MLB Player News

Daniel pitched three scoreless relief innings Thursday in the Angels' 3-2 win over the Guardians, allowing two hits while issuing three walks and striking out one batter.

Despite having not pitched in the high minors this season after spending most of the campaign on the Angels' 60-day injured list while recovering from a shoulder strain, Daniel got the call to the big club Thursday after he posted a 1.77 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 28:5 K:BB across 20.1 innings over his final four rehab starts with Single-A Inland Empire. The right-hander was a bit wild with three walks and a wild pitch in his major-league debut, but he worked out of a few jams to hold the Guardians scoreless while throwing a team-high 66 pitches in a bullpen game for Los Angeles. It's unclear if Daniel will remain in a bulk-relief role moving forward, and it's possible that he heads back to the minors whenever Chase Silseth (concussion) is able to return from the 7-day injured list.

Sewald retired the only batter he faced to register a save against the Cubs on Thursday.

Arizona led 6-1 heading into the bottom of the ninth frame, so it didn't look like Sewald would be needed. However, the Cubs scored a run on three hits to put the potential tying run in the on-deck circle with two outs, resulting in the closer getting the call. Sewald got Seiya Suzuki to ground out to end the contest and walk away with a save without needing to work up much of a sweat. It was Sewald's third save in September and his 31st overall this season.

Pepiot (2-0) earned the win Thursday, allowing one hit over seven scoreless innings against Miami. He struck out three without issuing any walks.

The 26-year-old was perfect through 6.2 innings before Josh Bell grounded a single up the middle. Pepiot tallied only three strikeouts for the second consecutive outing, but he was extremely efficient, needing just 84 pitches (60 strikes) to complete seven frames for the first time in his young career. After posting a 6.7 BB/9 in his first stint in the big-leagues last year, Pepiot has issued just two walks in 21 innings this season with a sterling 0.86 ERA and minuscule 0.52 WHIP. The rookie is currently scheduled for a home matchup against the Padres early next week.

Munoz picked up the save Thursday against Tampa Bay. He hit a batter and issued a walk while striking out two in a scoreless ninth inning.

The 24-year-old closer worked around a hit-by-pitch and a walk to shut the door on Seattle's 1-0 victory, getting back on track after allowing a run in each of his previous three appearances. Munoz has now converted 10 of his first 12 save chances since taking over as the primary closer at the trade deadline. The hard-throwing righty owns a 3.02 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, and an impressive 12.7 K/9 across 41.2 innings on the campaign.

Littell (3-5) took the loss Thursday, allowing one run on five hits and one walk over eight innings against the Mariners. He struck out four.

Littell turned in the longest outing of his career Thursday, holding Seattle to just one run and retiring 19 of the final 20 batters he faced. However, the 27-year-old right-hander was saddled with an unlucky loss on account of Tampa Bay's failure to provide any run support. In eight starts since joining the Rays' rotation as a full starter, Littell has a 3-3 record with 3.86 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and a 30:4 K:BB across 46.2 innings. His next start is tentatively scheduled for early next week against a Minnesota offense that leads MLB in strikeouts versus right-handed pitching.

Assad (3-3) allowed three runs on seven hits across 5.1 innings to take the loss Thursday against the Diamondbacks. He walked one and didn't have any strikeouts.

Assad pitched OK, but he couldn't match his last two starts, when he went seven innings each time and allowed just one earned run overall. The righty has been pushed into the rotation with Marcus Stroman (hip) out and Drew Smyly getting shifted into the bullpen. Assad has been solid all year with a 2.83 ERA across 92.1 innings, and he'll look to stay sharp in his next start, which is currently penciled in for next week against the Rockies at Coors Field.

Vasquez (calf) began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Toledo on Thursday.

Vasquez has been sidelined by calf tightness since Aug. 29. He shouldn't need much time to ramp up given he rarely works more than an inning, so it's realistic that he could return to the Detroit bullpen by mid-September.

The Angels recalled Daniel from Triple-A Salt Lake on Thursday.

Daniel was expected to replace Chase Silseth (concussion) in the Angels' six-man rotation in Thursday's series opener with the Guardians, but the Halos will instead open the game with Jhonathan Diaz, whose contract was selected from Triple-A as well. The Angels could still choose to deploy Daniel in tandem with Diaz, given that Daniel is capable of offering plenty of length after working at least five innings in each of his last three minor-league appearances. After opening the season on the Angels' 60-day injured list while recovering from a shoulder injury, Daniel hasn't pitched above the Single-A level in 2023, but he was recently activated and had been scheduled to start for Salt Lake on Thursday until the big club required an extra arm. Daniel looked dominant over his six rehab outings between the rookie-level Arizona Complex League and Single-A Inland Empire, striking out 37 and issuing just five walks while pitching to a 1.78 ERA and 0.95 WHIP across 25.1 innings.

Barria was placed on the 15-day injured list Thursday due to a hamstring injury, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Barria has been working primarily in a multi-inning role out of the Angels' bullpen and has allowed 30 earned runs across his last 25 innings pitched. Davis Daniel is expected to be called up in a corresponding move.

The Angels optioned Reyes to Triple-A Salt Lake on Thursday, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

After allowing three runs in three innings since being recalled from Triple-A last week, Reyes will head back to the minors in favor of Jhonathan Diaz, who was recalled in a corresponding move. Reyes holds a 6.25 ERA and 1.67 WHIP through 36 innings in Triple-A this season, and he would likely only return to the majors this year as a depth piece.