MLB Player News

Fairbanks (4-4) came away with the win against the Nationals on Friday, allowing one run on one hit and one walk while striking out two batters in one inning.

Fairbanks was brought out for the ninth inning to protect the Marlins' 2-1 lead. He struck out the first two batters he faced, but after Jacob Young got on base and stole second, Fairbanks proceeded to give up an RBI single to Daylen Lile to tie the game up at 2-2. It was the fourth blown save chance of the season for Fairbanks, but he ended up being tagged with the win thanks to Javier Sanoja's walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the frame. Fairbanks has a 3.48 ERA and 0.97 WHIP across 10.1 innings since the All-Star break.

Joyce (0-1) blew a save and took the loss against the Rangers on Friday, allowing two unearned runs on two hits and one walk with one strikeout while recording two outs in the 10th inning.

Joyce was summoned to close out a one-run lead in the 10th inning and recorded two quick outs. It was downhill from there, though, as he yielded an RBI double before the game-winning run scored on a throwing error. Despite the end result, the 25-year-old has now gone seven straight outings without allowing an earned run since making his season debut Aug. 5. He owns three saves and one hold over that span to go along with a strong 9:2 K:BB and should remain the club's favorite for save chances down the stretch.

Garcia earned the save in Friday's 5-3 win over the Rays, striking out two batters in a scoreless ninth inning.

Garcia got the call to protect the Orioles' two-run lead in the ninth after Andrew Kittredge was deployed for the eighth frame. Garcia proceeded to strike out each of the first two batters he faced before getting Cedric Mullins to fly out to secure Baltimore's 62nd win of the season. Garcia, Kittredge, Cam Sanders and Yennier Cano have all been in the mix for saves, and that appears to be the case until either Ryan Helsley (elbow) or Felix Bautista (shoulder) returns from the injured list.

Chapman collected the save in Boston's 6-4 win over San Francisco on Friday, allowing one walk while striking out three batters in a scoreless ninth inning.

Chapman was brought out for the ninth frame for his first save chance since Aug. 1 against the Dodgers. His walk to Buddy Kennedy was Chapman's only blemish, as he got the other batters he faced to strike out swinging, the fourth time that the veteran southpaw has logged three strikeouts in an outing. It was only the second save that Chapman has recorded in August, but his 28 saves on the year are tied with Louis Varland and Jhoan Duran for sixth-most in the majors. Chapman sports a 1.90 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 65:8 K:BB over 46.1 innings this season.

Megill recorded his 24th save of the season in Friday's 2-1 win over Atlanta, allowing one hit in a scoreless ninth inning. He struck out one.

The right-hander fired an efficient 10 pitches (eight strikes) as he converted his 16th straight save opportunity, with his last blown chance coming June 5 at Coors Field. Megill has been scored upon in only one of 14 appearances since the All-Star break, posting a 0.64 ERA, 0.43 WHIP and 10:2 K:BB over 14 innings during that span. With Megill having pitched both Thursday and Friday, Brewers manager Pat Murphy may have to turn to someone else if the team has a late lead Saturday.

The Mariners optioned Davila to Triple-A Tacoma on Friday.

Davila has given up four runs (three earned) in 3.2 innings since coming up from Triple-A on Aug. 7. Now sporting a 4.10 ERA and 1.22 WHIP across 26.1 major-league innings on the season, the 27-year-old will head back to the minors to make room for Carlos Vargas (lat), who returned from the IL in a corresponding move. Davila could still return to make a few more appearances down the stretch for Seattle whenever the big club needs fresh bullpen depth.

The Mariners transferred Brash (lat) to the 60-day injured list Friday.

Brash has been on the injured list since June 10 with a strained right lat, so while his move to the 60-day IL will create a 40-man roster spot for Carlos Vargas (lat), it won't affect Brash's return timeline. The 28-year-old righty began throwing off a mound last weekend and is trending toward returning to Seattle's bullpen sometime in early September.

The Mariners reinstated Vargas (lat) from the 60-day injured list Friday.

Vargas has been on the injured list all season with a strained right lat, though he was cleared to begin playing in rehab games Aug. 8 and has since fired 4.2 shutout innings between High-A Everett and Triple-A Tacoma. Now fully healthy, the 26-year-old righty will likely claim a middle-relief role with the Mariners. Nick Davila was optioned to Tacoma in a corresponding move, and Matt Brash (lat) was transferred to the 60-day IL to free up a 40-man spot.

The Cubs optioned Assad to Triple-A Iowa on Friday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.

The move opens up a spot on the Cubs' active roster for Daniel Palencia, who was activated from the 60-day injured list in a corresponding move. Assad was promoted to the Cubs' bullpen on Monday and worked in long-relief against the White Sox on Tuesday, when he allowed two hits while striking out two batters across three scoreless frames. He's started in all five of his outings in Triple-A, where he has a 7.31 ERA and 2.06 WHIP across 16 innings this season.

The Cubs activated Palencia (elbow) from the 60-day injured list Friday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.

Palencia has been officially cleared to return from a nearly two-month absence due to a right elbow flexor strain, and he'll be available out of the bullpen for Friday's game against the Mariners. Palencia was the Cubs' closer prior to his injury, but he may be restricted to high-leverage situations in his return given how well Jacob Webb has pitched in save opportunities. In corresponding moves, Owen Miller was designated for assignment and Javier Assad was optioned to Triple-A Iowa.