MLB Player News

Alzolay (hamstring) will throw a bullpen session Friday, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Alzolay made his first rehab appearance at Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday and allowed four runs on three hits and a walk while striking out three in two innings. The Cubs are expected to determine the next steps in the right-hander's recovery based on how he performs during Friday's throwing session.

Ottavino collected the save pitching a scoreless ninth inning with one walk and two strikeouts in a 4-3 win over Cleveland on Friday.

Ottavino worked around a leadoff walk and stolen base from pinch-runner Andres Gimenez in the ninth to secure save No. 9 of the season. The veteran reliever has now worked five consecutive scoreless outings out of the bullpen, and carries a 3.51 ERA as we inch closer to September.

King (finger) threw live batting practice Friday, Brendan Kuty of The Newark Star-Ledger reports.

King began his throwing program Tuesday, and manager Aaron Boone said Friday that the right-hander might start a rehab assignment soon. The 27-year-old will presumably require several rehab appearances since he's been on the injured list since early July, but he's made significant progress in his recovery recently.

Naughton was recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake on Friday.

Naughton returned to the minors Aug. 11 and tossed five scoreless innings across his two most recent appearances. The southpaw allowed one run in a relief inning during his major-league debut Aug. 8 and will be available as a low-leverage reliever.

Staumont (undisclosed) was reinstated from the COVID-19 injured list Friday.

Staumont was placed on the injured list for an unspecified reason Thursday, but he'll rejoin the bullpen a day later. Across his last five appearances, the right-hander has earned four holds with a 2.08 ERA and 0.69 WHIP in 4.1 innings.

Jackson will pitch behind opener Brusdar Graterol in Friday's game against the Rockies, Jorge Castillo of the Los Angeles Times reports.

The 25-year-old will serve as the primary pitcher in Friday's series opener, but Graterol will begin the game on the mound. During Jackson's major-league debut in mid-August, he allowed two hits and four walks while striking out five in four scoreless innings.

Criswell will be called up to start Friday against the Padres, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Criswell has made16 minor-league starts this season, most recently logging a 3.98 ERA and 27:6 K:BB across four outings with Triple-A Salt Lake. It will likely be a spot start for the right-hander, though a strong performance would go a long way to keeping him in the big leagues going forward.

Graterol will serve as an opener during Friday's game against the Rockies, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports. .

Graterol has pitched well since being recalled Aug. 3. posting a 1.59 ERA across his last 11.1 innings. The Dodgers' pitching plans after the right-hander aren't yet clear, but Andre Jackson figures to be a candidate to provide multiple relief innings.

Jackson was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City prior to Friday's game against Colorado.

Jackson was sent back to Oklahoma City after striking out five while pitching four scoreless innings in his major-league debut Aug. 16. He'll now return to the big leagues and figures to be in line to serve as the bulk pitcher Friday, though the Dodgers have not yet announced if they'll use an opener ahead of him. Darien Nunez was optioned to make room on the 26-man roster.

Hudson (elbow) will begin a rehab assignment with Low-A Palm Beach on Saturday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Hudson is working his way back from Tommy John surgery, a procedure he underwent in late September of last year. He's expected to throw 30 pitchers Saturday, so he still has a way to go before he's ready to return to the active roster, but it looks like he has a chance to do so in some capacity, which would be something of a surprise given that most pitchers take over a year to return from the procedure.