MLB Player News

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.

Jansen struck out the only batter he faced Friday to record his 19th save of the season in a 6-2 win over the Rockies.

Brant Hurter ran into trouble in the ninth inning, forcing Jansen into the game with two outs and the potential tying run on deck, and the veteran closer got the job done by fanning Connor Norby on just four pitches. Jansen has been mostly dialed in since the All-Star break, and over his last 16.1 innings and 18 appearances he's put together a 2.20 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 20:9 K:BB with three wins and eight saves.

Perdomo is slated to start Saturday's game against the Padres in San Francisco.

The Giants will keep Perdomo around for a second turn through the rotation after he followed up a strong four-inning long-relief appearance in his MLB debut Sept. 1 by spinning six shutout innings in his first big-league start last Sunday against the Mets. Though Perdomo found success in his first two outings in the majors, he'll be difficult to rely upon after he underwhelmed over a larger sample of work in the minors this season. Prior to his recent call-up, the 24-year-old lefty turned in a 4.43 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 125:42 K:BB across 120 innings between Double-A Richmond and Triple-A Sacramento.