MLB Player News

Hamilton (lat) came out of his bullpen session Tuesday feeling fine and will toss another session Friday, per the Associated Press.

Hamilton is ramping back up as he looks to return from a lat strain he suffered in mid-June. Tuesday's bullpen was deemed as "high intensity," so the fact that he emerged without any setbacks suggests that he's getting closer to a minor-league rehab assignment. Hamilton may be asked to toss live batting practice before heading to an affiliate, though.

Hentges has been pulled off his rehab assignment due to renewed soreness in his left shoulder, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.

Hentges had made four rehab appearances, but in his last one he allowed three runs without recording an out. The left-hander will be re-examined by doctors to determine the next steps in his recovery, but it sounds as if the Guardians aren't expecting the reliever to be available any time soon. Hentges has been on the 15-day injured list since July 12.

Karinchak (shoulder) has been working out at Cleveland's spring training facility in Arizona, but he may not pitch for the Guardians before the end of the season, MLB.com reports.

With a 3.10 ERA and 22.2 K-BB% in 174 career relief appearances over five seasons in the majors, Karinchak has often been a dominant bullpen arm when available, but shoulder problems cost him a large chunk of the 2022 campaign and cropped up again in spring training. Though the Guardians have classified his injury as fatigue rather than something more severe, Karinchak has made minimal progress since being cleared to resume a throwing program March 11. According to the report, the quality and shape of the right-hander's pitches have degraded, and the team has thus far been unwilling to send him out on a minor-league rehab assignment. Karinchak will continue to work with the staff in Arizona in hopes of regaining his form.

Chargois (2-0) got the win over the Tigers on Thursday, firing a perfect ninth inning during which he recorded two strikeouts.

The recent trade acquisition extended a stellar start to his Mariners tenure with his fourth straight perfect appearance since arriving from the Marlins. Chargois has enjoyed an excellent season overall, as he's carrying a 1.29 ERA and 1.10 WHIP over 19 appearances. While he has little track record as a late-inning arm, his performance thus far with the Mariners suggests he could earn some high-leverage work.

The Twins transferred Stewart from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Friday, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.

Stewart will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder Tuesday and is expected to be sidelined for 5-to-6 months. He's been limited to just 16 appearances this season because of nagging shoulder problems. If there's a silver lining, it's that Stewart is undergoing a cleanup procedure and is expected to be healthy in time for spring training. That said, Stewart will turn 33 years old in October and has missed considerable time over the last several years with arm issues, so it's not a given that he'll be as effective upon his return. He holds a 2.28 ERA and 59:19 K:BB over 43.1 frames for the Twins since the beginning of the 2023 season.

The Guardians recalled Strzelecki from Triple-A Columbus on Friday.

Strzelecki has allowed one run on five hits while striking out five across 4.2 innings during his time with Cleveland this season. He'll give the bullpen a fresh arm.

Sammons did not factor into the decision in Thursday's loss to the Mariners, allowing one run on two hits and one walk over 4.1 relief innings while striking out four.

The lefty took over for opener Brenan Hanifee in the bottom of the third inning and retired the side in order before going on to hurl another two scoreless innings. Sammons would eventually cough up a solo homer to Luke Raley in the sixth, but still pitched into the seventh before being replaced by Tyler Holton. It was only the third appearance of the season for Sammons, though he's pitched at least four innings in two of them while posting a 9:2 K:BB.

Vest (2-4) retired two batters via strikeout but also allowed two runs on two hits and a walk to blow the save and take the loss Thursday against the Mariners.

Detroit's top closing option, Jason Foley, had pitched each of the previous two games, so the Tigers turned to Vest on Thursday. The righty struggled as he blew his fifth save chance of the season. Vest still has a solid 3.16 ERA overall, and he should continue to see high-leverage work, but the late-inning situation in Detroit's bullpen remains murky. Foley hasn't recorded a save since July 10 but still leads the team with 15, while Vest, Tyler Holton and Shelby Miller are seem like candidates to get save opportunities down the stretch as well.

Fairbanks picked up the save over the Cardinals on Thursday, pitching a perfect ninth inning.

Fairbanks took the mound with a two-run lead in the bottom of the ninth and retired the side on just eight pitches to lock down his 22nd save of the season. The right-handed reliever has yet to allow a baserunner in three appearances this month, and he's converted his last 12 save opportunities. Fairbanks has surrendered only one hit over his last six innings (six appearances) while posting four strikeouts over that stretch.

Green posted a save against the Orioles on Thursday, allowing one run on two hits while striking out one batter over one inning.

It didn't look like Green would be needed in the contest with Toronto carrying a 7-2 lead into the bottom of the ninth inning. However, reliever Zach Pop couldn't record an out while loading the bases, so Green was brought in to contain the damage. He didn't do remarkably well himself, as a fielder's choice, a double and a single allowed Baltimore to bring the deficit to within one run. However, Green was able to get Anthony Santander to fly out with the tying run on first base to end the threat and record his 10th save. Green hasn't blown a save this season and is firmly entrenched in the closer role with Yimi Garcia now in Seattle and Jordan Romano uncertain to return in 2024 due to an elbow injury.