MLB Player News

Hanifee tossed two scoreless innings of relief in Friday's 3-0 loss to the Yankees. He walked one and struck out two.

Hanifee followed opener Beau Brieske, who worked the first inning. Hanifee was effective once again in relief, and after a rough first appearance of the season back on Aug. 1, the righty has now logged nine scoreless innings in his last five outings. The 26-year-old is still in a mostly low-leverage role at the moment, but Hanifee could move up the bullpen pecking order if he keeps pitching well.

Brieske (1-3) allowed one run on a hit and two walks across an inning of work to take the loss Friday against the Yankees. He struck out one.

Brieske served as the opener and labored through a tough first inning, as he needed 30 pitches to finish the frame. The Tigers ended up getting blanked, so the one run was enough to saddle the righty with the loss. Brieske has now started five games this season among 29 appearances overall, but he's yet to cover more than three innings in any outing, so the starts aren't equating to opportunities for wins.

Bednar gave up a run on two hits in ninth inning Friday, recording his 21st save of the season in a 5-3 win over the Mariners. He struck out three.

The right-hander served up a solo shot to Jorge Polanco, marring what was otherwise an impressive performance. Bednar has been tagged for at least one run in a stunning six straight appearances, posting an 8:7 K:BB in 6.1 innings over that stretch and blowing two of five save chances. That August swoon has sent his ERA on the season soaring to 5.83, and while the Pirates don't seem inclined to remove him from the closer role, Aroldis Chapman has a 0.82 ERA, 0.55 WHIP and 17:2 K:BB in 11 innings since the All-Star break.

Estevez (2-4) blew the save but picked up the win in Friday's 3-2 victory over the Nationals, giving up two runs on three hits in the ninth inning. He struck out two.

The right-hander entered the game with Philadelphia ahead 2-0, but he gave up three straight singles to open the ninth before a Jacob Young fielder's choice tied it up. Estevez was able to right the ship and get off the mound without any further damage, and Trea Turner then walked it off in the bottom of the frame. Estevez has been effective since coming over from the Angels at the trade deadline, posting a 3.12 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 10:2 K:BB through 8.2 innings, but he has only one win and one save in eight appearances.

Finnegan (3-6) took the loss Friday, giving up a run on three hits and a walk without recording an out as the Nationals were downed 3-2 by the Phillies.

Entering a 2-2 game in the bottom of the ninth inning, Finnegan served up singles to Brandon Marsh and Cal Stevenson before loading the bases by intentionally walking Kyle Schwarber. The desperation move didn't pay off, as former Nationals teammate Trea Turner walked it off by nearly launching a grand slam, although he only got credit for a single when the ball banged off the wall in left-center field. Things haven't gone smoothly for Finnegan of late, and the Nats could end up regretting not moving him at the trade deadline -- over his last seven appearances, the right-hander has a horrific 12.79 ERA, 2.84 WHIP and 4:4 K:BB in 6.1 innings, although he's managed to convert his only two save chances over that stretch.

Blalock is scheduled to start Sunday's game against the Padres at Coors Field.

The right-hander will earn a second straight turn through the rotation after he fell just shy of delivering a quality start in his Rockies debut Monday, when he took a no-decision while limiting a potent Diamondbacks lineup to three earned runs on six hits and no walks. That outing came at a more neutral offensive environment at Chase Field, but Blalock will be difficult to rely upon Sunday while he pitches for the first time at the notoriously hitter-friendly Coors Field.

Kuhl allowed a solo homer and struck out two batters in one inning en route to earning a save over the Astros on Friday.

Kuhl coughed up a two-out homer to Jon Singleton but came back to strike out Jose Altuve and close out the 5-4 win. It was Kuhl's first save of the year and it came just two days after he was rocked for five runs by the Yankees. The White Sox don't have an active pitcher on the roster with more than two saves this season, so the ninth-inning situation still appears to be fluid. Kuhl owns a 5.03 ERA with a 35:19 K:BB through 39.1 innings this season.

Topa (elbow) had a setback when he experienced soreness while playing catch, Phil Miller of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

Topa missed the first four months of the season due to a tear in the patellar tendon of his left knee. He began a rehab assignment July 23 but was shut down Aug. 10 due to right elbow inflammation. It seems unlikely that he'll be able to return from the injured list before the regular season ends. although the Twins haven't officially ruled it out.

Joyce struck out one and allowed one hit over 1.2 scoreless innings to earn the save in Friday's 3-2 win over Atlanta.

Joyce has collected two saves over his last five appearances, though he's also allowed three runs across five innings in that span. The flamethrower threw all five of his fastballs between 102-104 mph Friday and needed just 14 total pitches (10 strikes) to get his five outs. Joyce still needs to work on his control -- he has a 2.54 ERA, but his 1.27 WHIP and 24:14 K:BB through 28.1 innings shows he hasn't yet fully harnessed his velocity. Veterans Hunter Strickland and Matt Moore, who worked in the seventh and eighth innings ahead of Joyce, remain in the high-leverage mix and could see save chances if Joyce falters, but the Angels will give the 23-year-old every chance to establish himself as the team's bullpen ace.

Gilbreath walked one and didn't allow a hit or a run over two-thirds of an inning in his season debut during Friday's 7-3 win over the Padres.

Gilbreath figures to pitch in a low-leverage role for the rest of the season. He posted a mediocre 6.23 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 11:6 K:BB over 8.2 innings during his minor-league rehab assignment while working his way back from Tommy John surgery and a separate shoulder injury. His appearance Friday was his first in the majors since Aug. 26, 2022.