the Padres at the trade deadline. Newcomb now owns a 3.08 ERA and 1.43 WHIP with 78 punchouts over 36 appearances, including five starts, with the Red Sox and Athletics in 2025. He remains in the mix for high-leverage appearances with Michael Kelly and Elvis Alvarado, both of whom are right-handed, setting Newcomb up for matchup-based chances against left-handed batters.

Alvarado (1-0) pitched 1.2 scoreless innings, walking two batters and striking out two on his way to a win in Sunday's 3-2 victory over the Orioles.

Alvarado has been thrust into a prominent late-inning role following the departure of Mason Miller. He made the most of his opportunity Sunday, securing the first win of his young career. The right-hander has compiled a 3.04 ERA and 1.27 WHIP with 29 strikeouts over 19 appearances this season, and he's competing with Michael Kelly and Sean Newcomb for high-leverage opportunities moving forward in 2025.

Fluharty struck out one without allowing a baserunner over two-thirds of an inning to earn the save in Sunday's 5-4 win over the Dodgers.

Fluharty was stuck into one of the most fearsome situations after an unusually ineffective performance by Jeff Hoffman, who walked five batters Sunday. Fluharty inherited the bases loaded with one out, and he got Shohei Ohtani to strike out before inducing a grounder from Mookie Betts that was enough to end the game. Fluharty is now at a 5.15 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 45:18 K:BB through 43.2 innings while collecting a save and four holds. He's mostly served in a low-leverage role this year -- he was called upon for this save chance only because he was one of two relievers left in the bullpen after the Blue Jays had to empty the tank due to Eric Lauer's poor start.

Hoffman (7-4) walked five batters without allowing a hit or recording a strikeout over two-thirds of an inning, taking a blown save and picking up the win Sunday versus the Dodgers.

Hoffman allowed an inherited runner to score the tying run after being brought in with two outs in the eighth inning. Ernie Clement restored the lead for the Blue Jays with a solo home run in the ninth, and Hoffman stayed in the game but struggled again. He may have been rusty after not pitching since Aug. 3, ultimately throwing just 10 of 33 pitches for strikes, but Mason Fluharty was able to work out of the jam to make the lead stick. Hoffman is now 26-for-31 on converting saves this season while posting an uninspiring 4.50 ERA along with a 1.13 WHIP and 64:16 K:BB over 48 innings. He doesn't appear to be at risk of losing the closing job as long as Sunday's poor outing is an isolated incident.