MLB Player News

Chirinos allowed an earned run on a solo home run and also recorded two strikeouts over an inning in an extra-innings win over the Red Sox on Saturday.

Manager Kevin Cash wasted no time getting Chirinos back into the swing of things following the pitcher's activation from the injured list earlier in the day. Chirinos followed starter Tyler Glasnow after the latter's three-inning stint and gave up a solo home run to Xander Bogaerts during his sole frame. Chirinos was otherwise solid over his 16 pitches, and Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports that the right-hander's role will be fluid over the last week of the season based on the team's needs and how Chirinos continues to perform.

Javier was named the Astros' Minor League Pitcher of the Year, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Javier, an unheralded prospect to start the season, was promoted three times in 2019, going from Opening Day starter at High-A Fayetteville to eventually landing at Triple-A Round Rock. The 22-year-old right-hander from the Dominican Republic amassed a 1.74 ERA over 113.2 innings while striking out 170 (13.5 K/9) and walking 59. He's possesses a fastball that ranges between 91 and 93 mph, complemented by a slider used as his out pitch. He believes the development of a changeup was the key to his success this season. The Astros are expected to add him to the 40-man roster during the offseason in order to avoid risking exposure in the Rule 5 draft.

Berrios didn't factor into the decision in Saturday's 12-5 loss to the Royals, coughing up five runs on eight hits and a walk over six innings while striking out five.

The right-hander gave up two runs in the second inning but appeared to settle in after that, and Berrios seemed headed for his 14th win until Kansas City struck for three more runs in the sixth to tie the game. He's been fading down the stretch, posting a 6.15 ERA and 53:19 K:BB through 52.2 innings since the beginning of August, but Berrios will get one more chance to build some momentum heading into the postseason in a road rematch with the Royals on Friday.

Miley (14-6) took the loss Saturday as the Astros fell 8-4 to the Angels, giving up four runs on four hits and a walk in one-plus innings.

A David Fletcher solo shot to lead off the game set the tone, and after Miley allowed three runs in the first inning, he got yanked when he put the first two batters aboard to begin the second. The southpaw has been dreadful in September, posting a 22.09 ERA and 4:5 K:BB through only 7.1 innings over four starts, but Miley will get one more chance to regain some momentum heading into the postseason when he faces the Angels again on the road Thursday.

Sandoval didn't factor into the decision in Saturday's 8-4 win over the Astros, giving up three runs on two hits and two walks over three innings. He struck out one.

The rookie was staked to a 3-0 lead before he set foot on the mound, but Sandoval then gave up three runs of his own in the bottom of the second inning and received the hook shortly afterwards. He's scheduled for one more outing in 2019, and he'll take a 5.25 ERA and 39:16 K:BB through 36 innings into a home rematch with Houston on Friday.

Glasnow allowed two hits with zero walks and seven strikeouts across three innings during a no-decision against the Red Sox on Saturday.

The Rays have been cautious with Glasnow, who missed a majority of the summer with a forearm strain, since he returned from the IL. He didn't make it through the four innings the Rays planned, but he was spectacular through three, striking out at least two batters per inning. Glasnow owns a 2.25 ERA and 17 strikeouts in eight innings since returning from his injury. Overall, he is 6-1 with a 1.92 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, .198 batting average against and 72 strikeouts in 56.1 innings this season. Glasnow lines up to make one final start during the regular season at the Blue Jays on Friday.

Paxton (15-6) struck out seven and allowed one run (none earned) on three hits and zero walks across six innings while earning a victory in a 7-2 win over the Blue Jays on Saturday.

Paxton was nicked for an unearned run in the third inning on an error and two singles but allowed just one baserunner over the next three innings. The 30-year-old has been outstanding over his last 10 starts, going 10-0 with a 2.25 ERA. Overall, Paxton owns a 3.73 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 185 strikeouts in 149.2 innings this season. He is scheduled to be on the mound again Friday on the road against the Rangers.

Montas (suspension) is eligible to return for Wednesday's game against the Angels, although there's no definitive word on his projected usage over the final five games of the season, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

Manager Bob Melvin unsurprisingly offered nothing in the way of a framework for how the right-hander might be deployed after 80 games away from the team. However, it's worth noting Montas has been on a normal throwing schedule recently at the team's minor-league complex in Arizona, and his arm is currently stretched out to approximately a 100-pitch workload. That potentially puts Montas in play as a multi-inning relief asset for Melvin, but it also leaves open the option of a spot start if the Athletics are able to clinch a playoff spot before the final day of the regular season and want to hold one of current co-aces Sean Manaea and Mike Fiers back for a Wild Card Game start.

Chirinos (finger) was activated from the 10-day injured list Saturday, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

The right-hander is back, as expected, after making it through a pair of simulated games without issue. Chirinos has shown a good deal of promise at 25 years of age, posting a 3.62 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 110:28 K:BB in 126.2 innings this season, but he's been out since early August and is not stretched out enough to start, so his fantasy appeal is limited over the rest of this season.

Snell will start Monday's game against the Red Sox and is expected to cover around 3-to-4 innings.

The Rays are still easing Snell into a normal starter's workload after he returned from the injured list Tuesday following a nearly two-month absence while he was on the mend from arthroscopic elbow surgery. Snell's first outing back from the IL was encouraging, as he kept a quality Dodgers offense off the board while hurling two perfect innings and striking out four. Tampa Bay hasn't announced that a primary pitcher will be used behind Snell on Monday, so expect the team to lean on a slew of relievers to finish out the contest once the southpaw departs.