MLB Player News

Pivetta (8-5) lost Sunday's 3-2 game at the hands of the Rays, allowing three runs on three hits and a walk with six strikeouts in 4.2 innings.

Pivetta was rolling to open the game, retiring the first eight Rays he faced, but walked Mike Zunino and surrendered a Brandon Lowe two-run homer immediately after to fall behind for good. He allowed two more hits and a run in the fifth before being removed after 76 pitches. The 28-year-old has now failed to reach five innings in three of his last four starts, permitting at least three runs in all four. He lines up to face Toronto next weekend.

Alzolay allowed four runs across five innings and did not factor into the decision Sunday against the Nationals. He gave up seven hits and four walks while striking out four.

Alzolay managed to avoid his 12th loss of the season but continued a run of mediocre starts, as he hasn't earned a win since June 2. Over his last nine outings, he has a 1.51 WHIP and has allowed either three or four earned runs eight times. The 26-year-old isn't getting shelled but hasn't dominated hitters in a while, either. Alzolay will carry a 4.85 ERA into his next scheduled start Saturday against the crosstown White Sox.

Kittredge, who now sports a 7-1 record after earning the win Saturday against the Red Sox, has generated six consecutive scoreless efforts and owns a 1.08 ERA and 9.7 K/9 in the 8.1 innings covering his seven post-All-Star-break appearances.

The veteran reliever's career-best season, which included his first All-Star nomination, continues rolling along without a hitch as the last two months-plus of the regular season begin. Kittredge's seven wins are already a personal best by a comfortable margin, as are his 1.40 ERA and 0.90 WHIP. The 31-year-old boasts a diverse fantasy profile that also includes five holds and two saves, and with Diego Castillo now in Seattle, it's conceivable Kittredge even sees some save opportunities down the stretch.

Blach (elbow) began a rehab assignment with the Orioles' rookie-level Florida Complex League affiliate and has made five appearances, tossing five innings and allowing an unearned run on one hit and no walks while striking out six.

Blach's 2020 season was wiped out after he underwent Tommy John surgery in mid-July, but he re-signed with the Orioles on a minor-league deal in March and has been rehabbing at the team's spring facility in Florida for the past few months. The southpaw was cleared for game action almost a year after his procedure, and the early returns have been encouraging. The Orioles assigned Blach to High-A Aberdeen coming out of the spring, so he'll presumably settle with that affiliate once he completes his FCL rehab assignment.

Kelly (hamstring) appeared in relief in Friday's 6-5 loss and Saturday's 8-3 win against the Diamondbacks, tossing perfect innings in both outings.

Before he was summoned out of the bullpen Friday, Kelly had been out of action since July 30 while recovering from a minor hamstring injury. He's seemingly come out of both appearances without any setbacks, so he should be an integral part of the bridge to closer Kenley Jansen moving forward.

Bednar allowed one run on three hits and no walks in one inning during Saturday's win over the Phillies.

Bednar hadn't allowed any runs in July prior to Saturday's appearance, but he gave up Pittsburgh's one-run lead in the eighth inning against the Phillies. Per Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the right-hander profiles as the Pirates' closer after Richard Rodriguez was traded to Atlanta on Friday. However, Chris Stratton earned the win Saturday by tossing a scoreless ninth inning, and manager Derek Shelton said before Saturday's game that the Pirates will use a closer-by-committee approach, Jake Crouse of MLB.com reports.

Hendriks (5-2) allowed a hit and struck out two batters in a scoreless ninth inning Sunday, earning a victory over Cleveland.

Hendriks came into a tied game and worked around a two-out single by Franmil Reyes to hold the game at 1-1. He picked up the win after Brian Goodwin's walkoff homer the next half-inning. The 32-year-old righty is 5-2 with 26 saves and a 2.47 ERA through 47.1 innings.

Hader struck out two batters in a perfect ninth inning Sunday, earning a save over Atlanta.

Since earning his last save on July 8, Hader had been tagged with five runs across just 3.2 innings. He bounced back Sunday, needing just 11 pitches to secure the save over Atlanta. The 27-year-old southpaw is now 22-for-23 in save chances with a 1.83 ERA on the year.

Lamet (forearm) will throw a rehab inning at Low-A Lake Elsinore on Wednesday, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Lamet has been on the injured list for just over a month due to right forearm inflammation, but he's faced hitters across the last week and will now return to game action in the minors. The Padres have said that the right-hander will likely take on a bullpen role once he's reinstated from the 10-day IL, and his rehab stint will give the team an opportunity to see how effective he can be as a reliever.

Akin came on in relief and retired one of the three batters he faced but wasn't charged with an earned run in Sunday's 6-2 loss to the Tigers.

Before landing on the COVID-19 injured list July 21, Akin had filled a spot in the Baltimore rotation, but he looks like he'll work out of the bullpen for the time being while Alexander Wells and Spenser Watkins are evaluated for starting duties. Akin entered Sunday with a 8.19 ERA and 1.80 WHIP on the season, and he didn't do anything in his relief appearance to make the Orioles eager to add him back into the rotation. He allowed both of his inherited runners to score on a pair of base hits, but Akin was spared of any damage to his ERA when Shaun Anderson came on to record the final out of the seventh inning while leaving the bases loaded.