MLB Player News

Armstrong (calf) didn't record a strikeout while allowing one run on two hits in one inning during a rehab appearance Friday with Triple-A Columbus.

Armstrong was initially placed on the shelf July 25 due to a left calf strain before being transferred to the 60-day IL less than two weeks later. He's eligible for reinstatement Sept. 23 and should be on track to rejoin the Guardians on that date or shortly thereafter, assuming his subsequent rehab appearances go well.

Espino will serve as the Guardians' opening pitcher for Saturday's game against the Twins in Minnesota, Paul Hoynes of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Gavin Williams had been lined up to start Saturday, but the Guardians will instead push their ace back a couple days in the schedule so that he can make his next start Monday in the series opener versus the division-leading White Sox. Espino will thus be called upon to make his first MLB start Saturday, though he's pitched almost exclusively in relief both for the big club and at Triple-A Columbus this season and will likely be limited to a 1-to-2-inning appearance. Once Espino exits the game, Joey Cantillo could be called upon to pitch in bulk relief.

The Tigers recalled Sears from Triple-A Toledo on Saturday.

Sears will come up from Toledo to make what will likely be a spot start Saturday against the Rockies in Detroit. The rookie owns a 2.01 ERA and 1.01 WHIP across 44.2 innings in the minors this season but has allowed six earned runs in 12.1 frames with the Tigers.

Graceffo (8-1) earned the win after walking one and striking out one over a scoreless two-thirds of an inning Friday against the White Sox.

Graceffo entered the game with one out and a runner on first in the top of the fifth inning, and even though he loaded the bases, he escaped the jam unscathed without allowing a single run. The brief appearance earned Graceffo his eighth win of the season while lowering his ERA to 2.68. He's been excellent in recent weeks, as he hasn't given up a run in his last eight outings while posting a 0.83 WHIP and a 18:5 K:BB across 13.1 innings over that span.

Gomez (2-3) took the loss after allowing three runs on two hits and two walks over one-third of an inning Friday against the Cleveland. He didn't record a single strikeout.

Gomez entered the game in the top of the ninth inning but was largely ineffective, throwing just 12 of his 21 pitches for strikes and quickly running into trouble. He walked Bazzana before Angel Martinez doubled, and then Gomez uncorked a wild pitch that allowed Bazzana to score the go-ahead run. Brayan Rocchio followed with a two-run double that stretched Cleveland's advantage to three, and Gomez was removed after retiring just one of the five batters he faced. Gomez saw his run of four consecutive scoreless outings come to an end, and while he's posted seven scoreless appearances over his last nine, he's given up seven runs in that span. One subpar outing won't remove Gomez from his closing duties, however, especially since he's gone 22-for-22 in save chances in 2026 while posting a 3.92 ERA through 59 appearances in 2026.

Smith earned his 36th save of the season after allowing one hit over a scoreless ninth inning in Friday's 5-2 win over the Twins. He did not record a strikeout or a walk.

Smith was handed a three-run cushion after Cleveland broke a 2-2 tie in the top of the ninth, and he got the job done en route to his 36th save of the season -- the second-highest total in the AL behind Bryan Baker's MLB-leading 39. Smith allowed a leadoff single to Josh Bell in the top of the ninth but quickly erased it by getting Kody Clemens to ground into a double play, and then Smith induced a Royce Lewis groundball to finish the victory. Smith owns a 2.18 ERA as Cleveland's primary closer this season. He's converted eight of 10 save chances since the All-Star break, posting a 0.83 ERA and 0.92 WHIP with a 32:11 K:BB across 20 appearances in that span.

Gaddis (4-3) earned the win in relief after allowing one hit and striking out one over 1.1 scoreless innings in Friday's 5-2 victory over the Twins. He did not issue a walk.

Gaddis entered the game with two outs in the seventh and a runner on second after Erik Sabrowski had allowed the tying run to reach base. Kaelen Culpepper's RBI single tied the game at 2-2, with the run charged to Sabrowski, but Gaddis settled down afterward and retired the next four batters he faced. Gaddis has been extremely reliable for the Guardians this season, and this outing extended his streak of scoreless appearances to 13. Over that stretch, the right-hander owns a 0.62 WHIP and 11:4 K:BB across 13 innings.

Stallings earned the save after walking one and striking out two over three hitless and scoreless innings in Friday's 20-0 win over the Reds.

Stallings took over for Dustin May with Milwaukee comfortably ahead and handled the final three innings without allowing a hit. Despite the enormous margin of victory, his three-inning stint to finish the victory qualified him for a save, the first save of Stallings' MLB career. The right-hander was making his first appearance since retuning to the major-league roster, as he was previously demoted to Triple-A Nashville on Aug. 4. Stallings has yet to allow a run in five major-league relief appearances in 2026, posting a 11:4 K:BB through 11 innings in that span.

Crochet (lat) threw 25 pitches during a side session Friday, MLB.com reports.

It was Crochet's third side session but carried some significance, as it was the left-hander's first on the main mound at Fenway Park while donning his home white Red Sox uniform. He continued to increase his intensity -- up to 80-to-90 percent -- and introduced his sweeper during the session. Crochet is scheduled to throw one more bullpen session early next week before potentially facing live hitters.

Dotel (1-5) took the loss Friday, giving up three runs on four hits over two innings as the Pirates were routed 12-2 by the Cubs. He struck out one without walking a batter.

Pittsburgh went with a bullpen game to fill the spot of Braxton Ashcraft (arm) in the rotation, and Dotel was the first of three pitchers to work multiple innings at Wrigley Field as all three got tagged for at least three runs. Dotel has been relatively effective in a long-relief role since the All-Star break, posting a 3.86 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 16:5 K:BB over his last nine appearances and 16.1 innings.