MLB Player News

Valdez is not in the Pirates' starting lineup against the Angels on Friday.

Valdez is out of the lineup for a second consecutive game, with Jake Mangum, Oneil Cruz and Bryan Reynolds starting in the outfield from left to right. Valdez has gone 6-for-37 (.162) with two home runs, four RBI and a 5:21 BB:K over his last 10 outings.

The Nationals designated Kranick for assignment Friday.

Kranick has been jettisoned from the Nationals' 40-man roster after allowing nine runs on seven hits and six walks over his last 3.2 innings spanning three appearances, striking only two batters in that time. Taking Kranick's place in the bullpen is right-hander Jack Sinclair, whose contract was selected from Triple-A Rochester.

The Rays recalled Cook from Triple-A Durham on Friday.

Just two days after being sent down to Durham, Cook is back with the big-league club Friday. The 25-year-old has made just two appearances in the majors, but in Triple-A he owns a 4.64 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 46:15 K:BB over 42.2 innings. With Shane McClanahan (forearm) sidelined for at least 15 days, Cook will take his spot on the expanded 28-man roster.

The Nationals selected Sinclair's contract from Triple-A Rochester on Friday.

Sinclair is heading to the big leagues for the first time in his career, with Max Kranick being designated for assignment in a corresponding move. Across 52 appearances in Triple-A this season, Sinclair has a 4.03 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 74:32 K:BB over 60.1 innings.

Tampa Bay placed McClanahan on the 15-day injured list Friday with left forearm tightness.

McClanahan will make his second trip to the IL in the last three months after allowing four earned runs over five innings Thursday against the Rangers. In his first big-league action since 2023, McClanahan owns a 10-7 record this season with a 3.36 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 106:39 K:BB over 118 innings. With the 29-year-old on the shelf, the Rays recalled Alex Cook from Triple-A Durham to bolster the bullpen.

Cosgrove was assigned to Triple-A Rochester on Friday after clearing outright waivers.

Cosgrove will stay in the Nationals organization in the minors after being designated for assignment Wednesday. Across 30 appearances in Triple-A this season, Cosgrove has a 4.15 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 32:22 K:BB over 30.1 innings.

Lopez (knee) will be activated from the 15-day injured list to make a start for Atlanta next week, Jesus Cano of The Athletic reports.

If Lopez starts on five days' rest like he did in his last rehab outing with Triple-A Gwinnett, he would take the ball Wednesday at home against the Rays. The veteran right-hander has been on the shelf since Aug. 2 with left knee inflammation, but he shouldn't have any workload restrictions after tossing 93 pitches over five scoreless frames in his final rehab start Thursday.

Higashioka (forearm) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Round Rock on Friday, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Higashioka has been out since late July with a right flexor strain. He is not expected to be available to catch in the final weeks of the regular season, but Higashioka could be available as a bench bat against left-handed pitching.

Whitcomb is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Mets.

Whitcomb has started 10 of 11 games since being called up from Triple-A Sacramento on Aug. 24, but he's yet to take advantage of the playing time with a .431 OPS in 38 plate appearances with the Giants. Osleivis Basabe will handle the hot corner while Nate Furman picks up a start at second base Friday.

Turang will start at second base and bat sixth in Friday's game versus the Reds.

It's the first time all season that Turang has hit lower than third in the Brewers' lineup. The 26-year-old is slashing just .174/.262/.239 with one home run and a 29.8 percent strikeout rate since the beginning of August. Turang missed four games in mid-August with left knee discomfort, and Brewers manager Pat Murphy admitted Friday that the knee issue still affects the second baseman, according to Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. However, there do not appear to be any plans for Turang to miss additional games as Milwaukee tries to maintain its spot as the top seed for the NL playoffs.