MLB Player News

Giles pitched a perfect ninth inning with one strikeout to record his 20th save during a 6-4 victory against the Yankees on Sunday.

He doesn't get many save opportunities, but Giles has put together a solid season. He has 20 saves with only one blown opportunity, which came all the way back on April 11, and in his last 11 appearances, he owns a 1.64 ERA. Giles is also 2-3 with a 1.88 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 76 strikeouts in 48 innings this season.

Palumbo (thumb) was activated off the minor-league injured list and recalled from Triple-A Nashville on Sunday.

Palumbo has been sidelined since Aug. 20 due to a blister on his right thumb, but he's ready to return after throwing a simulated inning Thursday. The 24-year-old had a 2.67 ERA, 0.85 WHIP and 39:10 K:BB in six starts at Triple-A, but he's expected to pitch in 1-to-2-inning stints now that he's back with the Rangers.

Betances (lat) was activated off the 60-day injured list Sunday.

Betances is finally ready for his season debut after battling shoulder and lat issues since mid-March. He recorded a 4:2 K:BB while allowing one earned run in three rehab innings. He dominated hitters to the tune of a 2.70 ERA and a 42.3 percent strikeout rate last season, though he may not be at his full effectiveness right away following such a long absence.

Richards (3-0) was credited with the win in a victory over the Angels on Saturday, working two scoreless innings during which he allowed two hits and did not record any walks or strikeouts.

Richards put together his second consecutive multi-inning scoreless outing following starter Tyler Glasnow's planned exit after three frames. The right-hander has allowed just three hits over the 4.2 innings covering his most recent pair of outings, lowering his ERA with the Rays to 2.11 in the process.

Green will serve as the opener Sunday against the Blue Jays, Randy Miller of The Newark Star-Ledger reports.

Green handles longer outings than most relievers do, but he hasn't thrown more than three innings in any game this season, so don't expect him to pitch long enough to be eligible for a win. Jordan Montgomery (shoulder) will follow Green for his first appearance of the season.

Pressly (knee) is expected to throw live batting practice when the Astros return home, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Pressly threw a bullpen session Saturday, the first since undergoing right knee surgery, and passed that test. The Astros come back from the road to kick off a series against the Rangers on Tuesday, so the live BP session should occur in the next few days. Manager AJ Hinch intimated it could be the final hurdle before Pressly returns to active duty in the Astros' bullpen.

Colome (4-4) allowed a run on one hit while striking out one to pick up the loss against the Mariners on Saturday.

Colome entered a tied game in the 10th inning and served up a walkoff home run to former White Sox catcher Omar Narvaez. Putting aside the loss in a non-save situation, Colome has been the league's top closer in terms of percentage, converting 96.4 percent of his opportunities.

VerHagen tossed four scoreless innings in relief but didn't factor into the decision Saturday in the Tigers' 8-4 win over the Orioles in 12 innings. He scattered three hits and a walk and struck out two in the appearance.

The piggyback arrangement between Daniel Norris and Drew VerHagen once again proved favorable, as the two pitchers combined to cover seven scoreless frames. Since whiffing a career-high 11 in a spot start Aug. 23 in Minnesota, VerHagen has remained effective while working as a bulk reliever in his last four appearances. Over that stretch, VerHagen has supplied a 2.16 ERA and 1.20 WHIP across 16.2 innings.

Barria (4-9) took the loss Saturday as the Angels were stung 3-1 by the Rays, allowing two runs on three hits and two walks over 5.1 innings while striking out four.

The right-hander turned in one of his better recent outings, but the Angels' offense couldn't get anything going with Mike Trout (toe) and Justin Upton (knee) sidelined. Barria has now lost six straight decisions, with his last win coming July 24, and he'll carry a 5.95 ERA and 70:25 K:BB through 75.2 innings into his next start Friday in Houston.

Pagan struck out one in a perfect ninth inning Saturday to record his 20th save of the season in a 3-1 win over the Angels.

He's been impressive since the beginning of August, converting 12 of 13 save chances with a 2.29 ERA, 0.56 WHIP and 28:1 K:BB through 19.2 innings. Pagan's emergence as full-time closer has given the Rays' bullpen some structure and been a key factor in the team's push for a wild-card spot.