MLB Player News

The Giants optioned Black to Triple-A Sacramento on Friday, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.

Black was saddled with his fifth loss of the season Wednesday versus Arizona, allowing four earned runs on five hits and five walks across just 2.2 innings. Now that his spot in the rotation won't be needed for the rest of the season, the Giants will send him back to the minors and insert Randy Rodriguez (elbow) back into their bullpen.

Arrighetti (calf) will pitch out of the bullpen for the weekend series against the Guardians, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Arrighetti was pulled from his last start Sunday against the Angels due to calf cramping. While he won't return to the rotation for the final series of the regular season, the 24-year-old right-hander could see some work out of the bullpen for a game or two to test out his calf ahead of the postseason. In 11 starts since the All-Star break, Arrighetti has a 3-6 record with a 3.30 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 74:18 K:BB across 62.2 innings.

Washington optioned Herz to the Florida Complex League Nationals on Friday, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.

With Herz not scheduled to start during the weekend series against the Phillies, the Nationals will switch out the 23-year-old southpaw for long reliever Jackson Rutledge. Herz started 19 games for the Nationals this season, posting a 4-9 record with a 4.16 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 106:36 K:BB across 88.2 innings. He was briefly sent down to Triple-A Rochester in early July, but he returned to the big club after the All-Star break. Since his recall, his numbers slightly improved to a 3.61 ERA and 1.19 WHIP over 57.1 frames.

The Nationals recalled Rutledge on Friday, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.

The move gives the Nationals a long-relief option out of the bullpen for the final series of the season against the Phillies. Rutledge last pitched for the Nats on July 12, when he allowed two runs on three hits and two walks while striking out six over 4.2 innings. He's spent most of the season with Triple-A Rochester, where he's posted a 4-9 record over 27 starts with a 6.40 ERA, 1.68 WHIP and 128:77 K:BB across 122.1 innings. To make room on the 28-man roster for Rutledge, Washington optioned DJ Herz to the Florida Complex League.

The Athletics reinstated Stripling (back) from the 15-day injured list Friday.

Stripling landed on the injured list Sept. 11 due to a lower-back strain and began facing live hitters again as recently as Tuesday. Now that he's healthy, he'll presumably take on a low-leverage role out of the bullpen for the final three games of the season. Meanwhile, Brady Basso will head to the Arizona Complex League in order to free up a roster spot.

Oakland optioned Basso to the Arizona Complex League Athletics on Friday.

The move makes room on the A's 28-man roster for the reinstatement of right-hander Ross Stripling (back) from the 15-day injured list. Basso has made four starts for the Athletics in September, going 1-1 with a 3.79 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 16:5 K:BB over 19 innings.

Lopez (shoulder) threw a bullpen session Thursday and manager Brian Snitker said Friday that Lopez felt great and is ready to go when needed, Grant McAuley of 92.9 The Game Atlanta reports.

Atlanta's starters for Saturday and Sunday have yet to be determined, but Lopez appears to be firmly in the mix to take the mound on either day, or perhaps during Monday's doubleheader against the Mets. Per McAuley, Snitker also mentioned that Lopez wouldn't be under any major pitch count limitations if he were to start. Atlanta is one of three teams competing for the final two National League wild-card slots.

Gipson-Long (elbow) will begin a throwing program next week, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.

It will be the first time he's thrown since he had Tommy John surgery in April. Gipson-Long could be an option to pitch for the Tigers around midseason in 2025.

Manager John Schneider said Friday that Bassitt won't start Sunday's game against Miami, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.

Bassitt was slated to start the Blue Jays' final game of the 2024 season, but the 35-year-old right-hander will be rested instead. Schneider didn't name a replacement starter. Bassitt finishes the campaign with a 4.16 ERA -- his worst since 2016 -- along with a 1.46 WHIP and 168:70 K:BB across 171 innings (31 starts).

Priester is an option to start for the Red Sox on Sunday versus the Rays, Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald reports.

Manager Alex Cora has ruled out Brayan Bello and Tanner Houck being used in the regular-season finale, but he didn't dismiss the possibility of Priester making his Red Sox debut. Priester has collected a 5.40 ERA and 42:12 K:BB over 38.1 innings covering nine starts with Triple-A Worcester since being acquired at the trade deadline from the Pirates.