MLB Player News

The Yankees placed Leiter on the paternity list Thursday.

By rule, Leiter will miss the next 1-to-3 games while welcoming a new addition to the family. Scott Effross has been summoned from the minors to absorb Leiter's roster spot.

Fitts (0-1) took the loss Wednesday, giving up four runs on six hits and two walks over five innings as the Red Sox were downed 6-1 by the Blue Jays. He struck out two.

The rookie right-hander came into the game having not allowed an earned run in his first three big-league starts, but after three more shutout frames, Fitts ran into trouble in the fourth when Vladimir Guerrero and Alejandro Kirk led off the inning with back-to-back doubles. Fitts wraps up his first taste of the majors with a 1.74 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 9:7 K:BB through 20.2 innings, and depending on the moves the Red Sox make this winter, the 24-year-old could head into next spring with a chance to win a regular spot in the rotation.

Akin recorded the final two outs of Wednesday's 9-7 win over the Yankees to record his first save of the season.

It's the third career save for the southpaw, with the prior two being of the three-inning variety and not traditional save situations. The Orioles didn't look like they would have one of those either Wednesday, heading into the ninth inning with a 9-3 lead, but Matt Bowman made a mess of things and Akin got the call to retire Austin Wells and Giancarlo Stanton, giving Baltimore's high-leverage options like Seranthony Dominguez and Yennier Cano an extra day of rest ahead of the playoffs. On the season, Akin sports a 3.13 ERA, 0.93 WHIP and 96:19 K:BB through 77.2 innings, but those career-best ratios have led to only three wins and six holds in addition to Wednesday's save.

Walters tossed 1.2 scoreless innings and did not factor into the decision in Wednesday's 5-2 win over the Guardians.

Walters served as the opener in a bullpen game and retired all five batters he faced while throwing 13 of 20 pitches for strikes. The 23-year-old has not surrendered a hit or earned run through his first 7.2 major-league innings while posting a 6:4 K:BB.

Suarez allowed three runs on five hits and two walks while striking out five batters over five innings in a no-decision against the White Sox on Wednesday.

All of Chicago's runs against Suarez came via the long ball -- the left-hander gave up a two-run shot to Korey Lee in the second inning and a solo blast to Lenyn Sosa in the fourth. It was the only time this season Suarez gave up multiple homers in an outing. That's partly due to the fact that he spent much of the campaign as a reliever, though he came into Wednesday having yielded just two long balls over his past 36 frames. Suarez returned Sept. 9 from an extended stay on the injured list and had held his opponents without an earned run over 13 frames prior to giving up Lee's second-inning blast Wednesday.

Erceg struck out one in a perfect ninth inning to earn the save in Wednesday's 3-0 win over the Nationals. He struck out one batter.

Erceg was summoned for the second straight game and locked down his 13th save on just 12 pitches. According to Anne Rogers of MLB.com, the 29-year-old secured the Royals' franchise-record 26th consecutive scoreless inning. He has converted all five of his September save attempts and owns a 3.41 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 71:16 K:BB across 60.2 innings this season.

Clase earned the save against the Reds on Wednesday, allowing one hit and two walks with one strikeout in a scoreless ninth inning.

Clase was called upon to protect a 5-2 lead in the ninth frame and worked out of a bases-loaded jam with no outs to secure his 47th save of the season. While he was a bit shaky, the closer has not allowed an earned run in 10 September outings. He owns a microscopic 0.61 ERA, 0.65 WHIP and 66:10 K:BB across 73.1 innings and is in a tightly contested battle with Ryan Helsley of the Cardinals for the major-league lead in saves.

The Twins designated Irvin for assignment Wednesday.

Irvin allowed five earned runs over just 3.2 innings during his brief time with the Twins, and he's now been DFA'd by two teams within the last 10 days. The left-hander carries a 5.11 ERA and 1.45 WHIP through 111 innings on the year and would not be eligible for the postseason if a contender claims him.

The Twins optioned Headrick to Triple-A St. Paul on Wednesday.

Headrick logged one appearance during his four-day stint in the big leagues, giving up one earned run on two hits and two walks while striking out five batters over three innings. He'll now be sent back across the Mississippi River in favor of Jorge Alcala, who was recalled from Triple-A.

The Twins recalled Alcala from Triple-A St. Paul on Wednesday.

Alcala owns a 6.75 ERA and 1.30 WHIP across 20 innings in the majors since the All-Star break, but he'll be called upon to give the Twins a fresh bullpen arm as they fight to secure a wild-card spot. He'll take the place of Brent Headrick, who was optioned to Triple-A in a corresponding move.