MLB Player News

Otto (0-1) took the loss against Oakland on Friday, allowing eight runs on eight hits and one walk while striking out five across 3.1 innings.

The rookie had pitched fairly well in his first two big-league starts, but he was hit hard by the Athletics on Friday. Otto gave up six runs in the second inning, though Oakland didn't register any extra-base hits in the frame. He bounced back with a scoreless third inning but was pulled after allowing a double and a triple while retiring only one batter in the fourth. Otto did flash impressive strikeout stuff -- he notched five punchouts and 12 swinging strikes -- so the overall picture isn't as bleak as the outcome of his brief appearance. If Otto remains in the rotation, his opportunity to bounce back will likely come at home against the White Sox next week.

Hendriks allowed one hit in a scoreless ninth inning and earned a save over Boston on Friday.

Hendriks worked around a leadoff single by Christian Vazquez to secure the 4-3 win for the White Sox. Dating back to Aug. 16, he's converted his last eight save chances while allowing just one run through 12 innings during that span. The veteran righty is now 34-for-40 in save chances with a 2.90 ERA on the year.

Coonrod struck out one in a perfect inning during Friday's 11-2 loss to Colorado.

The right-hander was one of two Philadelphia pitchers, along with Cam Bedrosian, to keep runs off the board. Coonrod has been a steady presence this year with a 3.75 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 42:12 K:BB across 36 innings. He's logged a 2-2 record, two saves, eight holds and three blown saves. Since he returned from forearm tendinitis, he's allowed two runs on five hits, two walks and two hit batters while racking up 12 strikeouts in eight innings.

Hudson (elbow) worked up to four innings and 46 pitches in his most recent rehab start for Double-A Springfield on Tuesday, the team's official site reports.

The right-hander's remarkable road to recovery continued without a hitch in that outing, one in which Hudson was able to scatter four hits and a walk while only allowing a pair of unearned runs. Hudson's velocity, feel and spin rates have all reportedly been solid through his first three rehab appearances, and he'll next take the hill for Springfield on Sunday.

Morgan (2-7) allowed eight runs (seven earned) on eight hits and two walks with two strikeouts in 4.1 innings, taking the loss versus Milwaukee on Friday.

The right-hander was doing alright through four innings, but he got into a jam in the fifth. He was tagged for five runs in the frame after reliever Sam Hentges entered the game and yielded a grand slam to Lorenzo Cain. Morgan has failed to complete five innings in four of his last six starts, although he's improved from ineffective to inconsistent lately. He has a 6.03 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 70:21 K:BB in 71.2 innings in his rookie season. He projects for a road start versus the Yankees during next weekend's three-game series.

Reyes, who earned his sixth win in his most recent appearance Thursday versus the Dodgers with two scoreless innings, will be utilized as a multi-inning reliever for the remainder of the season with an eye on building him up for a rotation spot in 2022, Zachary Silver of MLB.com reports.

Reyes was essentially bounced from closer duties after a rough patch in August, but the shift to more of a long-relief is part of a longer-term plan anyhow. The team believes it can begin laying the groundwork for Reyes to build back up to a starter's workload through the bullpen before he heads into an offseason regimen tailored to that same goal. Reyes looked comfortable in Thursday's victory after allowing home runs in back-to-back appearances, as he surrendered just one hit and no walks while recording two strikeouts over his pair of frames.

Fairbanks (3-6) allowed three runs on two hits and a walk with one strikeout in one-third of an inning, taking the loss Friday versus Detroit.

The 27-year-old loaded the bases in the seventh inning before Andrew Kittredge allowed a grand slam to Jonathan Schoop. Fairbanks has experienced mixed results since returning from a shoulder injury. He's given up five runs in his last 5.1 innings while taking two losses and a blown save in those six appearances. He now has a 4.21 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, 49:18 K:BB, five saves, 12 holds and two blown saves across 36.1 innings overall.

Cisnero (4-4) allowed three runs on two hits and two walks with one strikeout in one inning, taking a blown save but earning the win Friday versus Tampa Bay.

The 32-year-old allowed a three-run double to Ji-Man Choi in the seventh inning, but Detroit took the lead back in the home half of the frame on a Jonathan Schoop grand slam. While it was one of Cisnero's ugliest outings of the year, it ultimately didn't lead to disaster. The right-hander owns a 3.06 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 62:30 K:BB across 61.2 innings this year. He's added four saves, three blown saves and 18 holds in 66 appearances.

Alexander allowed a run on five hits and two walks with four strikeouts in 4.1 innings in a no-decision versus Tampa Bay on Friday.

The southpaw yielded the first run of the game on a Joey Wendle RBI single in the fifth inning. Alexander was expected to be taken out of the rotation, but Matthew Boyd (elbow) was a late scratch Friday, which could allow Alexander to remain in the rotation going forward. He's pitched to a decent 4.09 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 71:21 K:BB across 83.2 innings this year. Even if he remains a starter, his workload management has typically seen him work less than five innings, making it unlikely for him to earn many wins unless he works behind an opener. Alexander is tentatively projected for a rematch with the Rays next week.

Barnes (illness) will throw a bullpen session Friday, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

Barnes is one of several players who recently spent time on the injured list during their COVID-19 outbreak, but he's been cleared to rejoin the team. If Friday's throwing session goes well, manager Alex Cora said that the right-hander could be activated as early as this weekend.