MLB Player News

Morton will undergo an MRI on Saturday after leaving his start Friday at Washington with right index finger discomfort, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

Morton felt something in his right index finger while throwing a curveball in the bottom of the first inning and was replaced by Michael Tonkin before the bottom of the second. X-rays were negative for any fractures, but Morton may be dealing with some sort of ligament or tendon issue -- for now, it's being called a sprain. This injury could mark the end of his regular season if it's at all severe, though he still might be a possibility for the NLDS. His final regular-season start was slated to come in next week's series in Atlanta against the Cubs.

Morton was removed from his start Friday at Washington due to right index finger discomfort.

Morton looked a little off while issuing two walks in the first inning and was replaced by Michael Tonkin before the bottom of the second. The 39-year-old right-hander didn't allow any hits or runs and tallied one strikeout prior to his early departure.

Grove (lat) is expected to be activated from the 15-day injured list Saturday, Matthew Moreno of DodgerBlue.com reports.

That's the word from Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, who added that Grove will be given "every opportunity" to earn a spot in the team's postseason bullpen mix. Out since early August due to a right lat injury, the 26-year-old struck out four of the five batters he faced in his third and final rehab appearance Wednesday with Triple-A Oklahoma City.

Taillon (8-10) earned the win Friday, allowing four hits and four walks over six scoreless innings against Colorado. He struck out seven.

Taillon didn't have his best command, but all four hits he allowed were singles in what wound up being a 6-0 shutout victory for the host Cubs. The 31-year-old right-hander lowered his ERA from 5.27 to 5.05 in the process and will look to push it below 5.00 in his final regular-season start next week at Milwaukee.

Davis (0-3) took the loss Friday, allowing three runs on four hits and three walks over five innings against the Cubs. He struck out four.

Making his first major-league start since June 20, the 26-year-old right-hander gave up an RBI single to Seiya Suzuki in the bottom of the first inning before then surrendering a two-run homer to Suzuki in the bottom of the fourth. Davis could get one more turn in the Rockies' rotation before their 2023 season comes to a close, but that lines up as a tough matchup against the Dodgers next week at Coors Field.

Stroman will start Saturday's game in Chicago against the Rockies, Tony Andracki of Marquee Sports Network reports.

Stroman has been working in relief since he returned last Friday from a lengthy absence due to hip inflammation and a rib cage cartilage fracture. He didn't throw more than 31 pitches in a single outing during his stay in the bullpen, but the right-hander has presumably stretched himself out in side sessions ahead of jumping back into the rotation. Colorado's offense struggles away from Coors Field, sitting dead last in MLB in road wRC+ at 75, so Stroman might carry some fantasy streaming appeal in Saturday's matchup even if his workload is capped.

The Mets recalled Battenfield from Triple-A Syracuse on Friday.

Battenfield was claimed off waivers from the Guardians on Sept. 2 and will join the Mets' major-league bullpen mix ahead of Friday's game at Philadelphia. Jeff Brigham has been optioned out in a corresponding roster move.

Alcantara felt renewed forearm tightness following his rehab start Thursday with Triple-A Jacksonville, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

Alcantara is headed to Miami to be evaluated this weekend by the Marlins' medical staff, and it's a safe bet that he is not going to be able to return before the end of the regular season. He tallied four strikeouts over four scoreless innings Thursday with Jacksonville while touching 98.3 mph with his fastball, but the right UCL sprain that sent him to the injured list Sept. 6 is still clearly an issue.

The Diamondbacks recalled Cecconi from Triple-A Reno on Friday.

Cecconi looks poised to work in long relief in his return to the 28-man roster. The 24-year-old has registered a 4.44 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 18:4 K:BB across his first 24.1 major-league innings (four starts, two relief appearances) this season.

Fried was placed on the 15-day injured list Friday with a blister on his left index finger.

The lefty developed the blister during Thursday's win over the Nationals. While Atlanta is expected to get the left-hander back for the postseason, Fried will not make another regular-season start. He finishes with an 8-1 record, 2.55 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 80:18 K:BB over 77.2 innings covering 14 starts.