MLB Player News

Helsley (elbow) will throw a live batting practice session Tuesday, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

It will be Helsley's first time facing hitters since he went down with right elbow inflammation in late June. If things go well Tuesday, Helsley's next step could be a rehab assignment. The veteran reliever is tracking toward a return later this month, though the Orioles could opt to shut him down if they fall out of the wild-card race.

Strzelecki (forearm) has been sent to Triple-A Memphis to begin a rehab assignment, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Strzelecki landed on the 15-day injured list nearly two weeks ago with right forearm extensor inflammation. Because his absence has been brief, the reliever shouldn't require many rehab appearances. He's eligible for activation Friday and has a chance to be ready by that date.

The Padres released Leclerc on Monday.

Leclerc inked a minor-league contract with the Padres in March as he continued to work his way back from right shoulder surgery. The 32-year-old reliever returned to game action in July but posted a 7.77 ERA and 26:12 K:BB over 24.1 frames between three minor-league affiliates.

Perkins is slated to start Tuesday's game against the Blue Jays in Sacramento.

Perkins was headed out of the big-league rotation after being optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas on Friday, but the Athletics recalled him one day later after starter J.T. Ginn (elbow) was moved to the 15-day injured list in a corresponding move. He'll end up sliding into Ginn's spot in the rotation, but given his recent form along with the fact that he'll be pitching at hitter-friendly Sutter Health Park, Perkins won't make for a comfortable streaming option in the majority of fantasy leagues. Prior to his brief demotion, Perkins went 1-8 with a 6.91 ERA, 1.66 WHIP and 83:40 K:BB in 70.1 innings over 13 starts and three bulk-relief appearances upon moving into the Athletics rotation in early June.

Kimbrel (1-4) took the loss Monday against the Diamondbacks, allowing five runs (four earned) on five hits and a walk while striking out one over one inning.

Kimbrel entered a scoreless game in the 10th and couldn't contain Arizona after beginning the inning with the automatic runner at second. Lars Nootbaar's sacrifice fly broke the tie, and the Diamondbacks eventually pushed across five runs in the frame. Kimbrel finished the inning, but the Royals couldn't respond in the bottom of the frame, so the veteran reliever was tagged with his fourth loss of the season while seeing his ERA climb to 4.53. Despite the subpar outing, it wouldn't be surprising if Kimbrel gets more ninth-inning opportunities -- the Royals are employing a committee-based approach in the absence of Carlos Estevez (shoulder), and Kimbrel is one of the options to close out games alongside Steven Cruz and Nate Pearson.

Santana struck out one over two-thirds of a scoreless inning to earn the save in Monday's 5-4 extra-inning win over the Royals.

Santana inherited a precarious situation, entering after the Royals had already scored four runs in the bottom of the 10th inning to whittle Arizona's five-run lead to one. However, the right-hander retired Michael Massey on a flyout before striking out Nick Loftin to end the game. It was Santana's first appearance in eight days, and it extended his streak of scoreless outings to four. Since being called up to the Diamondbacks' big-league roster Aug. 16, Santana owns a 1.50 ERA and a 6:1 K:BB across six innings in seven relief outings.

Martinez (2-0) earned the win after striking out one and walking one in a scoreless ninth inning Monday against the Royals.

Martinez was the fifth Arizona pitcher used in a scoreless game and kept the deadlock intact despite issuing a walk. His clean frame completed nine shutout innings from the Diamondbacks' bullpen committee before the offense erupted for five runs in the top of the 10th. That rally put Martinez in line for his second win of the season, and he has yet to allow an earned run this year in seven appearances while posting an 8:5 K:BB across 6.2 frames.

Law allowed one hit over two scoreless innings in Monday's 5-4 extra-inning win over the Royals.

Law served as Arizona's opener in a bullpen game and set the tone by keeping Kansas City off the board for the first two frames. He faced the minimum in the second thanks to Ildemaro Vargas' diving stop and double play, then handed the game to Jose Cabrera. Law threw 19 pitches, 10 for strikes, as the Diamondbacks' pitching staff combined to blank Kansas City through nine innings. Law made his season debut Aug. 29 and has allowed one run on five hits and a walk while striking out three across 6.2 innings through five appearances.

Whitlock struck out two in a perfect ninth inning to earn the save in Monday's 5-2 win over the Angels.

Whitlock was called upon with Boston holding a three-run lead in the top of the ninth and made quick work of the bottom of the Angels' lineup. He tossed nine of his 15 pitches for strikes and retired all three batters he faced en route to earning his third save of the season. Despite the save, Whitlock should continue as the Red Sox's preferred setup option behind star closer Aroldis Chapman, who wasn't available Monday after pitching three times in the previous four days. Whitlock lowered his ERA to 1.88 with Monday's excellent outing and has held the opposition scoreless in eight of his last nine relief appearances dating back to Aug. 15.

Bello (6-7) earned the win Monday against the Angels after allowing four hits and two walks while striking out seven over five scoreless innings.

Bello returned to the rotation for his first start since June 4 and delivered five shutout frames. His biggest test came in the third when Los Angeles loaded the bases with two outs, but Bello retired Moises Ballesteros to escape without damage. The right-hander recorded his seventh career scoreless start, but it remains to be seen whether he'll stay in the rotation since he'd been thriving out of the bullpen as well. Bello owns a 2.03 ERA and 1.03 WHIP over 62 innings as a reliever, yet he's stretched out enough to mix between both roles down the stretch if the Red Sox need him to do so.