MLB Player News
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Joe Boyle SP | TB
Rays' Joe Boyle: Burned by gopher ball
Boyle (1-2) took the loss Saturday, allowing six runs on four hits and five walks over 3.1 innings in a 7-4 loss against the Mariners. He struck out five.
The right-hander struggled with control Saturday and was hurt even more by the long ball, serving up three total homers to Julio Rodriguez and Cal Raleigh. Boyle has made four starts and four relief appearances this season, posting a 3.82 ERA and 1.08 WHIP with a 31:16 K:BB over 30.2 innings.
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Jack Perkins P | ATH
Athletics' Jack Perkins: Earns first win Saturday
Perkins (1-2) earned the win against the Orioles on Saturday, allowing one run on three hits and one walk with five strikeouts over six innings.
Perkins allowed a three-run homer in the first inning but rebounded with five scoreless frames to earn his first career win. The 25-year-old also logged his first major-league quality start, bouncing back after surrendering four runs over three innings in his rotation debut Sunday. He'll carry a 4.08 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 28:11 K:BB across 28.2 innings into a home matchup with the Angels next weekend.
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Carlos Estevez RP | KC
Royals' Carlos Estevez: Fans two for 29th save
Estevez collected the save in Saturday's 2-0 win over the Twins, striking out two batters in a perfect ninth inning.
Estevez was able to protect the Royals' two-run lead in the ninth and finished by striking out Austin Martin. It was Estevez's first save since July 29 against Atlanta, and his 29 saves on the year (in 35 chances) are second most in the majors behind Robert Suarez (32). Estevez has a 2.54 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 42:17 K:BB across 39.2 innings this season.
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Cade Smith P | CLE
Guardians' Cade Smith: Logs fifth save
Smith recorded the save in Saturday's 3-1 win over the White Sox, striking out two batters in a perfect ninth inning.
Smith was brought out for the ninth to protect the Guardians' two-run lead. He made his save look effortless, tossing just 10 pitches (eight strikes) before finishing things out by getting Lenyn Sosa to strike out swinging. Smith has logged two saves over his last three outings and has a 2.75 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 73:18 K:BB across 52.1 innings this season.
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Joey Cantillo SP | CLE
Guardians' Joey Cantillo: One out away from quality start
Cantillo (3-2) earned the win against the White Sox on Saturday, allowing one run on four hits and two walks while striking out three across 5.2 innings.
His three punchouts were his lowest since joining the Guardians rotation, but it was a strong outing from Cantillo, with his lone blemish coming in the second inning on a Michael Taylor solo homer. It was the second game in a row in which Cantillo pitched into the sixth inning, and in his seven games as a starter he has a 4.36 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 39:18 K:BB across 33 innings. He's slated to make his next start against Atlanta at home next weekend.
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Luis Morales SP | ATH
Athletics' Luis Morales: Set for first big-league start
Morales will start Sunday's game against the Orioles.
Morales most recently logged two innings in his big-league debut Aug. 1, and prior to that, he had been logging between one and three innings per outing at Triple-A Las Vegas. With that in mind, Morales' first big-league start will likely be a short one. Morales has big-time stuff, with his fastball having touched triple digits in the past, but his control has been much better since he started pitching in shorter stints after giving up six runs in 2.1 innings in a June 21 start. After that, he had a 2.00 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 20:6 K:BB in 18 innings over nine appearances before getting the call to the majors. Osvaldo Bido could be an option to log multiple innings after Morales exits Sunday.
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Robert Stephenson RP | LAA
Angels' Robert Stephenson: Nearing rehab stint
Stephenson threw a bullpen session Friday and "came through it fine," per interim manager Ray Montgomery, and the veteran reliever may next begin a minor-league rehab assignment, according to MLB.com.
Stephenson has had an injury-plagued campaign and has gotten into only two games so far for the Angels. His current injury is a stretched nerve in his right biceps and he's on the 60-day IL, so he isn't eligible to be activated until the final week of August. The positive news is that Stephenson has been able to deploy his full arsenal during recent bullpen sessions, and while he could be asked to toss more bullpens before he's deemed ready for game action, a minor-league rehab stint appears to be in the works in the near future.
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Fernando Cruz RP | NYY
Yankees' Fernando Cruz: Will face hitters Sunday
Cruz (oblique) is scheduled to throw a live bullpen session with Double-A Somerset on Sunday, Peter Sblendorio of the New York Daily News reports.
Cruz has been on the injured list since June 30 due to a severe left oblique strain. He began throwing bullpen sessions in late July and has shown enough progress to advance to facing hitters. Since Cruz's absence has already lasted over a month, he'll likely need to go on a minor-league rehab assignment before he's ready to rejoin the Yankees. Nonetheless, a return before the end of August is feasible.
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Hogan Harris RP | ATH
Athletics' Hogan Harris: Back in majors
The Athletics recalled Harris from Triple-A Las Vegas on Saturday.
With Luis Severino (oblique) headed for the IL, Harris will return to the big club to provide the team with extra bullpen depth while the A's work out who will take the open rotation spot. The 28-year-old southpaw owns a 4.35 ERA through 41.1 innings in the majors this season and will likely be limited to middle-relief duties.
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Matt Brash RP | SEA
Mariners' Matt Brash: Collects second save
Brash struck out the side in a perfect ninth inning Friday to record his second save of the season in a 3-2 win over the Rays.
Andres Munoz had worked Wednesday and Thursday, so Brash got the call for the save opportunity and mowed down Tampa Bay's 2-3-4 hitters on 19 pitches (10 strikes). Brash missed the first month-plus of the season while completing his recovery from a hybrid Tommy John surgery/internal brace procedure on his elbow performed in May 2024, but since getting back on the mound he's been almost untouchable, posting a 1.20 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 34:12 K:BB over 30 innings. Munoz's numbers are also elite as the team's closer, but Brash's presence gives the M's perhaps the best high-leverage duo in the league.