MLB Player News
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Justin Anderson RP | CHW
White Sox's Justin Anderson: Notches first save of season
Anderson walked one and struck out one in a scoreless ninth inning Tuesday to record his first save of the season in a 3-2 win over the Angels.
The 31-year-old righty had five previous career saves, all of them coming with the Halos in 2018-19. Anderson hasn't exactly been sharp of late, posting a 4.15 ERA, 1.73 WHIP and 14:8 K:BB through 8.2 innings in September, but he misses bats with his fastball-slider combo and can be an effective high-leverage arm when he maintains a semblance of control. If the White Sox have any more late leads to protect over the final handful of games this season, Anderson could get the call again.
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Jonathan Cannon SP | CHW
White Sox's Jonathan Cannon: No-decision in pitchers' duel
Cannon came away with a no-decision in Tuesday's 3-2 win over the Angels, allowing three hits and a walk over six scoreless innings. He struck out seven.
The rookie right-hander traded goose eggs with Jack Kochanowicz for six frames before Cannon left the game after 78 pitches (49 strikes). The seven strikeouts tied his career high, a mark he's reached three times in 2024 including his two most recent outings, and in four September starts he's posted an impressive 3.04 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 22:5 K:BB over 23.2 innings. Cannon is scheduled to make one more start this season, on the road Sunday in Detroit.
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Jack Lopez 2B | LAA
Angels' Jack Lopez: Pops first big-league homer
Lopez went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Tuesday's 3-2 loss to the White Sox.
He took Prelander Berroa deep in the eighth inning, extending the Angels' lead to 2-0 before the team's bullpen fell apart. The long ball was the first of Lopez's career in 29 MLB games, and the 31-year-old journeyman has been on a nice little tear to close out the season, batting .417 (10-for-24) over his last nine games. He's settled into an everyday role at second base for the Halos, supplanting Brandon Drury.
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Jack Kochanowicz SP | LAA
Angels' Jack Kochanowicz: Let down by bullpen Tuesday
Kochanowicz came away with a no-decision in Tuesday's 3-2 loss to the White Sox, allowing three hits over seven scoreless innings. He struck out four without walking a batter.
The rookie right-hander was impressive, albeit against a historically inept foe, as he delivered his seventh quality start in eight trips to the mound since he joined the rotation for good in August. The Angels' bullpen melted down in the eighth inning though, denying him his first win in September. Kochanowicz has a 2.63 ERA and 1.05 WHIP in 51.1 innings over that eight-start stretch despite a 19:6 K:BB that limits his ceiling in many fantasy formats. He lines up to make one more start in 2024, at home Sunday against the Rangers.
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Cody Poteet SP | NYY
Yankees' Cody Poteet: Joining MLB club in Bronx
Poteet is expected to join the Yankees and could be formally recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre ahead of Wednesday's game against the Orioles, Jack Curry of YES Network reports.
Nestor Cortes had been scheduled to start Wednesday, but after being sent in for an MRI on his elbow, he now appears unlikely to be available. Poteet will be a candidate to pitch in some capacity Wednesday if he's recalled, though the Yankees could prefer to keep him on hand as a member of the taxi squad while they await more information on Cortes' injury. Poteet has made four starts for the Yankees this season, collecting a 2.14 ERA and 13:7 K:BB over 21 innings.
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Noah Cameron SP | KC
Royals' Noah Cameron: Excellent run at Triple-A
Cameron has a 2.32 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 62:11 K:BB in 54.1 innings through nine starts for Triple-A Omaha.
A 25-year-old lefty with a plus changeup, Cameron's sparkling numbers at Triple-A likely oversell his MLB potential, but he should get a chance to help the big-league rotation next season. Cameron had a 3.63 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 87 strikeouts in 74.1 innings through 16 starts at Double-A. His fastball ranges from 90-94 mph and he'll evenly mix in his cutter, changeup and curveball to keep hitters guessing. He will need to be added to the 40-man roster this offseason as Rule 5 draft protection.
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Nestor Cortes SP | NYY
Yankees' Nestor Cortes: Undergoing MRI on elbow
Cortes will undergo an MRI on his left elbow Wednesday, Jack Curry of YES Network reports.
Cortes had been slated to start Wednesday's game against the Orioles, but his immediate future is now cloudy while he awaits the MRI results. The veteran left-hander has been excellent lately, allowing just one earned run over his last 15.1 innings of work and boasting a 1.58 ERA covering his last 40 frames. Marcus Stroman -- whose last outing was a three-inning relief appearance Sept. 17 -- is a likely candidate to start Wednesday's contest. Cody Poteet is also expected to join the club at Yankee Stadium, although it's unclear whether he'll join the taxi squad or be added to the active roster.
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Bowden Francis RP | TOR
Blue Jays' Bowden Francis: Blanks BoSox in no-decision
Francis came away with a no-decision in Tuesday's 6-5 extra-inning loss to the Red Sox, allowing three hits and a walk over five scoreless innings. He struck out four.
In his final start of the season, Francis saw his quality-start streak snapped at seven when he got the hook after just 71 pitches (48 strikes), but he still ended a breakout campaign on a high note. The right-hander developed a splitter in the minors and moved back into the big-league rotation after the All-Star break, and the new pitch helped him deliver a dazzling 1.80 ERA, 0.60 WHIP and 58:8 K:BB through 65 innings. Francis has put himself firmly in Toronto's 2025 pitching plans.
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Vaughn Grissom 2B | BOS
Red Sox's Vaughn Grissom: Swipes second bag
Grissom went 3-for-4 with a walk, a double, a run scored, an RBI and a stolen base in Tuesday's 6-5 extra-inning win over the Blue Jays.
The 23-year-old is getting a shot at regular playing time over the final week of the season, and Grissom took advantage of the opportunity Tuesday. In four appearances since his return to the majors, including three straight starts at second base, he's gone 4-for-12 with one run, two RBI and both his steals on the year. Grissom has had a tough 2024 campaign, but he could still head into spring training next year as the favorite to start at the keystone.
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Chase Shugart P | BOS
Red Sox's Chase Shugart: Secures first career save
Shugart worked around two walks in two-thirds of an inning Tuesday en route to his first career save in Tuesday's 6-5 extra-inning win over the Blue Jays.
Chris Martin worked a scoreless ninth inning to protect a 3-3 tie, while Justin Slaten had pitched earlier in the night, so manager Alex Cora had limited options to handle the bottom of the 10th after Boston took the lead. Lefty Zach Penrod began the frame, but his first offering was a wild pitch that sent the phantom runner to third base, and Penrod got only one out while putting two batters aboard. Shugart then took the mound and walked in one of his inherited runners, but he eventually got Addison Barger to pop out to end the game. Roles at the back of the Boston bullpen remain in flux over the final handful of games with Kenley Jansen (shoulder) on the shelf, but Shugart should be considered unlikely to see another save chance.