MLB Player News

Scarborough recently suffered a right elbow strain and will be shut down for the next 4-to-6 weeks, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

Scarborough was in the team's pitching lab to work on mechanical tweaks but did not respond well. A scan revealed the elbow strain, and the team decided to shut down the right-hander. "We don't think that it's a major issue at this point," Texas general manager Ross Fenstermaker said. "I think we caught it early, but it's something that we want to give him the proper amount of rest and give him an opportunity to recover." Plans for autumn baseball have been put on hold for now.

Higashioka (forearm) served as the designated hitter and went 1-for-5 for Triple-A Round Rock on Friday.

Higashioka began a rehab assignment with the Express, and per Kennedi Landry of MLB.com, the Rangers plan to have him hit only for the time being. When/if he returns to the team, Higashioka will serve as a bench bat.

Cecconi allowed one run on three hits while striking out two over 2.2 innings of relief in a 7-6 win over the Tigers in the first game of Friday's doubleheader.

Cecconi was activated off the injured list earlier in the day, and his length was needed immediately after starter Logan Allen was chased in the third inning. Cecconi, who opened the season as a member of the Guardians' rotation, was bumped to the bullpen in early August prior to experiencing arm fatigue. He should be used in a long-relief role over the final month of the season.

Bazzana went 4-for-6 with a double, a home run, two runs scored and four RBI across both games of Friday's doubleheader sweep of the Tigers.

The rookie second baseman went 2-for-3 in both games despite beginning the nightcap on the bench, as he took over at DH in the sixth inning after Chase DeLauter was forced to exit due to a wrist sprain. That set Bazzana up to play hero, as his two-run homer in the eighth tied the game at 3-3, while his walk-off single in the 10th against Detroit closer Kenley Jansen completed the sweep. Bazzana's long ball was his first since July 20, snapping a 36-game drought, and since the All-Star break he's produced a .248/.337/.355 slash line in 163 plate appearances with three homers, five steals, 14 runs and 18 RBI.

Sommers (1-4) allowed a walk-off home run to take the loss in the first game of Friday's doubleheader against the Guardians.

Sommers breezed through the eighth inning, sitting Cleveland down in order with a strikeout mixed in. However, the lefty didn't have the same luck when he came back out for the ninth, as Brayan Rocchio took a first-pitch fastball deep to give the Guardians a 7-6 victory. Sommers had been on scintillating stretch from mid-July through late-August, allowing just one earned run and striking out 24 batters across 14 innings in 11 appearances out of Detroit's bullpen, but it's been a different story lately. He's now allowed five earned runs over his last three appearances, and his season ERA has climbed from 2.93 to 4.01 in the process.

Smith (4-1) collected the win in the first game of Friday's doubleheader against the Tigers, allowing one hit and striking out two in a scoreless ninth inning.

The Cleveland closer kept the score tied at 6-6 in the top of the final frame, and Smith got rewarded when Brayan Rocchio launched a walk-off solo shot in the bottom half of the inning. Smith hasn't been needed much lately, making only two appearances since Aug. 25, and that rest could pay off down the stretch as the Guardians try to catch the White Sox for the AL Central crown. Since the beginning of August, Smith has delivered a 1.50 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 18:7 K:BB over 12 innings while converting five of six save chances.

Griffin didn't factor into the decision in the second game of Friday's doubleheader against the Tigers, giving up three runs on eight hits and two walks over six innings. He struck out three.

The Guardians won the game in 10 innings to complete a sweep in the twin bill, but Griffin exited the mound with his team in a 3-0 hole after 92 pitches (58 strikes). Over six outings since being picked up from the Nationals at the trade deadline, the southpaw has delivered two quality starts, and after a bumpy Cleveland debut Aug. 6, Griffin has a 3.00 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 20:9 K:BB through his last 27 innings. He lines up to make his next start on the road next week in Baltimore.

Rocchio went 3-for-7 with a walk, a double, two home runs, five RBI, three runs scored and two stolen bases across both games of Friday's doubleheader sweep of the Tigers.

The shortstop powered a 7-6 win in the matinee with both his long balls and all five of his RBI -- a fourth-inning grand slam off Keider Montero, and a walk-off solo shot off Drew Sommers in the ninth -- and Rocchio then played a key role in a 4-3 victory in the nightcap. After leading off the 10th inning with a fielder's choice that erased the phantom runner, he swiped second and third against Detroit closer Kenley Jansen, putting him in position to trot home on Travis Bazzana's single. Rocchio is up to 12 homers and 18 steals, both career highs, through 135 games on the season, but highlights at the plate have been rare of late. Over 27 contests since the beginning of August, he's managed just a .188/.248/.313 slash line.

Garcia (hamstring) is running at 80 percent while participating in baseball activities, per MLB.com.

Garcia hit the injured list Aug. 21 due to a left hamstring strain just four games after returning from a muscle strain in his left hand. The third baseman's progress in rehab is a positive sign and keeps a return before the end of the regular season on the table, though the Royals may ultimately err on the side of caution with the team far from playoff contention. In 73 games this season, Garcia has slashed .269/.324/.385 with three homers, 32 RBI, 34 runs and five stolen bases.

Torres went 4-for-9 with a walk and four runs scored across both games of Friday's doubleheader against the Guardians.

Torres batted leadoff in both games and recorded two hits in both contests as well. The veteran served as the DH in the matinee before sliding over to second base in the nightcap. Despite continuing to produce at the plate, Torres has seen his playing time reduced recently, with youngster Hao-Yu Lee (shin) seeing more time at the keystone for the 64-77 Tigers. That trend should continue with Detroit looking unlikely for a playoff spot.