MLB Player News

The Cubs recalled Assad from Triple-A Iowa ahead of his start Saturday against Miami, Vinnie Duber of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Assad has put up a 3.46 ERA and 1.10 WHIP across 83.1 innings in the big leagues this season and has given up four runs in nine innings since being sent down to Triple-A in late August. He'll now return to the majors to pitch against a Marlins offense that's put up a .677 OPS in the last two weeks, and he could stick around in the Cubs' rotation if he delivers another strong performance. Tyler Ferguson was optioned to Iowa in a corresponding move.

The Cubs optioned Ferguson to Triple-A Iowa on Saturday, Vinnie Duber of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Ferguson gave up one run in 1.2 innings during his lone appearance after coming up from Iowa on Tuesday. He'll now head back to the minors to make room for Javier Assad, who was recalled to start Saturday's game against the Marlins.

The Giants optioned Walker to Triple-A Sacramento on Saturday, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Walker will lose his place in San Francisco's bullpen to make room for Joel Kuhnel, who was claimed off waivers from Milwaukee on Friday. Walker has struggled to a 7.16 ERA and 1.81 WHIP in 32.2 big-league innings this season and could spend the rest of the year at Triple-A.

Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol indicated Friday that Graceffo is under consideration to make a start during next week's series in San Francisco, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

The qualifier is that the Cardinals will have to first get through a weekend series at Coors Field without needing to use Graceffo out of the bullpen, which is easier said than done. A midseason pitch mix change has unlocked Graceffo, who has logged a 2.22 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 31:11 K:BB over 28.1 innings since ditching his curveball for a new slider. He threw three perfect innings with four strikeouts while starting a bullpen game last week versus the Orioles, and the righty has since added an additional five scoreless frames with a 9:1 K:BB over two subsequent outings. Graceffo threw a season-high 48 pitches his last time out, so he should be capable of around 50-to-60 pitches next week if he does wind up making a spot start.

Fedde (8-8) earned the win Friday, allowing three hits and two walks over five scoreless innings against Minnesota. He struck out two.

Fedde recorded his second straight outing with five innings pitched and a win. The right-hander was relieved in the sixth by Hagen Smith after logging 83 pitches (47 strikes). The 33-year-old Fedde has posted a 4.00 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 90:47 K:BB in 128.1 innings this season. He is projected to make his next start Thursday against Pittsburgh.

Williams did not factor into the decision in Friday's 7-6 loss to Tampa Bay, registering a perfect inning while striking out two.

Williams was called on to start his first game of the season in his second outing with the Rangers on Friday. The 34-year-old struck out both Jonathan Aranda and Junior Caminero en route to a clean first inning before handing the ball off to the bullpen. The right-hander now owns a 3.72 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 25:7 K:BB over 19.1 innings between the Rays and Nationals this season.

Wells registered a perfect ninth inning Friday to record his sixth save of the season in a 7-6 win over Texas.

Wells recorded his sixth straight appearance without an earned run allowed, and his 15th in his last 16 outings. The right-hander was called on with no outs and two runners on in the ninth after Bryan Baker (illness) failed to record an out. In 11 games with Tampa Bay, Wells owns a 1.93 ERA, 0.79 WHIP, 13:4 K:BB and two saves over 14 innings.

Crochet (shoulder) threw a 16-pitch bullpen session Friday, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

Crochet threw exclusively fastballs in what marked his first time pitching off a mound in over three months. He's scheduled for anther bullpen session Tuesday before potentially facing hitters soon thereafter. The Red Sox still envision Crochet serving as a starter in the long run, but he'll be used as a reliever if he makes it back from the 60-day injured list later this season.

Megill struck out the side in a perfect ninth inning Friday, recording his 26th save of the season in a 10-7 win over the Reds.

The right-hander got Dane Myers and Elly De La Cruz to chase knuckle curves after Juan Brito couldn't catch up to a 98.3-mph fastball at the top of the zone to begin the frame. Megill fired 20 pitches (15 strikes) in all as he converted his 18th straight save chance, with his last blown save coming back on June 5 at Coors Field. Since that stumble, he's produced a dazzling 0.29 ERA, 0.61 WHIP and 33:7 K:BB over his last 31.1 innings.

Romano (0-3) took the loss and was charged with his fourth blown save of the season Friday against the Cardinals. He allowed three runs (two earned) on one hit and a walk over one inning in Friday's 7-6 loss to the Cardinals.

Romano entered the ninth tasked with protecting a 6-4 lead but couldn't finish the job. He walked Thomas Saggese to open the inning before Jose Fermin reached on a throwing error with one out, setting the stage for Ivan Herrera's go-ahead three-run homer. Romano has gone 14-for-18 in save chances this season, and this was just his second blown save since the All-Star break. He owns a 2.84 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 18:9 K:BB over 19 innings since joining the Rockies.