MLB Player News

Nolin was handed a five-game suspension Friday for intentionally hitting Freddie Freeman with a pitch earlier in the week, but he'll appeal the ban and will remain available until his appeal is heard, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Nolin appeared to be retaliating for an incident in which Juan Soto was hit by a pitch Tuesday, as he threw behind Freeman with his first pitch the next day and hit him with his second. Manager Dave Martinez was also handled a one-game ban and will elect not to appeal.

Jackson was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Friday.

Jackson was called up Thursday but didn't appear in the series finale against the Cardinals. He'll return to Oklahoma City after Gavin Lux was recalled Friday.

Coonrod is scheduled to serve as the Phillies' opening pitcher for Friday's game against the Rockies in Philadelphia.

For the second time in less than week, Coonrod will work as an opener for the Phillies. He covered 1.1 innings in his previous "start" against the Marlins on Sept. 5, striking out three while giving up one run on one hit and one walk. He's not expected to cover more than two innings Friday before the Phillies turn the game over to the bullpen.

Bickford (3-2) suffered the loss against St. Louis on Thursday, allowing one run on one hit while striking out one across one inning.

The right-hander's lone mistake was a 1-0 slider that Tyler O'Neill managed to loft just over the left-field wall for a solo homer. That was enough to cost Bickford the loss in a contest with minimal offense during which the teams combined for three total runs. The loss was Bickford's first since mid-July, and he has been solid out of the bullpen for the Dodgers this season, posting a 2.93 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 54:18 K:BB across 46 innings.

Jackson was recalled from Triple-A Sacramento on Friday.

The righty allowed three runs in five appearances during his most recent big-league stint, raising his ERA to 4.58 in 17.2 total innings this season. Jackson temporarily fills the bullpen spot of Jose Quintana, who was placed on the paternity list Friday.

Nance was recalled by the Cubs on Friday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Nance made his big-league debut at age 30 this season and has thrown 21.1 innings at the highest level. His 5.06 ERA is poor, but his 26.1 percent strikeout rate and 54.7 percent groundball rate are both encouraging numbers. He'll fill the bullpen spot that had belonged to Adam Morgan, who was placed on the bereavement list.

Leone will be the first pitcher on the mound for what's expected to be a bullpen game Friday against the Cubs, Kerry Crowley of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

Leone made the first start of his eight-year career Sunday as part of a similar setup. He threw just a single inning in that game and has recorded more than three outs in just one of his 44 appearances this season, so don't expect him to throw much more than one frame Friday.

Smith allowed one run on one hit and one walk while striking out two in the ninth inning to blow the save against the Nationals on Thursday.

Lane Thomas tripled right away against Smith to open the inning, and the Nationals cashed in after a throwing error by Ozzie Albies as Albies tried to turn two. Smith has given up four runs in his last eight appearances, but his last blown save prior to Thursday was Aug. 11, and he's 31-for-36 in save situations with a 3.79 ERA this season.

Estevez allowed a run on two hits in the ninth inning of Thursday's game against the Phillies, but he escaped with the save. He struck out one batter.

Estevez was close to giving the game back after the Rockies took the lead against Phillies closer Ian Kennedy the prior half inning. He ultimately pitched out of a second-and-third, one-out situation with the lead still intact. Estevez has now given up at least one run in each of his last three appearances, but with only one blown save in that span and saves in three of his last four appearances, he's been getting the job done more often than not since Daniel Bard was removed from the closer picture.

Rainey (side) returned to the mound for Triple-A Rochester on Thursday, walking one batter in a scoreless inning, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

Rainey hadn't pitched because of side pain since being demoted to Rochester in mid-August. While he's now returned to game action, he's likely a ways away from being considered for a big-league roster spot. The right-hander was sent down to work on his command after posting a 7.62 ERA and 31:21 K:BB across 26 major-league innings.