MLB Player News

Pivetta will be recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to start Sunday's game against the Cubs, Matt Gelb of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Following Sunday's game, the Phillies plan on keeping Pivetta with the big club and using him in their rotation moving forward. Pivetta has been a liability on the mound this season, as he owns a 6.73 ERA and 1.54 WHIP after making 19 starts for the big club. He'll head into a tough matchup Sunday when he takes the mound against the Cubs.

McGowan was optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas on Saturday, Marc Carig of Newsday reports.

During his four-day stint in the majors, McGowan appeared in one game, giving up one run on two hits and two walks over 1.1 innings. He'll return to Las Vegas, where he owns a 4.06 ERA and 1.35 WHIP.

Vizcaino allowed a hit and struck out one in a scoreless ninth inning Friday to collect his eighth save of the season in a 5-2 win over the Rockies.

The right-hander is a perfect 6-for-6 on save chances with a 0.00 ERA in August, racking up a 9:2 K:BB in 9.1 innings. Vizcaino has always had the raw stuff to be an effective closer, but he'll need to prove he can stay healthy -- not just for the rest of 2017, but well into 2018 -- before he can truly be considered a reliable source of saves.

Stephenson (2-4) notched the win Friday over the Pirates, allowing two runs on seven hits and four walks through 5.2 innings and striking out a career-high 11.

The right-hander has put together a 1.96 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 10.3 K/9 over four starts in August. Stephenson's control remains a work in progress, but his recent form offers some hope that he might yet develop into a reliable starter for Cincinnati rather than be relegated to the bullpen in the long run. He'll try to keep things rolling Thursday at home against the Mets.

Gearrin tossed a clean inning of relief while striking out two in Friday's 4-3 loss to the Diamondbacks.

Gearrin has been one of the few bright spots for the Giants this season with a 2.11 ERA and an 8.0 K/9 through 55.1 innings. The veteran reliever does, however, own a concerning 4.03 FIP due in large part to his inability to limit free passes (4.7 BB/9). The back end of San Francisco's bullpen is currently set in stone, limiting Gearrin's usage to the middle innings.

Yates (3-5) blew the lead in Friday's 8-6 loss to the Marlins, giving up three runs on two hits while striking out two.

The veteran reliever failed to protect a two-run lead in the eighth inning after surrendering a three-run homer off the bat of Marcell Ozuna. Yates' season has come off the tracks in August (13.50 ERA) after he looked like an elite middle reliever for the majority of the year. The 30-year-old is still striking out batters at a high rate (14.0 K/9), but his 4.40 ERA limits his value outside of those desperate for holds.

Jansen struck out a batter in a clean ninth inning for his 35th save Friday against the Brewers.

Jansen has recorded at least one strikeout in seven consecutive appearances, a stretch in which he has allowed just one run and six hits and 13 total punchouts. He hasn't blown a save since July 23 against Atlanta and remains in the extreme upper echelon of closers.

Blach (8-10) allowed four runs on six hits and two walks with two strikeouts over five innings Friday to take the loss against the Diamondbacks.

Blach has now allowed 16 runs in 16.1 innings over his past three starts, a stretch in which he is now 0-3 with a 6:8 K:BB. Despite a fastball that averages just 90.1 mph, Blach had managed to put together a 3.86 ERA and 1.28 WHIP over his previous 16 starts covering 107.1 innings. It looks like major-league hitters are starting to figure him out, and Blach is unraveling in the August heat.

Rodney threw a scoreless ninth inning with a strikeout for his 31st save Friday against the Giants.

Since blowing consecutive saves on July 2 and July 6, Rodney is 9-for-9 in save chances with 15 strikeouts over 11.1 innings. He has been inconsistent in 2017, but he has had enough stretches of brilliance to keep hold of the Arizona closing job.

Jackson (shoulder) is expected to come off the disabled list Sept. 1, David O'Brien of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

By waiting to activate Jackson until Sept. 1, the Braves will be able to avoid having to make a corresponding roster move. The 25-year-old righty has struggled to shut down batters this season, as he's logged a disappointing 28:15 K:BB over 40.2 innings this season.