MLB Player News

Tapia (biceps) was claimed off waivers by the Mariners on Friday.

The 29-year-old was designated for assignment by the Red Sox, and the Mariners didn't allow him to pass by on the waiver wire. Tapia made his big-league debut in 2020 and gave up one run on four hits with four strikeouts and two walks over 4.1 innings before landing on the injured list with a right biceps contusion. Barring a setback, the right-hander shouldn't have any issues being ready for the start of spring training in February.

Alvarado will not be a part of the Rays' World Series roster, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Alvarado returned from a shoulder injury to play a part in the ALCS, striking out four and walking three over 1.2 scoreless innings. Ryan Sherriff will replace him as a left-handed option out of the bullpen.

Pressly allowed one hit and struck out one in a scoreless ninth inning to earn the save in Game 6 of the ALCS.

Pressly was called upon to protect a 7-4 lead and managed to do so with little trouble. Despite allowing one baserunner, he induced a double play from the next batter he faced to end the contest. Pressly has been dominant to this point in the postseason, as he's picked up four saves and a win while maintaining a 2.45 ERA with an 8:1 K:BB across 7.1 frames.

Pressly allowed one hit and struck out two over 1.1 scoreless innings to earn the win over the Rays on Thursday.

Both teams went with bullpen days in Game 5 of the ALCS, and Pressly was the last of seven pitchers used by Houston. The right-hander battled some elbow trouble early on during the regular season and posted a 4.22 ERA in August, but Pressly has looked a lot more like himself since the beginning of September (21:4 K:BB in his last 16.2 innings), shoring up the back end for manager Dusty Baker.

Curtiss will be on the hill to start Game 5 of the ALCS against the Astros on Thursday, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

Curtiss will likely be nothing more than an opener in this contest, as he's recorded no more than eight outs in any of his appearances this season. He's a good bet to pitch well during his brief outing, as he recorded a 1.80 ERA and a 25:3 K:BB in 25 innings this season.

Yarbrough allowed two runs on three hits and two walks while striking out five over five innings as he earned the win Tuesday during Game 3 of the ALCS against the Astros.

Yarbrough picked up the start in a critical game in the series and delivered with a solid outing. He allowed a solo home run in the first inning, but he was effective the rest of the way before a leadoff home run in the sixth inning resulted in his removal. His next appearance could come in the World Series if the Rays advance.

White Sox general manager Rick Hahn said Monday that Lambert (forearm) will begin a throwing program soon and should be ready to go for spring training, James Fegan of The Athletic reports.

Lambert was shut down in late July with a right forearm strain, an injury that can often be a precursor to Tommy John surgery. While Lambert is dealing with a more severe strain than the one that sidelined Garrett Crochet for the tail end of Chicago's wild-card round loss to the Athletics, both pitchers are expected to be able to treat their injuries through rest and rehab rather than having to go under the knife this offseason. Assuming Lambert hits no snags in his recovery and is cleared for the spring, he shouldn't be impeded in his efforts to win a bullpen job with the White Sox.

Crochet was diagnosed with a flexor strain in his left forearm but does not have any damage to his UCL, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Crochet's appearance in Game 3 of the Wild Card Series against the Athletics was cut short due to the injury, but he's evidently avoided the worst-case outcome. No damage to the UCL means no Tommy John surgery will be needed, so the young lefty is expected to be ready to pitch without restrictions during spring training. Even though he made his MLB debut as a reliever in 2020, the White Sox still view Crochet as a candidate for the rotation in the long run. As such, Crochet could be given the opportunity to compete for a starting role with the big club this spring, but a more realistic outcome is that he begins the 2021 campaign at Triple-A Charlotte if the White Sox remain serious about developing him as a rotation option.

The Rays optioned Richards to their taxi squad Sunday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

He'll be replaced on the active roster by Josh Fleming, as the Rays evidently wanted another southpaw available out of the bullpen to counter the Astros' left-handed hitters in the ALCS, which begins Sunday. Richards didn't make an appearance during the Rays' recent five-game ALDS matchup with the Yankees.

The Rays activated Alvarado (shoulder) from the 45-day injured list Sunday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Tampa Bay designated Oliver Drake (elbow) for assignment to clear a spot on the 40-man roster for Alvarado, while outfielder Brett Phillips was optioned to the Rays' taxi squad to clear a spot on the 28-man active roster. Alvarado hasn't appeared in game for the Rays since Aug. 14 due to the shoulder injury, so manager Kevin Cash could prefer to break the 25-year-old in in lower-leverage spots during Tampa Bay's ALCS matchup with the Astros.