MLB Player News

Sulser (back) faced hitters Friday, per MLB.com.

Sulser is slated for another session Monday and will then be sent out on a minor-league rehab assignment, provided all goes well. The right-hander is working his way back from lower-back spasms, which forced him to the injured list in late July, and he should be able to rejoin Tampa Bay's bullpen in late August.

Mesa was removed from Friday's game against the Orioles with left hamstring tightness, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Manager Kevin Cash said after the game that he doesn't believe Mesa is dealing with anything serious and can be considered day-to-day. If Mesa ends up having to sit out a game or two, Jonny DeLuca would figure to take over as Tampa Bay's right fielder.

Uceta (shoulder) is playing catch from 75 feet, per MLB.com.

Uceta continues to progress slowly from a right shoulder impingement and subsequent subscapularis strain. The right-hander's timeline for a return to the Rays remains murky at best, and he appears to be unlikely to be an option for Tampa Bay's bullpen until sometime in September with several hurdles still left to clear.

Alexander (hand) hit in the batting cage Friday, per MLB.com.

It's the first time Alexander has done so amid his recovery from a fractured left hand. The utility player has been on the injured list since mid-July, but he appears to be trending toward a return to the Orioles at some point in late August or early September.

Cole (6-6) was tagged for the loss against the Blue Jays on Friday, allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits and two walks while striking out five across six innings.

Cole and Shane Bieber kept Friday's game scoreless through five innings, and Cole was handed a 1-0 lead after a Trent Grisham solo homer in top of the sixth. However, Cole was tagged for two runs in the bottom of the frame, one of which was unearned due to a throwing error by Luis Garcia. Unfortunately for Cole, he did not receive enough run support from his Yankees teammates to avoid the loss, ending his win streak at three starts. He'll take a 3.22 ERA and 1.08 WHIP into his next start, which is lined up for next week on the road against the Orioles.

Wilson was removed from Friday's game against the Rangers after getting hit on the hand by a pitch, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

Wilson initially remained in the game after taking a 95-mph sinker off his hand in the first inning, but he was lifted for a pinch hitter when his spot in the order came up again in the second. He was diagnosed with a contusion after the game, per Gallegos, which suggests Wilson avoided suffering a fracture, though Alika Williams could still be in line to start at shortstop if the A's opt to give Wilson a day off to recover.

Varland collected his 27th save of the season in Friday's 3-1 win over the Yankees with a perfect ninth inning. He did not record a strikeout.

Friday's AL East clash was a low-scoring affair, and Varland needed only four pitches -- all strikes -- to secure the win for the Blue Jays. The 28-year-old right-hander has logged saves in each of his last three outings and is up to 27 on the year, tied with Aroldis Chapman and David Bednar for third most in the American League behind Bryan Baker (34) and Cade Smith (31). Varland has a 1.28 ERA and 0.98 WHIP over 63.1 innings this season.

Kirk went 2-for-3 with a walk, an RBI double and a solo home run during the Blue Jays' 3-1 win over the Yankees on Friday.

Kirk put the Blue Jays ahead with an RBI double in the sixth inning before adding an insurance run with a long ball off Bradley Hanner in the eighth. Kirk has recorded two hits in three of his last four outings and has gone 15-for-39 (.385) with two home runs and nine RBI across 12 games in August.

Tawa went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Friday's 2-0 win over Atlanta.

Tawa gave the Diamondbacks some insurance with a 406-foot blast in the top of the ninth inning. It continued a strong August for the 26-year-old, who's hitting .286 with three homers, six RBI, seven runs scored and four stolen bases through 13 games this month. On the year, he's slashing .233/.284/.394 with seven long balls, 27 RBI, 22 runs scored and six steals across 203 plate appearances.

Garcia earned the save in Friday's 2-0 win over Atlanta, striking out two in a perfect ninth inning.

Garcia was called on to complete a team shutout and slammed the door on just 11 pitches. The 26-year-old has now recorded three of the club's past four saves, allowing just one earned run over seven appearances during that stretch. On the year, he owns four saves and 13 holds while posting a 2.06 ERA, 0.77 WHIP and 39:7 K:BB across 35 innings and should remain the ninth-inning favorite for the surging Diamondbacks as long as he continues pitching at this level.