MLB Player News
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Chris Martin RP | TEX
Rangers' Chris Martin: Another setback
Martin (calf) left Saturday's live batting practice session early and will not be reinstated from the injured list anytime soon, Jeff Wilson of AllDLLS.com reports.
Martin seemingly sustained a setback Saturday in his recovery from a left calf strain. The reliever has been on the shelf since July 26 and was initially given a 4-to-6-week timeline for return. However, the 39-year-old will likely need more than six weeks and shouldn't be expected back until mid-September, at the earliest.
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Jonathan Bowlan RP | KC
Royals' Jonathan Bowlan: Joining 26-man roster
The Royals recalled Bowlan from Triple-A Omaha on Saturday.
Bowlan rejoins the big-league bullpen after three weeks at Omaha, filling the spot vacated by Bailey Falter (bicep), who was placed on the 15-day injured list. Bowlan has a 4.73 ERA and a 24:11 K:BB across 26.2 innings for the Royals this season.
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Cody Poteet RP | BAL
Orioles' Cody Poteet: Kicking off rehab stint
Poteet (shoulder) is beginning a minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Norfolk on Saturday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
Poteet has been on the shelf since late April due to right shoulder inflammation. He has made only one regular-season appearance this year, allowing five runs over 2.2 innings against Cincinnati on April 20. Poteet will presumably need to make several rehab outings given the length of his absence. He could be activated by the Orioles sometime in September if he doesn't experience any setbacks.
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Bennett Sousa RP | HOU
Astros' Bennett Sousa: Won't throw for multiple weeks
Sousa has been diagnosed with a "low-grade elbow flexor/pronator strain" and will not throw for at least two weeks, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Sousa landed on the injured list Friday and underwent an MRI, the results of which revealed the flexor/pronator strain. The southpaw will be evaluated in early September, and he's expected to be sidelined from any throwing for a minimum of two weeks. This is a big blow to Houston's bullpen, as Sousa has excelled with a 2.84 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 59:15 K:BB over 50.2 innings while notching four saves and eight holds across 44 appearances.
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Shawn Dubin RP | BAL
Astros' Shawn Dubin: Designated for assignment
The Astros designated Dubin for assignment Saturday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Dubin has had an injury-plagued campaign, as he's dealt with separate shoulder, ankle and forearm issues at points this season. The right-hander has struggled during his time with Houston, posting a 5.61 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and 21:8 K:BB over 25.2 innings. AJ Blubaugh was called up from Triple-A Sugar Land in a corresponding move, but perhaps the more important aspect of Dubin being DFA'd is that it opens up a spot on the Astros' 40-man roster. That spot will likely go to Yordan Alvarez (hand), who is close to being activated from the 60-day IL.
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Kyle Finnegan RP | DET
Tigers' Kyle Finnegan: Picks up win Friday
Finnegan (3-4) tossed two scoreless innings of relief to earn the win in Friday's 7-5 victory over the Royals. He walked one and struck out one.
Finnegan worked the seventh and eighth innings to earn the win out of the bullpen, with Will Vest covering the ninth. The former has two wins since joining Detroit at the trade deadline to go along with four saves and a hold. He's also sporting an impressive 0.00 ERA and 0.38 WHIP with 12 strikeouts across 10.2 innings with his new team. Both Finnegan and Vest are seeing ninth-inning work for the Tigers, giving both pitchers fantasy appeal but also capping their respective ceilings.
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Brendon Little RP | TOR
Blue Jays' Brendon Little: Collects hold No. 25
Little struck out both batters he faced in the eighth inning Friday to record his 25th hold of the season in a win over the Marlins.
The southpaw leads the Blue Jays in holds, and Little is second in the American League in that category behind the Guardians' Hunter Gaddis (27). Little had a couple poor appearances in late July and early August, but he's otherwise been impressive in a breakout campaign, posting a 2.93 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 79:37 K:BB over 55.1 innings.
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Fernando Cruz RP | NYY
Yankees' Fernando Cruz: Return from IL imminent
Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Saturday that Cruz (oblique) will be activated off the injured list Sunday or Monday, Max Goodman of NJ.com reports.
Cruz has made four minor-league rehab appearances and is just about ready to return to the big club's bullpen. Though his first two rehab outings were rough, the right-hander has bounced back by allowing one run over 2.1 innings with a 5:1 K:BB over his past two appearances. Cruz should have a prominent place in the Yankees' bullpen upon his return, though the trade-deadline acquisitions of David Bednar and Camilo Doval could push him down the pecking order to some extent.
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Bryan Abreu RP | HOU
Astros' Bryan Abreu: Notches second save
Abreu struck out four in 1.1 scoreless innings Friday to record his second save of the season in a 10-7 win over the Orioles.
Plunking Coby Mayo (hand) with a pitch was the only blemish on a dominant relief performance by Abreu. The right-hander hasn't given up a run in August, posting a 0.70 WHIP and 12:3 K:BB over 10 innings, and with Josh Hader (shoulder) likely out for the rest of the regular season, Abreu is locked into the closer role for the Astros.
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Cade Smith P | CLE
Guardians' Cade Smith: Blows another save
Smith (5-5) allowed two runs on three hits and did not retire a batter, picking up a blown save and the loss Friday against the Rangers.
Smith squandered a second consecutive save opportunity and has allowed runs in three straight appearances. Prior to this stretch, he pitched well as a fill-in closer for Emmanuel Clase (personal). Smith entered Friday with a 2.13 ERA in 12.2 innings over his last 12 appearances while converting four of his six save tries since replacing Clase as the primary closer.