MLB Player News

Chapman earned the save Saturday against the Rays, walking one and striking out one in a scoreless ninth inning.

Chapman collected save No. 31 on the season, and he has successfully converted each of his last 14 save opportunities. The veteran southpaw is a candidate to bring home what would be second career American League Reliever of the Year Award, delivering a stellar 1.21 ERA, 0.71 WHIP and 83:15 K:BB over 59.1 innings. Chapman has a 30-save season for the first time since 2021 and the ninth time in his career.

Alvarez went 3-for-4 with two home runs and three RBI in Saturday's 6-5 win over the Tigers.

The 22-year-old infielder had zero homers through his first 59 big-league games, but Alvarez snapped that streak Saturday by taking Keider Montero deep in the third inning, and then he did the same to Kyle Finnegan in the eighth. Over 18 games in September while handling starting third-base duties in place of Austin Riley (abdomen), Alvarez is batting .288 (15-for-52) with four runs and seven RBI.

Kelly will start Sunday's game against the Marlins, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Patrick Corbin was lined up to start, but he'll have his turn skipped due to the Rangers having an off day Thursday. Texas is clinging to very slim playoff hopes, so the team will instead turn to Kelly, who has a solid 4.06 ERA and 1.22 WHIP since being acquired at the trade deadline.

Iglesias worked a perfect ninth inning Saturday to record his 27th save of the season in a 6-5 win over the Tigers. He didn't walk or strike out a batter.

It was his 16th straight successful conversion. Iglesias will likely fall a bit short of his third straight 30-save season, but the 35-year-old closer turned his campaign around in impressive fashion after a rough start. After sitting with a 6.00 ERA on June 17, Iglesias has proceeded to post a 1.51 ERA, 0.73 WHIP and 39:8 K:BB over his last 35.2 innings.

Johnston went 2-for-4 with a home run and an additional RBI in Saturday's 4-3 win over Texas.

Johnston blasted his fourth homer of the season, also logging multiple hits for the fourth time this month. The rookie outfielder has made a nice impression since being called up in late July, as he's settled in as Miami's primary right fielder. Through his first 99 at-bats, Johnston is batting .283 with four long balls, 13 RBI, 10 runs scored and two stolen bases.

Contreras (hand/wrist) underwent X-rays following Saturday's game against the Cardinals, which came back clean, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Contreras was hit in the wrist and hand area by a swing in the seventh inning and was removed a frame later. He made clear to manager Pat Murphy that he wants to play Sunday, though the Brewers could opt to take a safe approach. Regardless, Contreras appears to have dodged a major injury.

Faucher earned the save Saturday against Texas, allowing one run on two hits and one walk in the ninth inning.

It wasn't easy for Faucher, who stranded the possible tying and go-ahead runs by getting Joc Pederson to pop up to end the game. The right-hander has a career-high 15 saves as Miami's primary closer this season, recording a respectable 3.38 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 56:23 K:BB over 58.2 innings. That said, Tyler Phillips and Lake Bachar are also in the ninth-inning mix for the Marlins.

Pena went 2-for-4 with a grand slam and walk in Saturday's 6-4 loss to Seattle.

The Houston shortstop poked a 340-foot grand slam into the Crawford Boxes off reliever Carlos Vargas in the seventh to make the score 6-4. Pena has been a reliable contributor in September, batting .301 (22-for-73) with three homers, one steal, 12 runs scored and 12 RBI in 17 games. Through 543 total plate appearances, the one-time All-Star is now slashing .304/.363/.477 with 17 long balls, 20 stolen bases, 68 runs scored and 62 RBI.

Munoz collected the save in Saturday's 6-4 win at Houston, allowing a walk, a hit-by-pitch and no hits over a scoreless frame. He struck out one.

The Seattle flamethrower worked around a leadoff runner to pocket the 77th save of his six-year career. Munoz has now completed eight consecutive scoreless outings, over which he's produced a 0.63 WHIP and 15:2 K:BB across eight innings. Overall, the 26-year-old has been one of the league's best relievers this season, producing a 1.49 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 81:26 K:BB in 60.1 innings while converting 37 of 44 save opportunities.

Kirby (10-7) earned the win Saturday at Houston, pitching six scoreless innings while allowing five hits and no walks. He struck out seven.

The Seattle right-hander reached double figures in wins for the third consecutive season with this 100-pitch effort. The Astros never came close to sniffing a run against Kirby, who didn't allow an extra-base hit and tallied his 12th quality start of the season. Through 121 total frames, the 27-year-old now sports a 4.24 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 127:28 K:BB. Kirby tentatively projects to make his final start of the season at home against the vaunted Dodgers next weekend.