MLB Player News

Munoz allowed one run on one hit and struck out two without walking a batter over one inning, taking a blown save in Friday's 6-5 extra-inning win over the Cubs.

Munoz served up the game-tying home run to Alex Bregman in the ninth inning. By all accounts, it's been a bumpy August for Munoz, who has given up seven runs (six earned) over nine innings this month while converting just four of seven save chances. On the year, he's 23-for-31 in save conversions while pitching to a 4.37 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 75:18 K:BB through 47.1 innings. Munoz doesn't appear to be in any obvious danger of losing the closing job yet, but it would be a positive sign if he could string a few scoreless outings together.

Joyce (0-1) blew a save and took the loss against the Rangers on Friday, allowing two unearned runs on two hits and one walk with one strikeout while recording two outs in the 10th inning.

Joyce was summoned to close out a one-run lead in the 10th inning and recorded two quick outs. It was downhill from there, though, as he yielded an RBI double before the game-winning run scored on a throwing error. Despite the end result, the 25-year-old has now gone seven straight outings without allowing an earned run since making his season debut Aug. 5. He owns three saves and one hold over that span to go along with a strong 9:2 K:BB and should remain the club's favorite for save chances down the stretch.

Garcia earned the save in Friday's 5-3 win over the Rays, striking out two batters in a scoreless ninth inning.

Garcia got the call to protect the Orioles' two-run lead in the ninth after Andrew Kittredge was deployed for the eighth frame. Garcia proceeded to strike out each of the first two batters he faced before getting Cedric Mullins to fly out to secure Baltimore's 62nd win of the season. Garcia, Kittredge, Cam Sanders and Yennier Cano have all been in the mix for saves, and that appears to be the case until either Ryan Helsley (elbow) or Felix Bautista (shoulder) returns from the injured list.

Chapman collected the save in Boston's 6-4 win over San Francisco on Friday, allowing one walk while striking out three batters in a scoreless ninth inning.

Chapman was brought out for the ninth frame for his first save chance since Aug. 1 against the Dodgers. His walk to Buddy Kennedy was Chapman's only blemish, as he got the other batters he faced to strike out swinging, the fourth time that the veteran southpaw has logged three strikeouts in an outing. It was only the second save that Chapman has recorded in August, but his 28 saves on the year are tied with Louis Varland and Jhoan Duran for sixth-most in the majors. Chapman sports a 1.90 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 65:8 K:BB over 46.1 innings this season.

The Mariners optioned Davila to Triple-A Tacoma on Friday.

Davila has given up four runs (three earned) in 3.2 innings since coming up from Triple-A on Aug. 7. Now sporting a 4.10 ERA and 1.22 WHIP across 26.1 major-league innings on the season, the 27-year-old will head back to the minors to make room for Carlos Vargas (lat), who returned from the IL in a corresponding move. Davila could still return to make a few more appearances down the stretch for Seattle whenever the big club needs fresh bullpen depth.

The Mariners transferred Brash (lat) to the 60-day injured list Friday.

Brash has been on the injured list since June 10 with a strained right lat, so while his move to the 60-day IL will create a 40-man roster spot for Carlos Vargas (lat), it won't affect Brash's return timeline. The 28-year-old righty began throwing off a mound last weekend and is trending toward returning to Seattle's bullpen sometime in early September.

The Mariners reinstated Vargas (lat) from the 60-day injured list Friday.

Vargas has been on the injured list all season with a strained right lat, though he was cleared to begin playing in rehab games Aug. 8 and has since fired 4.2 shutout innings between High-A Everett and Triple-A Tacoma. Now fully healthy, the 26-year-old righty will likely claim a middle-relief role with the Mariners. Nick Davila was optioned to Tacoma in a corresponding move, and Matt Brash (lat) was transferred to the 60-day IL to free up a 40-man spot.

The Tigers pulled Hurter (back) off his rehab assignment Friday, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

Hurter isn't dealing with any new injury complications, but the Tigers will pull him away from minor-league games anyway for about a week so that he can work out some issues with his delivery. The left-hander hasn't found much success since he was cleared to play in rehab games Aug. 5, allowing 11 runs (10 earned) on 11 hits and four walks while striking out four batters in just 3.2 innings.

Crochet (lat) has begun throwing with greater intensity from 90 feet, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.

Crochet was cleared to begin a throwing program Aug. 4, and although he has yet to begin throwing off a mound, an increase in distance and intensity is still a sign of progress. The 27-year-old lefty won't have enough time to build up as a starter before the end of the season, so the Red Sox will likely use him as a reliever once he's cleared to return from the injured list.

The Royals optioned Duran to Triple-A Omaha on Friday.

The 25-year-old picked up the win Tuesday against the Athletics but then surrendered two runs on one hit and three walks while recording just one out Thursday. After throwing 35 pitches in three days, Duran will head back down in favor of Jose Cuas.