MLB Player News

Hassell was scratched from the lineup with Triple-A Rochester on Thursday and figures to be promoted to the majors Friday, Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports reports.

The Nationals have a hole in the outfield with Alex Call having been shipped to the Dodgers at the trade deadline, and Hassell appears to be in line to fill it. The 23-year-old struggled in his first taste of the majors earlier this season, but since returning to Rochester in mid-June he's been on a tear, slashing .336/.435/.519 over 33 games with six homers, seven steals and a 23:23 BB:K. Hassell figures to handle starting duties in right field until Dylan Crews (oblique) returns from the IL.

Brzykcy might be part of the ninth-inning mix for the Nationals with Kyle Finnegan having been traded to the Tigers, Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports reports.

The 26-year-old right-hander's numbers in 2025 jump off the page in a bad way, as he carries a 7.06 ERA, 1.57 WHIP and 23:10 K:BB over 21.2 innings. Brzykcy does have a 46.3 percent whiff rate on his changeup to go along with a mid-90s fastball and effective curve, and that might be the closest thing to a true out pitch in the Washington bullpen at the moment. He's a long shot to claim the closer role outright, but Brzykcy could be part of a ninth-inning committee with lefty Jose Ferrer and righty Cole Henry.

Henry could be part of the ninth-inning mix for the Nationals with Kyle Finnegan having been traded to the Tigers, Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports reports.

The 26-year-old rookie right-hander hasn't been particularly impressive this season, leaning on his mid-90s four-seam fastball and low-80s curve to post a 3.96 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 37:20 K:BB over 38.2 innings. No one in Washington's big-league 'pen has closer-worthy numbers though, so Henry might get a shot as part of a ninth-inning committee with lefty Jose Ferrer and righty Zach Brzykcy.

Ferrer is likely to be part of the ninth-inning mix for the Nationals with Kyle Finnegan having been traded to the Tigers, Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports reports.

The 25-year-old southpaw boasts a power sinker that's averaged 97.4 mph this season and a changeup with a 42.7 percent whiff rate, but Ferrer's actual ratios don't match the scouting report, as he has a 4.78 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and meager 20.1 percent strikeout rate over 52.2 innings in 2025. If the Nats determine he isn't closer material, right-handers Cole Henry and Zach Brzykcy could get save chances instead, and a committee approach might be the most likely scenario unless someone seizes the closing role.

The Reds reinstated Friedl (personal) from the paternity list and placed him on the restricted list Friday, Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati reports.

The outfielder has already been on the paternity list for the maximum three days, so he'll head to the restricted list since he won't be back in time for Friday's 12:40 p.m. EDT start time. Friedl is apparently traveling to rejoin the team in Cincinnati, so he could be back on the active roster for Saturday's series finale versus Atlanta.

Atlanta optioned Dunning to Triple-A Gwinnett on Friday.

The right-hander surrendered five runs without recording an out Thursday against the Reds and is being demoted in favor of Austin Cox. In four appearances since being acquired by Atlanta, Dunning has given up nine runs with a 6:2 K:BB over 5.2 innings.

Atlanta recalled Cox from Triple-A Gwinnett on Friday.

The left-hander has spent the past couple weeks in the minors but is back with Atlanta ahead of Friday's game in Cincinnati. Cox has made six MLB appearances this year and has allowed two earned runs with an 11:1 K:BB over eight innings.

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

The right-hander was called up by Chicago on Tuesday and will head back to Triple-A to clear roster space for the club's trade deadline additions. Hollowell fired a scoreless inning Tuesday and has given up just one earned run across 7.1 frames in the majors this season.

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

The 21-year-old was called up Wednesday by Chicago and went 1-for-2 with three-run double that day against Milwaukee, but he'll head back to the minors to make room on the MLB roster for trade deadline acquisition Willi Castro. Ballesteros has a .334/.393/.497 slash line with 26 doubles, nine homers and three steals in 86 games this year at Iowa.

Kinley gave up two hits and a walk in a scoreless seventh inning during Thursday's extra-inning win over the Reds. He struck out one.

Making his debut for Atlanta after being acquired from Colorado on Wednesday, Kinley was brought in with the game tied 3-3 and nearly made a mess of things, loading the bases with one out before getting Spencer Steer to pop out and fanning Jake Fraley. With closer Raisel Iglesias surprisingly still on the roster after the trade deadline, Kinley will be on the fringes of high-leverage work for his new club while Pierce Johnson and Dylan Lee continue to handle setup duties.