MLB Player News

Hand allowed one unearned run on two hits and no walks in one inning during Friday's win over the Royals.

Hand made his team debut with the Blue Jays holding a four-run lead Friday, and he gave up a pair of singles to lead off the eighth inning. However, a throwing error allowed Nicky Lopez to score with no outs in the inning before the southpaw retired the next three batters he faced. Although Hand was relatively effective against Kansas City, he currently appears to be the setup man behind right-hander Jordan Romano.

Pivetta (8-5) lost Sunday's 3-2 game at the hands of the Rays, allowing three runs on three hits and a walk with six strikeouts in 4.2 innings.

Pivetta was rolling to open the game, retiring the first eight Rays he faced, but walked Mike Zunino and surrendered a Brandon Lowe two-run homer immediately after to fall behind for good. He allowed two more hits and a run in the fifth before being removed after 76 pitches. The 28-year-old has now failed to reach five innings in three of his last four starts, permitting at least three runs in all four. He lines up to face Toronto next weekend.

Kittredge, who now sports a 7-1 record after earning the win Saturday against the Red Sox, has generated six consecutive scoreless efforts and owns a 1.08 ERA and 9.7 K/9 in the 8.1 innings covering his seven post-All-Star-break appearances.

The veteran reliever's career-best season, which included his first All-Star nomination, continues rolling along without a hitch as the last two months-plus of the regular season begin. Kittredge's seven wins are already a personal best by a comfortable margin, as are his 1.40 ERA and 0.90 WHIP. The 31-year-old boasts a diverse fantasy profile that also includes five holds and two saves, and with Diego Castillo now in Seattle, it's conceivable Kittredge even sees some save opportunities down the stretch.

Blach (elbow) began a rehab assignment with the Orioles' rookie-level Florida Complex League affiliate and has made five appearances, tossing five innings and allowing an unearned run on one hit and no walks while striking out six.

Blach's 2020 season was wiped out after he underwent Tommy John surgery in mid-July, but he re-signed with the Orioles on a minor-league deal in March and has been rehabbing at the team's spring facility in Florida for the past few months. The southpaw was cleared for game action almost a year after his procedure, and the early returns have been encouraging. The Orioles assigned Blach to High-A Aberdeen coming out of the spring, so he'll presumably settle with that affiliate once he completes his FCL rehab assignment.

Hendriks (5-2) allowed a hit and struck out two batters in a scoreless ninth inning Sunday, earning a victory over Cleveland.

Hendriks came into a tied game and worked around a two-out single by Franmil Reyes to hold the game at 1-1. He picked up the win after Brian Goodwin's walkoff homer the next half-inning. The 32-year-old righty is 5-2 with 26 saves and a 2.47 ERA through 47.1 innings.

Akin came on in relief and retired one of the three batters he faced but wasn't charged with an earned run in Sunday's 6-2 loss to the Tigers.

Before landing on the COVID-19 injured list July 21, Akin had filled a spot in the Baltimore rotation, but he looks like he'll work out of the bullpen for the time being while Alexander Wells and Spenser Watkins are evaluated for starting duties. Akin entered Sunday with a 8.19 ERA and 1.80 WHIP on the season, and he didn't do anything in his relief appearance to make the Orioles eager to add him back into the rotation. He allowed both of his inherited runners to score on a pair of base hits, but Akin was spared of any damage to his ERA when Shaun Anderson came on to record the final out of the seventh inning while leaving the bases loaded.

Rodriguez (2-3) earned the win Sunday versus Miami by retiring the only batter he faced.

Clay Holmes put a runner on with two outs in the seventh inning, but Rodriguez was able to get a groundout to end the frame. The 29-year-old was in line for the win when the Yankees rallied for the lead in the top of the eighth. This was Rodriguez's first appearance since he was acquired from the Rangers in the Joey Gallo trade. Through 27.2 innings this year, the southpaw has a 5.86 ERA, 1.59 WHIP and 30:12 K:BB. While he logged nine holds in 31 appearances with the Rangers, he figures to see more of a middle-innings role with the Yankees.

Chapman pitched a perfect inning with two strikeouts to earn the save in Sunday's 3-1 win over Miami.

The 33-year-old stretched his scoreless streak to six innings, and he's picked up five saves in that span. Chapman is 22-for-26 in save chances with a 3.72 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 67:27 K:BB through 38.2 innings this year. He remains the No. 1 option in the ninth inning for the Yankees.

Lambert was optioned to Triple-A Charlotte following Sunday's win over Cleveland, James Fegan of The Athletic reports.

Lambert was called up to start Sunday's contest, and he allowed one run on two hits and a walk while striking out two in three innings. The right-hander should continue to serve as a starter at Triple-A Charlotte but could be available as a starter or reliever for the major-league club.

Alexander allowed two runs on four hits and two walks with two strikeouts in four innings in a no-decision versus Baltimore on Sunday.

The southpaw has gone four innings in each of his last two starts, and Sunday's was much better than his previous effort Tuesday. Alexander allowed a pair of RBI doubles in the first inning, but he was able to gain control later in his start, and Detroit's offense got him off the hook for the loss. The 27-year-old owns a 4.77 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 45:14 K:BB through 54.2 innings. He lines up for his next start in Cleveland next weekend.