MLB Player News

Penrod was optioned to Triple-A Worcester on Sunday.

The 27-year-old lefty split the majority of his season between Double-A and Triple-A, establishing himself as a fringe prospect despite his age. Control was an issue for Penrod at Triple-A (16.1 percent walk rate), and he walked four batters in four innings while up with the big club.

Priester was recalled from Triple-A Worcester on Sunday ahead of his start against the Rays.

Priester will be making his Red Sox debut, as he last pitched in the majors July 27 as a member of the Pirates before getting traded to Boston two days later for Nick Yorke. Priester gave up eight runs in his first start for Worcester, but he has a 3.75 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 38 strikeouts in 36 innings over his last eight starts. He'll likely have a chance to compete for a big-league rotation spot in the spring.

Canning did not factor into the decision in a loss to the Rangers on Saturday, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks over five innings while striking out four.

Canning gave up a leadoff knock in three of his five innings of work, including a home run to Nathaniel Lowe in the second, but the right-hander still managed to hold Texas to just two runs over that stretch while generating 10 swings and misses. It was a solid showing for Canning, who's now gone at least five frames in six of his last seven starts. However, it also marked the sixth consecutive outing in which he's given up multiple free passes.

Heaney did not factor into the decision in a win over the Angels on Saturday, allowing seven runs on 10 hits over four innings while striking out three.

Heaney struggled with his command from the jump, allowing multiple hits in three of his four innings of work, which led to the southpaw being tagged for a season-high seven runs on the night. It marked the first time in his last seven starts that he was unable to make it through five frames, while the 10 hits he surrendered also marked a season high. Heaney has given up at least three runs and at least one long ball in four consecutive outings to close out the season. He carries a 5.96 ERA in September to go along with a 26:4 K:BB.

Stripling fired a scoreless sixth inning in an extra-inning loss to the Mariners on Saturday, issuing a walk.

The veteran right-hander had been activated from the injured list Friday, and manager Mark Kotsay opted to have him return in a relief capacity. Stripling has struggled to a 2-11 record, 6.01 ERA and 1.54 WHIP across 22 appearances (14 starts) in his debut Athletics campaign, making him a dubious candidate for a return to the team in free agency this offseason.

Hancock did not factor into the decision in Saturday's extra-inning win over the Athletics, allowing three earned runs on five hits and four walks over 5.1 innings. He struck out three.

Hancock tossed only 56 of 93 pitches for strikes and generated a modest eight whiffs. He allowed a solo home run to Tyler Soderstrom to lead off the sixth inning before exiting a batter later, making it his longest outing at the big-league level since June 13. The right-hander shuttled between Seattle and Triple-A Tacoma this season, and he finished with a 4-4 mark, 4.75 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 39:19 K:BB across 60.2 big-league innings over 12 starts. Hancock posted better overall numbers in 16 starts with the Rainiers (6-3, 3.26 ERA, 1.27 WHIP), and he could get a chance to try and crack the major-league rotation again in spring training, although the M's aren't lacking for pitching depth.

Estes did not factor into the decision in the Athletics' extra-inning loss to the Mariners on Saturday, allowing three earned runs on five hits and two walks over five innings. He struck out two and also hit a batter.

Estes put together a serviceable performance to wrap up his 2024 campaign, bouncing back from back-to-back outings in which he surrendered a combined 11 runs on 16 hits and a walk over five innings. The right-hander allowed one ball to leave the yard Saturday -- a fourth-inning solo home run by Cal Raleigh -- while also yielding a two-run single to Josh Rojas in the same frame. After getting his first taste of the big leagues in 2023 via a pair of starts, Estes worked to a 7-9 record, 5.01 ERA and 1.23 WHIP across 127.2 innings over 25 appearances (24 starts) this season, tossing a shutout along the way.

Lugo allowed a hit and a walk while striking out three over two scoreless innings in a no-decision versus Atlanta on Saturday.

The Royals clinched their playoff spot Friday, so Lugo stayed on turn but only threw 36 pitches (23 strikes) in his final start of the regular season. The light workload should keep him fresh enough to make a start in the wild-card round. He finishes with a 16-9 record, 3.00 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 181:48 K:BB over a career-high 206.2 innings across 33 starts this season. Seattle's Logan Gilbert could surpass Lugo for the major-league lead in innings pitched this year, as the former enters his scheduled start Sunday with 203 frames over 32 starts.

Ragans will not start Sunday in Atlanta, as the team will go with Alec Marsh instead in the regular-season finale, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

The Royals will prioritize having Ragans available for the start of the postseason and give Marsh the nod in a game that still has implications for playoff seeding, as noted by Jason Beck of MLB.com. Marsh has worked primarily as a starter this season, but he was recently removed from the rotation in favor of Michael Lorenzen. Ragans will end his regular season with a 3.14 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 223:67 K:BB in 186.1 innings.

Marsh will start in the Royals' regular-season finale against Atlanta on Sunday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Marsh shifted to the Royals' bullpen after Michael Lorenzen (lower body) returned from the 15-day injured list Wednesday. However, with the Royals clinching a playoff spot Friday, Marsh will start in the regular-season finale, presumably to open the door for Cole Ragans to start in Kansas City's opening game of the AL Wild Card Series. Across 25 outings (24 starts) this season, Marsh has an 8-9 record with a 4.65 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 121:39 K:BB across 124 innings.