MLB Player News

Martinez struck out three over a perfect sixth inning in Friday's 9-1 win over the Rangers.

Martinez needed just nine pitches to strike out Wyatt Langford, Evan Carter and Jake Burger. Five of those nine pitches resulted in swinging strikes. Martinez has yet to allow an earned run over eight appearances since being activated from the 60-day injured list. He's struck out 11, walked five and allowed two hits over 7.2 innings.

Miller allowed a hit and two walks while striking out two over one scoreless inning to earn the save in Friday's 7-5 win over the Giants.

Miller loaded the bases but escaped the jam unscathed to earn the save. He's been dominant for much of the year, but he's allowed four runs (three earned) on seven hits and four walks over his last eight innings. Miller is at a 1.16 ERA, 0.87 WHIP and 115:23 K:BB with 35 saves in 37 chances over 62.1 innings this year.

Newcomb will serve as the White Sox's opening pitcher for Saturday's game against the Cardinals, James Fegan of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Newcomb has allowed six earned runs across his last five innings, but the White Sox will trust him to shut down St. Louis' bats in the first inning or two of Saturday's affair. Luis Castillo will follow Newcomb as a bulk reliever.

Miles will serve as the Blue Jays' opening pitcher for Saturday's game against the Orioles, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Miles has pitched 13 consecutive shutout innings, so the Blue Jays will trust him to lock down the first inning or two of Saturday's contest before turning the game over to a bulk reliever. Spencer Arrighetti is the most likely candidate to cover multiple frames once Miles exits the contest.

Bednar earned the save in Friday's 6-4 win over the Mets, allowing one run on two hits while striking out one batter across 1.2 innings.

Bednar was brought in for the eighth inning with the bases loaded, and he limited the damage to only one run on a Marcus Semien sacrifice fly. Bednar came back out for the ninth and gave up a leadoff homer to A.J. Ewing, the first long ball the former has allowed since July 28, but Bedner responded by getting the next three batters out to secure the save. He's up to 33 saves on the year, tied with Aroldis Chapman and Louis Varland for fifth-most in the majors, and Bednar has a 2.70 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 71:18 K:BB over 63.1 innings.

Rodriguez (back) is expected to join Triple-A Durham for a rehab assignment Sunday, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports.

Rodriguez has been on the injured list since Sept. 3 due to a lower-back strain. If all goes well on his assignment, the right-hander should return to Tampa Bay before the end of the season. He's unlikely to be a factor in fantasy leagues at this point but should bolster the playoff-bound Rays' bullpen during the postseason.

The Nationals optioned Beeter to Triple-A Rochester after Friday's game against the Angels.

Beeter pitched a perfect eighth inning Friday, lowering his ERA to 4.50 and his WHIP to 1.40 through 48 frames, but the Nationals will send him down to Triple-A nonetheless. Unless the 27-year-old is recalled to replace an injured player, he will spend the rest of the season in the minors, leaving Erik Tolman and Brad Lord as top candidates to pick up saves for the Nats down the stretch.

Helsley (elbow) is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Norfolk on Saturday, Matt Betts of MLB.com reports.

Helsley has been on the 15-day injured list since late June with right elbow discomfort, and the right-hander threw 24 pitches in live batting practice Tuesday. The rehab outing will be his first game action in over two months, so he'll likely need to get a few appearances under his belt before becoming an option to rejoin the Orioles. A return before the end of the season remains in the cards, though.

Cruz earned the save in Friday's 3-2 win over Boston, striking out one batter in a scoreless ninth inning.

With Nate Pearson holding firm in the eighth inning, the Royals turned to Cruz to close things out in the ninth, with the latter promptly doing so on only 10 pitches (six strikes) and ending the frame by striking out Roman Anthony. It was the seventh save of the season for Cruz, all of which have come since the All-Star break, and the 27-year-old right-hander has a 4.04 ERA and 1.24 WHIP across 55.2 innings this season.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Friday that Diaz (neck) needs at least one more rehab appearance before returning from the 15-day injured list, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

Diaz started his rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma this past Sunday and has appeared in three games, allowing one run on one hit and four walks while striking out three across 2.2 innings. He needs some more work in the minors before being activated off the IL, and he's expected to operate in a low-leverage role upon his return to the big-league bullpen.