MLB Player News

Valdez (hamstring) isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Cubs.

The Pirates have yet to provide an update on Valdez's status after he exited Friday's game with a left hamstring injury, though he will need at least one day off to recover. Jake Mangum will start in right field Saturday and could continue to do so if Valdez needs to spend time on the IL.

Wilkinson improved to 1-3 on the season after striking out two batters and allowing one hit over two scoreless frames of relief Wednesday in the Giants' 7-6 win over the Cardinals.

The back end of the San Francisco rotation looks fluid at the moment, but Wilkinson appears set to work in relief for the time being after posting a 6.14 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 8:4 K:BB In 14.2 innings while starting in each of his first four big-league appearances. He retired six of the seven batters he faced during his first relief outing, picking up the win after the Giants clawed back from a five-run deficit with a six-run bottom of the eighth.

The Nationals reinstated Lovelady (triceps) from the 60-day injured list Saturday.

A triceps strain has kept Lovelady out since late June, but he began a rehab assignment Sept. 1 and has since allowed three earned runs while striking out four batters and walking one across 5.1 innings. Now fully healthy, he could enter the mix for high-leverage work with team saves leader Clayton Beeter heading back to Triple-A in a corresponding move.

Tolman gave up a run on a hit and a walk in the ninth inning Friday, recording his second save of the season in a 4-3 win over the Angels. He didn't strike out a batter.

The rookie southpaw wasn't sharp, tossing 15 of 25 pitches for strikes, but Tolman was able to escape with the save. He's been scored upon in three straight appearances but also has the Nationals' only two saves over the last month, and with Clayton Beeter jettisoned to Triple-A, Tolman is nominally the top option for the team in the bullpen. Expect Washington manager Blake Butera to continue auditioning new potential high-leverage options over the final weeks with his focus firmly on 2027.

Cavalli didn't factor into the decision in Friday's 4-3 win over the Angels, allowing two runs on three hits and two walks over six innings. He struck out nine.

The Nationals needed a three-run eighth inning to take Cavalli off the hook for a tough loss, but the right-hander still delivered his 18th quality start of the season on 96 pitches (60 strikes). Cavalli has finally emerged as the ace the team was hoping to get when it selected him 22nd overall in the 2020 First-Year Player Draft -- he hasn't given up more than three runs in a start since July 5, and over his last 12 outings he's reeled off a 2.13 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 89:17 K:BB through 72 innings while posting a 7-1 record. He lines up to make his next start at home next week against the Phillies.

Castillo is slated to pitch in bulk relief behind opening pitcher Sean Newcomb during Saturday's game against the Cardinals, James Fegan of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

The top of the St. Louis lineup typically features two left-handed hitters (Bryan Torres and Alec Burleson) against right-handed pitchers, so the White Sox will have the left-handed Newcomb work the first inning or two in order for Castillo to draw some more favorable matchups when he eventually enters the game. Castillo will be pitching in relief for the first time since being acquired by the White Sox at the trade deadline, with the role change coming after he logged a 7.52 ERA, 1.71 WHIP and 23:8 K:BB in 26.1 innings through his first six starts with the club.

Straw isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Orioles.

Straw will move to the bench for the third time in four games despite going 6-for-18 since the beginning of September. Rudy Martin will start in left field and bat ninth.

Clement isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against Baltimore.

Clement will take a seat Saturday after going 3-for-15 with two runs scored while starting each of Toronto's last four games. Josh Smith will pick up a start at second base and bat seventh.

Kikuchi didn't factor into the decision in Friday's 4-3 loss to the Nationals, allowing one run on three hits and four walks over four innings. He struck out five.

The lefty needed 88 pitches (54 strikes) to record 12 outs as Kikuchi failed to last at least five innings for the first time in four starts since returning from shoulder inflammation. After a bumpy outing against the Rangers on Aug. 23, Kikuchi's been stingier, posting a 1.59 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 17:8 K:BB over his last 17 innings and three trips to the mound. He'll look to tighten things up in his next start, which is scheduled to come at home next week against the Mariners.

Prielipp is slated to start Saturday's game against the Guardians in Minnesota.

Prielipp made his last two appearances for Minnesota out of the bullpen, working in bulk relief behind opener Andrew Morris in a Sept. 1 win over the Tigers and then piggybacking starter Joe Ryan in Monday's 5-4 loss to Detroit. The Twins will separate Prielipp and Ryan and give them standalone starts to close out the weekend series versus the Guardians, though Prielipp will likely have his workload monitored to some degree. The Twins skipped Bailey Ober's turn in the rotation this week, but it's possible that he could be called upon to piggyback Prielipp on Saturday.