MLB Player News

The Nationals transferred Waldron (chest) to the 60-day injured list Saturday.

Waldron landed on the injured list Tuesday with chest inflammation, so his move to the 60-day IL will officially rule him out for the rest of the season. He'll close the book on the 2026 campaign after accumulating a 6.54 ERA and 1.59 WHIP with a 33:11 K:BB across 42.2 innings between San Diego, Toronto and Washington. Chase Hampton was claimed off waivers from the Yankees to fill the open spot on the 40-man roster.

The Rays designated Grove for assignment Saturday.

Grove was sent down to Triple-A on Aug. 13, and he has since surrendered just two earned runs while posting an 11:5 K:BB over 11.1 innings. Despite his recent performance, the Rays will strip him of his 40-man roster spot and award it to Brody Hopkins, who was selected to the major-league roster Saturday.

The Rays optioned Cook to Triple-A Durham on Saturday.

Cook never made an appearance for the Rays after being recalled from Durham on Sept. 4, and he'll now end up as the roster casualty necessary to make room for Brody Hopkins, who was selected to the active roster Saturday.

The Cubs placed Thornton on the 15-day injured list Saturday with left ankle soreness, Patrick Mooney of The Athletic reports.

Thornton has been one of the more reliable members of a shaky Cubs bullpen this season, but his move to the IL will prevent him from pitching in a game until the final day of the regular season. Edward Cabrera (finger) was reinstated from the injured list in a corresponding move and will join Chicago's bullpen to fill the void left by Thornton.

The Nationals reinstated Lovelady (triceps) from the 60-day injured list Saturday.

A triceps strain has kept Lovelady out since late June, but he began a rehab assignment Sept. 1 and has since allowed three earned runs while striking out four batters and walking one across 5.1 innings. Now fully healthy, he could enter the mix for high-leverage work with team saves leader Clayton Beeter heading back to Triple-A in a corresponding move.

Tolman gave up a run on a hit and a walk in the ninth inning Friday, recording his second save of the season in a 4-3 win over the Angels. He didn't strike out a batter.

The rookie southpaw wasn't sharp, tossing 15 of 25 pitches for strikes, but Tolman was able to escape with the save. He's been scored upon in three straight appearances but also has the Nationals' only two saves over the last month, and with Clayton Beeter jettisoned to Triple-A, Tolman is nominally the top option for the team in the bullpen. Expect Washington manager Blake Butera to continue auditioning new potential high-leverage options over the final weeks with his focus firmly on 2027.

Jansen struck out the only batter he faced Friday to record his 19th save of the season in a 6-2 win over the Rockies.

Brant Hurter ran into trouble in the ninth inning, forcing Jansen into the game with two outs and the potential tying run on deck, and the veteran closer got the job done by fanning Connor Norby on just four pitches. Jansen has been mostly dialed in since the All-Star break, and over his last 16.1 innings and 18 appearances he's put together a 2.20 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 20:9 K:BB with three wins and eight saves.

Holderman (wrist) threw a bullpen session Friday at Progressive Field, Paul Hoynes of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

The Guardians placed Holderman on the injured list Sept. 4 due to right wrist inflammation, but his ability to get back on the mound a week later suggests that he won't require an extended stint on the shelf. Before being deactivated, Holderman had produced a 2.73 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 50:20 K:BB in 52.2 innings while collecting six wins, one save and 11 holds in 54 appearances out of the Cleveland bullpen.

Armstrong (calf) didn't record a strikeout while allowing one run on two hits in one inning during a rehab appearance Friday with Triple-A Columbus.

Armstrong was initially placed on the shelf July 25 due to a left calf strain before being transferred to the 60-day IL less than two weeks later. He's eligible for reinstatement Sept. 23 and should be on track to rejoin the Guardians on that date or shortly thereafter, assuming his subsequent rehab appearances go well.

Espino will serve as the Guardians' opening pitcher for Saturday's game against the Twins in Minnesota, Paul Hoynes of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Gavin Williams had been lined up to start Saturday, but the Guardians will instead push their ace back a couple days in the schedule so that he can make his next start Monday in the series opener versus the division-leading White Sox. Espino will thus be called upon to make his first MLB start Saturday, though he's pitched almost exclusively in relief both for the big club and at Triple-A Columbus this season and will likely be limited to a 1-to-2-inning appearance. Once Espino exits the game, Joey Cantillo could be called upon to pitch in bulk relief.