MLB Player News
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Brian Van Belle RP | TB
Rays' Brian Van Belle: Dealing with UCL sprain
Rays manager Kevin Cash said Tuesday that Van Belle's right elbow injury is believed to be a UCL sprain, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Before he was transferred to the 60-day injured list Tuesday, Van Belle was initially placed on the 15-day IL on Saturday due to elbow inflammation. A recent MRI has revealed a sprain, and Van Belle now faces the possibility of requiring the second Tommy John surgery of his career. According to Cash, Van Belle plans to consult with Dr. Keith Meister over the next 3-to-4 weeks before a decision is made regarding whether he'll treat the injury through rest and rehab or undergo Tommy John surgery or another type of elbow procedure. Acquired from the Reds ahead of the trade deadline, Van Belle received his first call-up to the Rays on Aug. 22 and made four multi-inning relief appearances before landing on the shelf.
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Hunter Harvey RP | KC
Royals' Hunter Harvey: Rehab slowing down
Harvey (groin) threw a live batting practice session Saturday but experienced soreness afterward, which has slowed his rehab, MLB.com reports.
Harvey's rehab from a Grade 2 right adductor strain, which has sidelined him since Aug. 11, has seemingly hit a setback. Since he was traded to the Royals in July 2024, injuries have been a recurring issue, limiting Harvey to just 12 appearances this season -- all scoreless. It's unclear whether this latest snag will prevent him from returning before season's end or if he can still make it back with the big-league club.
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Shawn Armstrong RP | TEX
Rangers' Shawn Armstrong: Hangs on for save
Armstrong picked up the save Tuesday against Milwaukee, allowing one run on two hits and no walks across one inning. He didn't record a strikeout.
Armstrong inherited a two-run lead but surrendered a solo home run to Jake Bauers. He stranded the game-tying run at first base, getting Christian Yelich to line out with Jackson Chourio on base to end the contest. Armstrong has allowed a run in two of his last five appearances, a streak that followed 11.2 consecutive scoreless innings. He's up to eight saves on the year.
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Jeff Hoffman RP | TOR
Blue Jays' Jeff Hoffman: Nabs win in 10th inning
Hoffman (9-6) worked a perfect 10th inning Tuesday to pick up the win in a 4-3 victory over the Astros. He didn't walk or strike out a batter.
The Toronto closer was aided by an impressive defensive play by Vladimir Guerrero that erased the phantom runner, Jose Altuve, at third base for the first out, but Hoffman fired eight of 10 pitches for strikes in an efficient performance before Toronto won it in the bottom of the 10th. Hoffman's had a roller coaster of a season that includes serving up a stunning 14 homers in just 61.1 innings, but he may be finding his peak form at the right time for the Jays -- he's delivered five straight scoreless appearances, allowing three hits and a walk in five innings with three strikeouts.
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Bryan Abreu RP | HOU
Astros' Bryan Abreu: Blows save Tuesday
Abreu gave up two runs on two hits and two walks in the ninth inning Tuesday, getting charged with his fifth blown save of the season in a 4-3 extra-inning loss to the Blue Jays. He struck out two.
Called in to protect a 3-1 lead, Abreu loaded the bases on two walks and a single before serving up a two-run single to Isiah Kiner-Falefa with one out. It was the right-hander's first blown save in five chances since taking over the closer mantle from Josh Hader (shoulder) in early August, but it may only have been a matter of time before Abreu faltered -- he's been tagged for multiple runs in three of his last four appearances, bumping up his ERA on the season from 1.47 to 2.49.
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Cade Smith RP | CLE
Guardians' Cade Smith: Picks up 12th save
Smith secured his 12th save of the season with a scoreless inning Tuesday, allowing one hit while striking out two in a 2-0 win over the Royals.
Smith was summoned after Joey Cantillo began the inning by allowing a leadoff base hit. A Bobby Witt single put runners on the corners with one out before Smith fired back with consecutive strikeouts to end the game. He's converted his last five saves and now has multiple strikeouts in each of his last three appearances. Smith's had another productive campaign, posting a 3.20 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 90:19 K:BB in 64.2 innings.
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Dennis Santana RP | PIT
Pirates' Dennis Santana: Works scoreless inning
Santana threw a scoreless inning while not allowing a baserunner and striking out one Tuesday against the Orioles.
Santana entered the game in the ninth inning with score tied 2-2. He retired the side in order on only 10 pitches, and he has posted a 2.35 ERA and 0.85 WHIP across 15.1 frames since being tagged for five runs by the Rockies on Aug. 1. Santana should continue to serve as Pittsburgh's closer through the end of the campaign.
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Joey Cantillo RP | CLE
Guardians' Joey Cantillo: Pitches into ninth inning
Cantillo (5-3) got the win over the Royals on Tuesday after tossing eight scoreless frames while allowing just four hits and no walks. He struck out five.
Cantillo was phenomenal in what was just his third start of at least six innings pitched in his young career, and the second such start in his last two outings. Cantillo came back out for the ninth but was pulled after 92 pitches following a leadoff single by Kyle Isbel. Cantillo's velocity was notably up across the board, and he didn't issue a walk for the first time in his last seven appearances. Over his last four major-league starts, Cantillo owns a 1.09 ERA and 1.01 WHIP. He lines up for a road start against the Tigers next week.
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Braxton Ashcraft RP | PIT
Pirates' Braxton Ashcraft: Works three innings
Ashcraft allowed one earned run on two hits and two walks while striking out four across three innings Wednesday against the Orioles.
Mike Burrows drew the traditional start, but Ashcraft followed him into the game to work in bulk relief. He struggled to consistently hit the zone, with only 36 of his 63 pitches finding the strike zone. While he was inefficient, Ashcraft also racked up seven swinging strikes and recorded all three of his outs in the fifth inning via the strikeout. Ashcraft has a 2.72 ERA and 1.16 WHIP across 36.1 innings since the All-Star break, though most of those appearances have come either in bulk relief or shortened starts.
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Zach Agnos RP | COL
Rockies' Zach Agnos: Making progress
Agnos (elbow) was scheduled to throw from the slope of a mound Friday, MLB.com reports.
Agnos has been sidelined since the end of July with an elbow injury and is hoping to ramp up in time to return this season. It's unclear whether that will happen, but Agnos appears to be recovering well from the injury.