MLB Player News

Bibee did not factor into the decision Saturday, allowing one run on five hits over 5.1 innings in a 2-1 victory over the Rangers. He struck out four.

The lone run against Bibee came in the fifth frame, where he allowed a single to Evan Carter and a double to Marcus Semien on back-to-back at-bats. The 24-year-old right-hander has now allowed six or fewer hits in six consecutive appearances, a stretch in which he owns a 3.24 ERA and a 35:10 K:BB across 33.1 innings. Bibee is expected to toe the mound next against the Orioles at Progressive Field.

Dunning did not factor into the decision Saturday, allowing six hits and three walks over five scoreless innings in a 2-1 loss to Cleveland. He struck out five.

After surrendering 19 runs across his last four outings (19.1 innings), Dunning blanked the Guardians over five innings Saturday. While the start also marked Dunning's fifth consecutive appearance walking multiple batters, he was exceptional in limiting power, preventing Cleveland from registering an extra-base hit. The 28-year-old is tentatively scheduled to make his next appearance against the Mariners, who score the 10th most runs per game in MLB.

Kluber (shoulder) feels healthy but will not pitch again this season, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

Kluber has been throwing off a big-league mound since late June due to shoulder inflammation, but he'd been working his way back, making a pair of rehab appearances for Triple-A Worcester over the last week. With the Red Sox falling out of the playoff race, they won't ask the 37-year-old righty to put more miles on his arm in what have become essentially meaningless games. The fact that Kluber at least made it back for some rehab games bodes well for his readiness for the start of next season, though his 7.04 ERA in 55 innings this season means his opportunities may be limited.

Lorenzen and Cristopher Sanchez will be used in a piggyback role Tuesday against Atlanta, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

The Phillies may or may not have acquired Lorenzen at the deadline with the intention of using him in relief during the postseason, but his 7.96 ERA and 1.85 WHIP over his last five starts has certainly pushed him in that direction. Tuesday's outing could be a test for an arrangement the team hopes to use in the playoffs, with the left-handed Sanchez likely to throw a handful of innings before turning it over to the right-handed Lorenzen for a few more. Whether the setup is used more than once or if Lorenzen will move to a standard bullpen role following Tuesday's appearance is not yet clear.

The Rangers selected Latz's contract from Triple-A Round Rock on Saturday, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

Latz has spent the entire season with Round Rock, posting an impressive 87:29 K:BB across 63.2 frames. He should fill a low-leverage role in the Rangers bullpen.

Ober will make a start during the team's upcoming series against the Reds in Cincinnati that begins Monday, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

In his return to the Minnesota rotation Friday, Ober struck out six and limited the White Sox to two runs over five innings en route to claiming the win. The performance was solid enough to convince the Twins to keep him in the rotation for at least one more turn, with Ober most likely getting the ball Wednesday in Cincinnati if manager Rocco Baldelli elects to keep him on normal rest. Dallas Keuchel has been moved to the bullpen to open up the rotation spot for Ober.

Manager Rocco Baldelli said Saturday that Keuchel isn't in line to make another start and has been moved to the bullpen, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

Keuchel made his sixth start of the season Wednesday, giving up four runs on six hits and three walks over four innings in a no-decision against the Rays. With the veteran southpaw now sporting a 5.34 ERA and 1.52 WHIP through 30.1 innings with the big club this season, he'll cede his spot in the rotation to Bailey Ober, who will stick around in a starting role after limiting the White Sox to two runs over five innings Friday against the White Sox after being recalled from Triple-A St. Paul. Keuchel could be available to make his first appearance out of the bullpen as soon as Sunday.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Friday that Grove (lat) could rejoin the team on its next homestand, per the Associated Press.

Grove hasn't pitched for Los Angeles since Aug. 5, when he went 1.1 innings as an opener. The right-hander landed on the injured list the following day due to lat soreness and has made just one rehab appearance since, allowing two runs on three hits while striking out three batters for Triple-A Oklahoma City on Sept. 7. It's not clear what Grove has been doing to rehab since, but it appears that he could nonetheless return to the Dodgers, likely as a bullpen arm, as soon as Monday, when the team begins a seven-game homestand against Detroit and San Francisco.

Oviedo allowed one earned run on four hits and five walks while striking out seven across five innings Friday against the Yankees. He did not factor into the decision.

Oviedo issued all five of his free passes in his first three innings of work, and he has now allowed 12 walks across his last 12.1 frames -- spanning three starts. He managed to avoid significant damage Friday thanks to some timely strikeouts, and he managed his highest punchout total in an outing since July 15. Oviedo has had an inconsistent season, but he's shown flashes of being an effective starter and has maintained a 4.27 ERA and 1.36 WHIP across a career-high 166.2 frames.

Eflin (15-8) allowed one earned run on one hit and no walks while striking out eight across seven innings to earn the win Friday against the Orioles.

In a pivotal series for the Rays, Eflin stepped up to deliver an excellent performance, marking the third time in his last 12 starts that he's managed to work at least seven innings. In that same span, he's allowed one run or zero on six occasions, a stretch that has helped him lock in a career-best year by nearly every statistical measure.