MLB Player News

The Orioles optioned Kjerstad to Triple-A Norfolk on Saturday, Rich Dubroff of BaltimoreBaseball.com reports.

Since joining the big club at the start of September, Kjerstad has gone 4-for-19 with two RBI, a run scored and nine strikeouts across 11 games. He'll now be sent back to the minors to make room for Christian Franklin (hand), who was activated from the IL in a corresponding move.

McKinstry isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the White Sox.

McKinstry will take a day to reset after going 0-for-16 across his last six games. His absence will allow Ben Malgeri to start in right field, batting seventh.

Torkelson isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the White Sox.

Torkelson will get a chance to rest his legs Saturday after going 10-for-24 (.417) with two homers, six RBI, five runs and a 7:8 BB:K during his seven-game hitting streak. Colt Keith will pick up a start at first base as a result, putting Riley Greene at the DH spot and Brett Callahan in left field.

Peters (shoulder/rib) isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Tigers.

Peters made an early exit from Friday's contest after injuring his left shoulder/rib by crashing into the wall, and he'll now take Saturday off to recover. Brenton Doyle will take over in center field and bat ninth.

Povich didn't factor into the decision in Friday's 6-5 extra-inning loss to the Brewers, giving up three runs on five hits and two walks over 3.2 innings. He struck out three.

All three runs came on a Jackson Chourio homer in the second inning, but Pete Alonso tied it up with his own long ball in the next frame, and Povich avoided any other damage over 71 pitches (41 strikes). The southpaw has bounced between the big-league and Triple-A rotations all season, and over eight outings (seven starts) for Baltimore he's managed a 4.38 ERA, 1.49 WHIP and 28:15 K:BB in 37 innings. Povich will likely get one more start in the majors before the end of the regular season as the O's fight to stay in the wild-card race, and he's scheduled for a home outing next week against one of the teams currently ahead of them, the Blue Jays.

Chapman (lat) will not pitch this weekend but is expected to return during the team's final homestand next week, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

Chapman was not available for the last two contests, which were save opportunities. Garrett Whitlock (Thursday) and Erik Miller (Friday) closed out the two wins. The Red Sox, who have a six-game lead over the nearest playoff hopefuls with eight games left, have some wiggle room and will not rush Chapman back.

Burger went 1-for-2 with two walks, two RBI and a run scored in Friday's 7-1 win over the Blue Jays.

Burger finished off Toronto with a run-producing sacrifice fly in the sixth inning followed by a run-scoring double in the eighth. The first baseman is up to a career- and team-high 86 RBI over 147 contests.

Walcott went 2-for-5 with two stolen bases and one run scored in Double-A Frisco's loss Friday.

The loss ended the RoughRiders' postseason run, but Walcott was prominent in the three-game series. He went 4-for-11 with four walks, a solo home run and four steals. His regular season started late due to injury, but the Rangers' top prospect showed he's ready for a promotion to Triple-A Round Rock in 2027. Walcott posted a .329/.404/.608 slash line with 10 home runs, 14 doubles, 21 RBI, 12 steals and 48 runs scored over 39 regular-season contests, including two games in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League.

Montgomery went 2-for-4 with a double, three RBI and a run scored Friday against the Tigers.

Montgomery returned from a one-game absence due to a wrist injury. He delivered a bases-clearing double in the first inning and came around to score in the same frame. It was a needed performance for Montgomery, as he's hitting just .132 while striking out at a 44.4 percent clip across 53 at-bats in September.

Kuroda-Grauer (groin) went 0-for-3 in a rehab game with Triple-A Las Vegas on Friday.

Kuroda-Grauer started at designated hitter and went hitless, but his return to game action for the first time since July 20 was a positive development after he underwent surgery for a ruptured testicle. He likely won't return to the Athletics' active roster this season, though the possibility hasn't been fully ruled out, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports. In 16 games at the big-league level, Kuroda-Grauer impressed with a .417/.435/.583 slash line, a homer, four RBI and eight runs scored.