MLB Player News

Funderburk notched the save in a 7-4 win over the Padres on Friday, allowing no hits and two walks with one strikeout in a scoreless ninth inning.

It was the first save of the season for Funderburk, whose usage was certainly interesting Friday. Justin Topa appeared to be first in line for save opportunities from the Minnesota bullpen, but he worked the seventh inning against San Diego. It's likely too early to gauge if Funderburk has definitively made his way into the closer picture -- the southpaw owns a dicey 4.40 ERA, 1.81 WHIP and 23:15 K:BB for the year -- but he hasn't yielded an earned run over his last 11.2 innings.

Rodon (15-7) earned the win against the White Sox on Friday, allowing one run on seven hits and two walks with five strikeouts over six innings.

Rodon allowed a run in the fifth inning while tossing five scoreless frames and generating 11 swinging strikes on 97 pitches. The veteran southpaw is now 5-1 in eight outings since the All-Star break, holding opponents to two earned runs or fewer six times with three quality starts in that span. He leads the American League with 15 wins and will take a 3.18 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 177:67 K:BB across 164.1 innings into a road matchup with the Astros next week.

Lewis went 2-for-3 with a solo home run, a walk and an additional run scored in a 7-4 win over the Padres on Friday.

The homer was Lewis' ninth of the season and his fourth of the month. The oft-injured slugger is trying to end the season on a high note, and fantasy managers in need of pop in shallow leagues should give him a look. Over his last 11 outings (40 at-bats), Lewis is slashing .250/.318/.575 with five extra-base hits and nine RBI.

Jones with 2-for-4 with a solo home run, a double and an additional run scored in Friday's 5-4 win over the Mariners.

Jones launched a 402-foot homer in the seventh inning before adding a leadoff double and scoring the tying run in the ninth. The 27-year-old opened August in a 4-for-30 slump but has gone 4-for-8 with two homers over his past two contests. For the season, he's slashing .219/.311/.321 with five long balls, 31 RBI, 31 runs scored and seven steals across 348 plate appearances.

Vest notched the save Friday against the Royals, allowing one hit and no walks with no strikeouts in a scoreless ninth inning.

The Tigers continue to deploy a committee approach at closer, with Vest working the ninth inning and Kyle Finnegan handling the eighth frame Friday. Although his usage could be frustrating at times, Vest remains worth holding onto for rosters in need of saves in the vast majority of fantasy leagues. The right-hander has a 2.76 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 64:19 K:BB while converting 20 of his 26 save chances over 58.2 innings.

Kurtz was removed from Friday's game against the Rangers with right oblique soreness, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

After scoring from second base during the third inning, Kurtz was replaced in the field to begin the fourth frame. The severity of his injury remains unknown, though the A's may play it safe and hold the rookie slugger out for a game or two. If that ends up being the case, Tyler Soderstrom and Brett Harris would be in play to start at first base.

Polanco went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run in Friday's 5-4 loss to the Guardians.

Polanco staked the Mariners to a 4-0 lead with a two-run homer in the first inning. The 32-year-old has now hit safely in each of his past seven starts, posting five extra-base hits, seven RBI, six runs scored and a stolen base during that stretch. On the season, he's slashing .255/.318/.465 with 21 homers, 61 RBI, 50 runs scored and six steals across 423 plate appearances.

Allen did not factor into the decision in Friday's 5-4 win over the Mariners, allowing four runs on six hits and three walks with five strikeouts over six innings.

Allen was tagged for four runs in the first inning but settled in to blank the Mariners over his final five frames. It was the first time the southpaw completed six innings since July 29, and he'll close August with a 5.96 ERA across five starts. For the year, he owns a 4.42 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 105:57 K:BB over 134.1 innings and lines up for a road matchup with the Red Sox next week.

Rutschman (oblique) has not yet resumed swinging but is hopeful to return before the end of the regular season, MLB.com reports.

The last-place Orioles hope that Rutschman will be recovered from an oblique strain with around 10 days or two weeks before the end of the season, per Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com, so fantasy managers shouldn't anticipate the star catcher being a factor until mid-September at the earliest. With Gary Sanchez (knee) also on the injured list, the lefty-hitting Samuel Basallo should continue working on the strong side of a platoon with the righty-hitting Alex Jackson behind the dish.

Kirby did not factor into the decision in Friday's 5-4 loss to the Guardians, allowing two runs on six hits and no walks with six strikeouts over seven innings.

Kirby cruised through five scoreless innings before giving up solo homers in the sixth and seventh, throwing 64 of 98 pitches for strikes while generating 10 whiffs. It was the 27-year-old's sixth time posting a quality start with two earned runs or fewer in his last seven outings, the lone blemish being a seven-run blowup Aug. 17. He'll take a 3.94 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 103:26 K:BB across 102.2 innings into a road matchup with the Rays next week.