MLB Player News

Lawrence allowed two hits and no walks while striking out one in two-thirds of a scoreless inning during Wednesday's loss to the Padres.

Lawrence exited Friday's appearance against the Giants due to an ankle injury, but he made two appearances during the team's series in San Diego this week. He tossed 1.2 scoreless innings during those outings but was charged with a blown save during Wednesday's appearance. Tyler Kinley picked up two saves over the past week but gave up two runs in two-thirds of an inning Tuesday against the Padres, so it's unclear which pitcher will be used in save situations over the final few games of the regular season.

Murphy isn't in Atlanta's lineup Thursday against the Nationals.

Atlanta seems to have fallen into a pattern of alternating between Murphy and Travis d'Arnaud behind the plate, and Thursday will mark d'Arnaud's turn to start. Murphy is slashing .135/.286/.138 across 35 plate appearances since Sept. 1.

The Giants recalled Beck from Triple-A Sacramento on Thursday.

Beck had been struggling badly in a swingman role just prior to his Sept. 4 demotion, but he holds a decent 4.04 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 62:20 K:BB in 75.2 overall major-league innings this year. The right-hander will return in long relief ahead of Thursday's series opener at Dodger Stadium.

The Giants optioned Hjelle to Triple-A Sacramento on Thursday.

Hjelle worked 1.1 scoreless innings of relief Wednesday against the Diamondbacks, but the 26-year-old right-hander carries a rough 8.10 ERA across 13 total major-league appearances this season. Tristan Beck will join San Francisco's bullpen in a corresponding roster move ahead of Thursday's series opener versus the Dodgers.

The Giants recalled Luciano from Triple-A Sacramento on Thursday.

Luciano seems positioned to serve as the Giants' primary shortstop over the final 10 games of the 2023 regular season after the team placed Brandon Crawford (hamstring) on the 10-day injured list Thursday and released Paul DeJong. Luciano is a high-ranking prospect and can use this time as an audition to be the Opening Day starter at short in 2024, though he hasn't been much of a counting stats compiler in either the minors or majors this year.

The Giants selected Fitzgerald's contract from Triple-A Sacramento on Thursday.

Fitzgerald will get his first taste of the majors, and he might see a few starts at shortstop as Brandon Crawford (hamstring) heads to the IL and Paul DeJong was handed his release. A fourth-round draft pick of the Giants in 2019, the 26-year-old Fitzgerald had broken out to the tune of a .292/.365/.511 batting line with 22 homers and 32 stolen bases through 121 games this season between Double-A and Triple-A.

Crawford was placed on the 10-day injured list Thursday with a right hamstring strain, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Crawford suffered the injury Wednesday in what could wind up being his final game in a Giants uniform. The 36-year-old impending free agent is eligible to be activated Oct. 1, but that is the last day of the regular season and it's unclear whether he'd be healthy anyway. Marco Luciano and Tyler Fitzgerald have both been brought up from Triple-A Sacramento to cover at shortstop down the stretch. Paul DeJong was given his release.

Brazoban (hamstring/hip) is beginning a rehab assignment Thursday with Triple-A Jacksonville, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

Out since mid-August due to a left hamstring strain and left hip impingement, Brazoban might become an option again for the Marlins' bullpen leading into the final week of the regular season. He registered a 4.29 ERA and 60:31 K:BB across 56.2 innings prior to landing on the injured list.

Alcantara (forearm) is scheduled to make a rehab start Thursday with Triple-A Jacksonville, Craig Mish of the Miami Herald reports.

If that outing goes smoothly, Alcantara could make it back for one final regular-season start and perhaps help the Marlins in their quest to claim an NL wild-card spot. He was diagnosed with a right UCL sprain earlier this month but has thrown a couple of side sessions without issue in the last week. Should next week's return come to fruition, Alcantara would likely be facing the Mets on the road at Citi Field.

Contreras, who is out of the lineup Thursday against the Brewers, has been sent for an MRI on his injured left wrist, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Contreras has been bothered by wrist discomfort for a while and felt "acute pain on a swing" during Wednesday's loss to the Brewers, per Jones. This could all potentially lead to an early shutdown for the 31-year-old catcher, who has put up an impressive .309/.402/.557 batting line with 10 homers and 31 RBI in 46 games since the All-Star break. Andrew Knizner and Ivan Herrera are the fill-in options behind the plate for St. Louis.