MLB Player News

The Rays designated Grove for assignment Saturday.

Grove was sent down to Triple-A on Aug. 13, and he has since surrendered just two earned runs while posting an 11:5 K:BB over 11.1 innings. Despite his recent performance, the Rays will strip him of his 40-man roster spot and award it to Brody Hopkins, who was selected to the major-league roster Saturday.

The Rays optioned Cook to Triple-A Durham on Saturday.

Cook never made an appearance for the Rays after being recalled from Durham on Sept. 4, and he'll now end up as the roster casualty necessary to make room for Brody Hopkins, who was selected to the active roster Saturday.

Jansen struck out the only batter he faced Friday to record his 19th save of the season in a 6-2 win over the Rockies.

Brant Hurter ran into trouble in the ninth inning, forcing Jansen into the game with two outs and the potential tying run on deck, and the veteran closer got the job done by fanning Connor Norby on just four pitches. Jansen has been mostly dialed in since the All-Star break, and over his last 16.1 innings and 18 appearances he's put together a 2.20 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 20:9 K:BB with three wins and eight saves.

Holderman (wrist) threw a bullpen session Friday at Progressive Field, Paul Hoynes of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

The Guardians placed Holderman on the injured list Sept. 4 due to right wrist inflammation, but his ability to get back on the mound a week later suggests that he won't require an extended stint on the shelf. Before being deactivated, Holderman had produced a 2.73 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 50:20 K:BB in 52.2 innings while collecting six wins, one save and 11 holds in 54 appearances out of the Cleveland bullpen.

Armstrong (calf) didn't record a strikeout while allowing one run on two hits in one inning during a rehab appearance Friday with Triple-A Columbus.

Armstrong was initially placed on the shelf July 25 due to a left calf strain before being transferred to the 60-day IL less than two weeks later. He's eligible for reinstatement Sept. 23 and should be on track to rejoin the Guardians on that date or shortly thereafter, assuming his subsequent rehab appearances go well.

Espino will serve as the Guardians' opening pitcher for Saturday's game against the Twins in Minnesota, Paul Hoynes of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Gavin Williams had been lined up to start Saturday, but the Guardians will instead push their ace back a couple days in the schedule so that he can make his next start Monday in the series opener versus the division-leading White Sox. Espino will thus be called upon to make his first MLB start Saturday, though he's pitched almost exclusively in relief both for the big club and at Triple-A Columbus this season and will likely be limited to a 1-to-2-inning appearance. Once Espino exits the game, Joey Cantillo could be called upon to pitch in bulk relief.

The Tigers recalled Sears from Triple-A Toledo on Saturday.

Sears will come up from Toledo to make what will likely be a spot start Saturday against the Rockies in Detroit. The rookie owns a 2.01 ERA and 1.01 WHIP across 44.2 innings in the minors this season but has allowed six earned runs in 12.1 frames with the Tigers.

Gomez (2-3) took the loss after allowing three runs on two hits and two walks over one-third of an inning Friday against the Cleveland. He didn't record a single strikeout.

Gomez entered the game in the top of the ninth inning but was largely ineffective, throwing just 12 of his 21 pitches for strikes and quickly running into trouble. He walked Bazzana before Angel Martinez doubled, and then Gomez uncorked a wild pitch that allowed Bazzana to score the go-ahead run. Brayan Rocchio followed with a two-run double that stretched Cleveland's advantage to three, and Gomez was removed after retiring just one of the five batters he faced. Gomez saw his run of four consecutive scoreless outings come to an end, and while he's posted seven scoreless appearances over his last nine, he's given up seven runs in that span. One subpar outing won't remove Gomez from his closing duties, however, especially since he's gone 22-for-22 in save chances in 2026 while posting a 3.92 ERA through 59 appearances in 2026.

Smith earned his 36th save of the season after allowing one hit over a scoreless ninth inning in Friday's 5-2 win over the Twins. He did not record a strikeout or a walk.

Smith was handed a three-run cushion after Cleveland broke a 2-2 tie in the top of the ninth, and he got the job done en route to his 36th save of the season -- the second-highest total in the AL behind Bryan Baker's MLB-leading 39. Smith allowed a leadoff single to Josh Bell in the top of the ninth but quickly erased it by getting Kody Clemens to ground into a double play, and then Smith induced a Royce Lewis groundball to finish the victory. Smith owns a 2.18 ERA as Cleveland's primary closer this season. He's converted eight of 10 save chances since the All-Star break, posting a 0.83 ERA and 0.92 WHIP with a 32:11 K:BB across 20 appearances in that span.

Gaddis (4-3) earned the win in relief after allowing one hit and striking out one over 1.1 scoreless innings in Friday's 5-2 victory over the Twins. He did not issue a walk.

Gaddis entered the game with two outs in the seventh and a runner on second after Erik Sabrowski had allowed the tying run to reach base. Kaelen Culpepper's RBI single tied the game at 2-2, with the run charged to Sabrowski, but Gaddis settled down afterward and retired the next four batters he faced. Gaddis has been extremely reliable for the Guardians this season, and this outing extended his streak of scoreless appearances to 13. Over that stretch, the right-hander owns a 0.62 WHIP and 11:4 K:BB across 13 innings.