MLB Player News

Fermin will be recalled from Triple-A Memphis on Saturday to take the roster spot vacated by Masyn Winn (knee), Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Fermin was just sent down Friday to accommodate the return of Brendan Donovan, but he'll rejoin the roster a day later after the Cardinals decided to shut Winn down for the season. While Fermin could see the occasional rep at shortstop while Winn is shelved, he'll likely operate mostly as a reserve infielder in the final weeks.

The Rays optioned Orze to Triple-A Durham on Saturday, Ryan Bass of FanDuel Sports Network Sun reports.

Orze pitched two innings over two appearances after being recalled from Triple-A on Thursday, giving up two runs on five hits and four walks while striking out two batters. He'll now be sent back to the minors while Tampa Bay brings in a fresh arm in the form of Garrett Acton.

The Rays selected Acton's contract from Triple-A Durham on Saturday, Ryan Bass of FanDuel Sports Network Sun reports.

Acton has spent the entire season at Durham, where he owns a 3.64 ERA and 1.11 WHIP to go with a 67:24 K:BB through 54.1 innings. He'll now join an MLB bullpen for the first time since 2023 as a replacement for Eric Orze, who was optioned to Triple-A in a corresponding move.

Saggese will take over as the Cardinals' primary shortstop with Masyn Winn (knee) being shut down for the season, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

With Brendan Donovan back from the injured list and at second base Friday, Saggese had appeared set for his playing time to dip. However, he's now needed at shortstop, which should keep him in the lineup on a regular basis down the stretch. Saggese has been unable to capitalize on regular reps since the start of August, slashing just .262/.305/.311 with no home runs and a 40:7 K:BB.

Senga struck out eight batters and allowed one earned run on three hits and no walks over six innings in a start for Triple-A Syracuse on Friday.

The 32-year-old right-hander signed off on being optioned to the minors last week to try and get right after stumbling to a 6.56 ERA, 1.71 WHIP and 35:22 over his last eight starts and 35.2 innings for the Mets. Senga's first turn in the Syracuse rotation provided a great deal of hope that he might still be able to boost New York's fading playoff hopes, as he fired 52 of 74 pitches for strikes in an efficient performance. Per Jared Greenspan of MLB.com, the Mets' original plan was to have Senga make two starts at Triple-A to get used to some mechanical tweaks before a return to the majors was considered, but with Jonah Tong having been pummeled by the Rangers on Friday and the Mets' lead over the Giants for the final wild-card spot in the National League having slipped to half a game, the organization may not be able to afford that kind of patience. Absent the Mets moving a player to the injured list to create a spot on the 28-man active roster for him, however, Senga isn't eligible to return to the Mets until Sept. 20.

Acuna went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's 11-3 loss to the Astros.

The right fielder took Colton Gordon deep in the sixth inning to get Atlanta on the board, although they were already staring at an 11-0 deficit at that point. The homer was Acuna's 16th of the season in only 80 contests, but his first since Aug. 22, snapping a 17-game drought in which he's batted just .143 (8-for-56) with two doubles. Acuna's capable of heating up in a hurry, and with five hits in his last four starts, he could be gearing up for a big finish to the campaign.

Waldrep (4-1) took the loss Friday as Atlanta got routed 11-3 by the Astros, coughing up eight runs on eight hits and two walks over 4.2 innings. He struck out four.

The 23-year-old right-hander finally got saddled with his first loss of the season in his eighth appearances (seventh start), and Waldrep gave up more runs Friday than he had in the prior seven trips to the mound combined as his ERA soared from 1.33 to 2.78 as a result of the disastrous performance. After throwing 103.1 innings across all levels in 2024 and 137 frames between Triple-A and majors this season, Waldrep may be running out of gas -- he hasn't been able to complete six innings in any of his last four starts. He's scheduled to make his next outing on the road next week against the Nationals.

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

Kirk will receive a day to reset after going 0-for-18 with four walks and two runs scored over his last six games. Tyler Heineman will start behind the dish instead and catch for Max Scherzer.

Altuve went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and a second run scored in Friday's 11-3 win over Atlanta.

The 35-year-old took Dane Dunning deep in the sixth inning, giving Altuve his 25th homer of the season -- the fourth time he's reached that milestone in his career. He's been struggling down the stretch, batting just .146 (6-for-41) so far in September, but Altuve will remain an everyday player for the Astros as they battle the Mariners down the stretch for the AL West crown.

Cole went 3-for-4 with a home run, two runs scored and four RBI in Friday's 11-3 win over Atlanta.

Starting in left field and batting eighth in his big-league debut, Cole became just the fifth player in Astros history to leave the yard in their first career at-bat when he deposited a Hurston Waldrep cutter over the right-field fence in the third inning for a two-run homer. Cole's presence in the lineup returned Jose Altuve to second base and Yordan Alvarez to DH, and if the rookie keeps swinging a hot bat, he could quickly become a fixture in the lineup against right-handed pitching. Prior to his promotion, Cole was slashing .347/.430/.645 over 32 games for Triple-A Sugar Land since the beginning of August with 20 of his 43 hits going for extra bases (nine doubles, five triples and six homers).