MLB Player News

Hurter (back) has allowed four earned runs on five hits and no walks while striking out two batters over 3.2 innings in three appearances for Triple-A Toledo since being reinstated from the 7-day injured list Sept. 6.

Hurter missed a little under two weeks due to the back issue, so he didn't require a rehab assignment at a lower-level affiliate before he made his return to the Toledo bullpen. The Tigers demoted Hurter to Triple-A on Aug. 17 in what appeared to mostly be a roster-management decision, as the southpaw had turned in a 2.45 ERA with 62 punchouts over 58.2 innings with the big club on the season. However, with Hurter having since picked up the back injury and not yet pitching effectively for Toledo since his return from the IL, the Tigers haven't been motivated to call him back up.

DeSclafani (thumb) has made a lone relief appearance since being activated from the 15-day injured list Sunday, covering three innings and allowing four earned runs on four hits and no walks while striking out two in Monday's 11-5 loss to the Giants.

DeSclafani had briefly served as the Diamondbacks' No. 5 starter prior to landing on the injured list Aug. 13 due to right thumb inflammation, but Arizona has opted to keep Nabil Crismatt in the rotation over DeSclafani since the latter pitcher's activation. After the 35-year-old righty was lit up in his first relief outing upon returning from the IL, he's unlikely to garner consideration for a spot start over the final two weeks of the regular season unless an injury forces Arizona to alter its rotation.

Bednar struck out two batters in a perfect ninth inning to collect his 23rd save of the season Friday against the Red Sox.

Bednar had a three-run lead to work with when he entered in the ninth inning, but the 30-year-old reliever didn't give up an inch en route to tallying his sixth save in a Yankees uniform. After collecting a save in each of his last three appearances, it appears Bednar has emerged as the preferred ninth-inning option for manager Aaron Boone down the stretch.

Chandler is slated to start Saturday's game against the Nationals in Washington.

After turning in a shiny 2.25 ERA and 0.83 WHIP over 12 innings across three bulk-relief appearances to begin his time in the big leagues, Chandler was handed his first MLB start this past Sunday against the Brewers. The 22-year-old righty was handily knocked around by the NL Central leaders, lasting just 2.2 innings in a 10-2 loss while yielding nine earned runs on nine hits and three walks. Despite the wretched outing, Chandler will be deployed as a starter once again Saturday, though another poor showing could prompt the Pirates to shift him back to his prior bulk-relief role.

Ferrer picked up the save in Friday's 6-5 victory over the Pirates. He allowed two runs on three hits and one walk while striking out one over one inning.

Ferrer was called upon to protect a 6-3 lead in the ninth inning Friday, and he needed the entirety of that cushion and was fortunate to escape with the save. The bumpy performance ended a string of 14 straight scoreless appearances, though he remains 9-for-9 in save chances since taking over as Washington's closer after the trade deadline.

Lord did not factor into the decision Friday, allowing three runs on seven hits and no walks over six innings versus the Pirates. He struck out four.

After a three-start stretch in late August in which he surrendered a combined 17 earned runs, Lord has bounced back in his past two outings with a 3.09 ERA and 11:4 K:BB over 11.2 innings. The 25-year-old rookie has started in 16 of his 45 appearances for the Nationals this year and has a 4.21 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 96:39 K:BB across 115.1 innings. His next start tentatively lines up to come versus Atlanta.

Kittredge picked up the save Friday against the Rays, recording one strikeout while retiring all three batters he faced.

It's the second straight outing with a save for Kittredge, who appears to be manager Craig Counsell's top choice at closer with Daniel Palencia (shoulder) on the shelf. Brad Keller also seemed to be in the closer mix but has worked the eighth inning ahead of Kittredge in those two games.

Munoz struck out two in a perfect inning to earn the save in Friday's 2-1 win over the Angels.

Munoz got the job done on a tidy 12 pitches (eight strikes). After the Mariners' skid in early September, Munoz has successfully shaken off the rust by logging four scoreless innings and three saves over the last five days. That heavy workload could leave him unavailable for a save opportunity Saturday. Munoz is now 35-for-42 in save chances this season while adding a 1.57 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 75:25 K:BB over 57.1 innings as one of the steadiest relievers in the majors.

Newcomb struck out three in a perfect inning to earn the save in Friday's 3-0 win over the Reds.

This was Newcomb's second save of the season -- his other came against the Angels on Aug. 16. The Athletics are using a closing committee to finish off games since the trade deadline, and they've tallied just 31 saves overall this year, with 20 of those coming from Mason Miller prior to the deal that sent him to San Diego. Newcomb and Hogan Harris have the last four saves for the team between them, though volume will remain an issue. On the season, Newcomb has a 2.76 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 91:31 K:BB over 91.1 innings across 47 outings (five starts) between the Athletics and the Red Sox.

Vodnik earned the save Friday against the Padres, allowing one run on two hits and one walk in the ninth inning. He struck out one.

Vodnik's scoreless streak was stopped at 11 appearances, but he survived to secure his eighth save of the season. With Seth Halvorsen (elbow) still on the injured list, Vodnik figures to continue splitting ninth-inning duties with Juan Mejia going forward. Through 46.1 innings, Vodnik holds a 3.11 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 45:23 K:BB while converting eight of his 12 save chances.