MLB Player News

Sandlin will serve as the Guardians' opening pitcher for Sunday's game against the Astros, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.

Sandlin will make his second start of the regular season Sunday, with Gavin Williams expected to serve in bulk relief. Sandlin's first start came Aug. 26 against the Royals, when he allowed two walks while striking out two batters in one scoreless inning. Sandlin has a 3.75 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 68:27 K:BB across 57.2 innings this season.

Texas recalled Pennington from the Arizona Complex League Rangers on Saturday.

Pennington takes the spot in the Rangers' bullpen vacated by right-hander Josh Sborz, who was placed on the 15-day injured list Saturday due to right shoulder fatigue. Pennington made his last appearance Sept. 21 against the Mariners, during which he allowed three runs on two hits while striking out two across two-thirds of an inning. Across 15 major-league outings with the Rangers this season (including one start), Pennington has a 3.12 ERA and 1.73 WHIP across 17.1 innings.

The Rangers placed Sborz on the 15-day injured list Saturday due to right shoulder fatigue.

This marks the fourth time this season that Sborz has been placed on the IL due to a right shoulder injury. His prior stint started in mid-August, and he was able to return to the big club Tuesday, but his 2024 season will end with just 17 appearances out of the bullpen for the Rangers. Sborz ends the year with a 3.86 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 17:4 K:BB and eight holds over 16.1 innings of work.

Bowman will start Saturday's game against the Twins, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

Bowman will be making the first start of his major-league career Saturday, as the Orioles will lean on their bullpen to get them through Saturday's contest. The 33-year-old righty owns a 4.60 ERA and 1.30 WHIP through 29.1 frames in the big leagues this season and will likely be pulled from Saturday's contest after an inning or two.

The Blue Jays optioned Lucas to the Florida Complex League on Saturday.

Lucas gave up six earned runs in 4.2 innings after joining the Blue Jays' bullpen Tuesday, making him an easy choice for the team to send to its spring training facility to make room for Nick Robertson, who was recalled from Triple-A.

The Blue Jays recalled Robertson from Triple-A Buffalo on Saturday.

Eleven days after being claimed off waivers from the Angels, Robertson will join the Jays' bullpen in order to provide the team with another fresh arm heading into the final two games of the season. The 26-year-old righty owns a 4.38 ERA and 1.38 WHIP through 12.1 innings in the majors this season but will likely be limited to low-leverage situations, given his 7.36 ERA in Triple-A. Easton Lucas was optioned to the Florida Complex League in a corresponding move.

The Orioles optioned Baker to the Florida Complex League on Saturday.

Baker made two appearances after returning to Baltimore's bullpen Sept. 18, giving up two earned runs in 2.1 innings while recording five strikeouts. He'll now head to the team's spring training facility in Florida to finish up the season, and Tucker Davidson will come up from Triple-A Norfolk to replenish Baltimore's bullpen depth.

The Twins optioned Funderburk to Triple-A St. Paul on Saturday.

Funderburk was reinstated from the IL on Friday after battling an oblique strain for over two months, but he'll lose his spot on the active roster after allowing four runs in one inning during Friday's loss to Baltimore. Diego Castillo was recalled from St. Paul to fill the opening in Minnesota's bullpen.

The Twins recalled Castillo from Triple-A St. Paul on Saturday.

Castillo has appeared in six games for the Twins this season, surrendering two earned runs across eight innings while striking out four batters and walking seven. He'll now come up from the minor leagues to give Minnesota's bullpen a fresh arm, taking the place of Kody Funderburk, who was optioned to Triple-A.

Brieske will open Saturday's game versus the White Sox.

Brieske will make his 12th start of the year Saturday, and he carries a 4.91 ERA and 1.77 WHIP through 14.2 innings across his past 11 opening assignments. He'll likely only remain in the game for an inning or two before handing the game over to the Tigers' bullpen, though he has reached three frames twice this season.