MLB Player News

Chafin (finger) was activated from the 10-day injured list Saturday.

Chafin has been out since Aug. 17 with a sprained left index finger and his next appearance will be his first in a Cubs uniform, as he was traded from Arizona on Aug. 31. The lefty takes the roster spot of Rowan Wick (oblique), who was placed on the 10-day IL on Saturday. Chafin figures to work in a middle-relief role.

Peralta was recalled by the Giants on Saturday.

Peralta didn't have to wait long for his next opportunity after getting demoted Friday. With Alex Dickerson landing on the paternity list, he's allowed to return before spending 10 days off the roster. He's certainly looked like he belongs in the big leagues this season, as he owns a 3.91 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP.

Suarez was optioned to the Giants' alternate training site Saturday, Kerry Crowley of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

Suarez tossed 2.2 scoreless innings Friday after rejoining the major-league club, but he'll head back to alternate camp to bring in a fresh arm in the bullpen as the Giants compete for a postseason spot. The southpaw carries a 3.72 ERA and 1.55 WHIP over 9.2 innings this season.

Hader pitched the final frame of Friday's 9-5 victory over the Royals. He served up a home run to lead off the inning but struck out the next three batters he faced.

The Brewers held a five-run lead when Hader entered, but because the club needed a win and Hader had not pitched since Monday, manager Craig Counsell still elected to use him in a non-save situation. Hader ultimately sealed the deal, but he also allowed a run for the fourth time in eight outings, and as a result now owns a 4.60 ERA after sitting with a zero in that department as recently as Aug. 28. Setup man Devin Williams has been more effective of late, but given Hader's track record and the fact Williams has never recorded a save at the big-league level, don't expect the bullpen hierarchy to change.

Neris walked two batters in a scoreless seventh inning to record his fifth save of the season in an 8-7 win over the Blue Jays in the second game of Friday's doubleheader.

The right-hander continues to walk a tightrope with his control, but Neris has mostly been able to avoid any serious damage, posting a 1.93 ERA through 9.1 innings in September and converting all three of his save chances this month despite an 11:7 K:BB. He should be the top closing option for the Phillies over the final days of the regular season.

Ponce de Leon didn't factor into the decision in the second game of Friday's doubleheader against the Pirates, allowing two runs on three hits and two walks over five innings. He struck out nine.

It was the second straight outing in which Ponce de Leon fanned nine batters while giving up only two runs, but he wasn't rewarded with the win in either as the Cards waited until he was out of the game to take the lead in both contests. The right-hander has a 3.86 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 22:4 K:BB over 14 innings in September, and he's currently scheduled for one more start in the regular season during a doubleheader against the Brewers on Sept. 25.

Helsley walked two batters without allowing a run in two-thirds of an inning to record his first save of the season in a 6-5 win over the Pirates in the first game of Friday's doubleheader.

Alex Reyes got the first out of the seventh inning before handing the ball to Helsley, who loaded the bases with two outs thanks to a Paul DeJong error sandwiched between the free passes. The right-hander was then able to escape the jam by getting John Ryan Murphy to fly out to end the game. Helsley has not pitched well at all since coming off the COVID-19 list, posting an 11.81 ERA, 2.63 WHIP and 2:6 K:BB over 5.1 innings while going 1-for-3 on save chances, but he will apparently remain in the high-leverage mix for manager Mike Shildt.

Castano allowed three runs on five hits and no walks while striking out one over 4.1 innings in Game 2 of Friday's doubleheader against the Nationals. He didn't factor into the decision.

Castano made his sixth start of the season during Friday's nightcap and was relatively effective. He gave up two runs in the first inning and allowed one more run in the fifth inning prior to his removal from the game. The southpaw now has a 3.86 ERA over 23.1 innings this season, but it's unclear whether he'll make another start in 2020.

Crowe (0-2) allowed six runs on four hits and two walks while striking out three over 2.1 innings as he was charged with the loss in Game 2 of Friday's doubleheader against the Marlins.

Crowe joined the major-league club to make a spot start during Friday's nightcap, but he struggled early in the contest as he allowed runs in each of the first three innings prior to his removal. The right-hander hasn't been very effective in his first taste of major-league action as he now carries an 11.88 ERA and 8:8 K:BB over 8.1 innings during three starts. It's unclear whether Crowe will appear in the majors again in 2020.

White (1-0) tossed two perfect innings and struck out one in a win over the Rockies on Friday.

White was credited with his first major-league win as the official scorer deemed him the most effective of six relievers to follow Alex Wood in Friday's blowout victory. The 25-year-old has pitched three scoreless innings across two outings to begin his career with the Dodgers.