MLB Player News

The Phillies optioned Allard to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Monday.

Infielder Buddy Kennedy will join the Phillies' active roster as a replacement for Allard, who was summoned from Lehigh Valley to make a spot start Sunday. Allard scooped up a win while limiting the Royals to two runs over five innings, and he now owns a 3.50 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 13:2 K:BB over 18 innings. Though he'll head back to the minors, Allard's solid performance at the big-league level this season likely puts him ahead of Tyler Phillips and Kyle Tyler for a promotion if a rotation spot with the Phillies opens up again at some point.

General manager Ben Cherington said Sunday that he is optimistic Hayes (back) will return at some point during the 2024 season, MLB.com reports.

Hayes has been sidelined since Aug. 19 with back inflammation and has not resumed much activity. Despite the lack of progress, he should be back to man the hot corner at some point in the coming weeks.

Kiner-Falefa went 3-for-4 with a double and a run scored Sunday against the Reds.

Kiner-Falefa broke out of a quiet seven-game stretch, during which he went only 2-for-27 with a 25 percent strikeout rate. Nevertheless, he remains Pittsburgh's leadoff hitter with Andrew McCutchen (knee) sidelined and has eight runs scored and six RBI across 21 starts since joining the Pirates at the trade deadline.

The Padres recalled Vasquez from Triple-A El Paso on Monday.

He'll draw the start for the Padres in Monday's series opener in St. Louis, taking over the rotation spot vacated by knuckleballer Matt Waldron, who was optioned to Triple-A last week after giving up 22 earned runs across his last three starts. Vasquez has previously made 17 starts for the Padres this season, going 3-6 with a 4.63 ERA, 1.51 WHIP and 53:22 K:BB over 81.2 innings. He'll likely head to the bullpen or return to Triple-A once Yu Darvish (elbow) is ready to return from the 15-day injured list.

The Padres optioned Bachar to Triple-A El Paso on Monday.

The 29-year-old right-handed reliever received his first MLB call-up Sunday but didn't get the chance to make his Padres debut in the club's 3-2 win over the Mets before being sent back to Triple-A a day later. The Padres recalled right-hander Randy Vasquez from Triple-A in a corresponding move, and he'll start Monday's series opener in St. Louis.

Chapman (5-4) allowed one hit and struck out two in a scoreless ninth inning to earn the win Sunday against the Reds.

Chapman entered the game with the Pirates down a run and continued his dominant stretch. Since the All-Star break, he has allowed only one earned run across 15 innings while maintaining a 25:3 K:BB. David Bednar continues to serve as Pittsburgh's closer but has been very shaky, so Chapman may see a handful of save opportunities before the season concludes.

Barnes (8-2) blew the save but picked up the win Sunday over Atlanta, allowing a solo home run in the sixth inning.

The journeyman right-hander had never won more than three games coming into 2024, but Barnes was in the right place at the right time once again Sunday. He coughed up a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the sixth on a Matt Olson blast, but the Nationals immediately reclaimed the lead in the top of the seventh and never looked back. Since the All-Star break, Barnes has gone 3-0 with a 3.20 ERA, 1.02 WHIP an d 19:4 K:BB in 19.2 innings.

Scott (elbow) could begin throwing off a mound soon, Tim Britton of The Athletic reports.

The right-hander has been playing catch for over a week now, and he's closing in on the next step in his recovery from a sprained UCL. Scott hasn't pitched in a game since July 21, but the Mets could use the boost to their rotation as they push for a playoff spot. A timeline for his activation from the IL could come into focus once he gets back on a mound.

Tovar went 1-for-5 on Sunday against the Yankees.

Tovar had a productive weekend series in New York, going 4-for-13 with three doubles and two runs scored. However, he's endured significant struggles throughout August by hitting just .178 with an abysmal 34 percent strikeout rate and 3.2 percent walk rate. Positively, he still has 11 runs scored in 21 games for the month.

McMahon went 1-for-3 with a double, an RBI and a walk Sunday against the Yankees.

McMahon delivered an RBI double in the fifth inning, snapping a nine-game stretch during which he didn't tally an extra-base hit. While his overall stat line is comparable to past seasons, McMahon has had a disastrous August by hitting .147 with a 31.6 percent strikeout rate across 19 games.