MLB Player News

Munoz (3-7) took the loss against the Reds on Tuesday, allowing an earned run on two hits without retiring a batter in the ninth inning.

Called on to preserve a 6-6 tie, Munoz got his frame off on the wrong foot when Elly De La Cruz legged out an infield single and subsequently swiped second base. That put the rookie phenom in position to race home on Christian Encarnacion-Strand's single to right, handing Munoz his seventh loss in quick fashion. The right-hander has had some bumps in the road since taking over the primary closer role following the trade of Paul Sewald to the Diamondbacks at the deadline, blowing two of his 11 save opportunities, taking three losses and posting a bloated 1.60 WHIP across the 15 innings he's logged since Aug. 2.

Krook was recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday.

Krook has scuffled during his brief time in the majors this season but has dominated at SWB with a 0.92 ERA and 49 strikeouts over 29.1 innings, although he's also walked 20. He's taking Keynan Middleton's (shoulder) spot on the roster.

Neal retired one batter and was charged with three earned runs on three walks over a 19-pitch relief appearance in Tuesday's 7-1 loss to the Blue Jays.

Neal had made five-inning starts in his past two appearances for Oakland, but he returned to the bullpen to begin the week with the Athletics opting to go with Luis Medina, Ken Waldichuk and JP Sears as their starters for the series with Toronto. The Athletics still have an opening in the five-man rotation, but Neal and Kyle Muller could be passed over for the role in favor of Mason Miller (elbow), who may be ready to return from the 60-day injured list this weekend.

Joyce (elbow) began a rehab assignment with Single-A Inland Empire on Tuesday, striking out one batter and allowing one hit over a scoreless inning.

Joyce's appearance for Inland Empire was his first at any level in nearly three months as he works his way back from ulnar neuritis in his right elbow. Given the long layoff, the hard-throwing right-hander will likely require at least another rehab outing or two before being reinstated from the 60-day injured list.

Estevez blew the save Tuesday against Baltimore. He allowed two runs on three hits and one walk while striking out one over one inning.

Since starting the season 23-for-23 in save situations, Estevez has blown three of his last nine chances. While he still ranks in the top 10 in saves with 29, he's been rather unreliable as of late, owning a 9.00 ERA in 13 innings since the beginning of August. His struggles haven't resulted in any lost opportunities, but the Angels could look to give Jose Soriano or Aaron Loup some ninth-inning looks if Estevez doesn't round back into form.

Kowar (1-0) struck out one in a perfect inning to earn the win Tuesday over the White Sox.

Kowar pitched the ninth inning with the Royals down by one, but they scraped together two runs to walk it off. This was Kowar's fifth scoreless effort across eight appearances since he was recalled from Triple-A Omaha on Aug. 17. The right-hander has a 5.91 ERA, 1.83 WHIP and 23:15 K:BB over 21.1 innings in the majors this season while working almost exclusively as a reliever across all levels.

Stephan (6-6) allowed five runs on three hits and two walks while striking out one over two-thirds of an inning to take the loss Tuesday versus the Twins.

Stephan allowed the Twins to assemble a rally in the eighth inning after he was initially brought in to keep things tied at 3-3. The right-hander has taken losses in back-to-back appearances, though Tuesday's disaster outing was the first time he'd given up multiple runs since July 16. It inflated his ERA to 3.54 with a 1.28 WHIP and 68:22 K:BB through 61 innings this season. He's picked up 25 holds and two saves, but Stephan's shakiness early in September could see him bumped aside in favor of Reynaldo Lopez, Matt Moore or Enyel De Los Santos for primary setup duties.

Santos (2-2) blew the save and took the loss Tuesday against the Royals. He allowed two runs (one earned) on two hits and one walk over two-thirds of an inning.

Santos was unable to convert on Tuesday's save opportunity, marking his third straight blown save. While only one of the two ninth-inning runs was earned, Santos still allowed three baserunners and committed a balk with the bases loaded to give Kansas City the win. Over his last six appearances (5.1 frames), Santos owns a 10.13 ERA and a 6:3 K:BB.

Jansen (3-6) blew the save and took the loss Tuesday against the Rays. He allowed three runs (two earned) on one hit and one walk without recording an out in the 11th inning.

After Boston took a one-run lead in the top of the 11th inning, Jansen issued a walk to Yandy Diaz to start the bottom of the frame before Brandon Lowe launched a walk-off homer. It's Jansen's first blown save since May 13 -- he'd converted his previous 20 save chances while pitching to a 2.57 ERA in 14 innings since the All-Star break. Overall, the 35-year-old Jansen is now 29-for-33 in save opportunities this season with a 3.43 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 52:16 K:BB across 44.2 innings.

Pivetta will start Wednesday's game against the Rays, Julian McWilliams of The Boston Globe reports.

After picking up a three-inning save in his most recent relief appearance Saturday, Pivetta is now set to make his 12th start of the season. Over his 56.2 innings as a starter this season, Pivetta has turned in a 5.88 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 17.1 K-BB%, with all of those ratios representing stark downturns from what he's provided as a reliever. Since Pivetta hasn't tossed more than 40 pitches in an outing since Aug. 20, the Red Sox could look to deploy the right-hander as more of a tandem starter in front of Brandon Walter or another member of the bullpen.