MLB Player News

Helsley pitched 1.1 perfect innings and struck out two to earn the save in Monday's 1-0 win over the Brewers.

Helsley's last six outings have come in three pairs of back-to-back days. He's gone 8.1 innings without allowing a run since returning from a forearm injury, allowing two hits and three walks while striking out 12 in that span. The closer is up to 12 saves, two holds and four blown saves while pitching to a 2.43 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 45:14 K:BB through 33.1 innings this season.

Hernandez (forearm) is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment Tuesday with Triple-A Gwinnett.

Hernandez is currently on the 60-day injured list with right forearm inflammation and isn't eligible to be activated until the final weekend of the 2023 regular season. He had allowed three earned runs through 3.2 innings of relief with Atlanta prior to the IL stint and could simply finish out the year in the minors.

McHugh (shoulder) is set to begin a rehab assignment Tuesday with Triple-A Gwinnett.

McHugh should be able to return to Atlanta's bullpen by the end of the week, following maybe one or two appearances on the farm. The 36-year-old multi-inning reliever was placed on the 15-day injured list Sept. 6 due to right shoulder inflammation.

Luetge was designated for assignment by Atlanta on Tuesday.

Jesse Chavez (shin) is back from the 60-day injured list to fill the vacated 40-man roster spot. Luetge, 36, has surrendered 11 earned runs in 13.2 innings of relief this season at the major-league level.

Atlanta activated Chavez (shin) from the 60-day injured list Tuesday.

Chavez has finally been cleared to return to major-league action following a three-month absence to heal a microfracture in his left shin. The veteran reliever was sporting a 1.55 ERA and 36:9 K:BB through 29 innings prior to the injury and tallied six strikeouts over 3.1 scoreless frames during a three-appearance rehab stint with Triple-A Gwinnett.

Rea is expected to work in bulk relief behind Trevor Megill in Tuesday's game against the Cardinals, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Rea was called up from Triple-A Nashville ahead of Monday's series opener in St. Louis, but he wasn't needed out of the bullpen in the Brewers' 1-0 loss. With Milwaukee seemingly looking to build in an extra rest day for all five members of their rotation, Megill is expected to serve as the lead pitcher Tuesday for what projects to be a bullpen day. Since Rea last pitched Sept. 13, he'll be well-rested and should be able to handle multiple innings out of the bullpen once Megill exits the contest.

Sanchez (shoulder) did not make a second appearance with Double-A Pensacola on Sunday as scheduled, MLB.com reports.

Sanchez did throw a scoreless inning for Pensacola on Sept. 12 in what was his first appearance at any level since 2020. Evidently, he must not have recovered from that outing as hoped, so his next appearance was scratched. Sanchez is slated to throw a bullpen session soon, so there's a slim chance he'll make it back to game action again before the end of the minor-league season.

Davis (knee) did some running on the field Monday, MLB.com reports.

It's a big step for Davis as he works his way back from right meniscus surgery that he underwent in early July. The speedy outfielder won't make it back before the end of the season but hopefully should be able to have a relatively normal offseason.

Lively is expected to work as a bulk reliever behind opening pitcher Fernando Cruz in Tuesday's game against the Twins, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

After being activated from the COVID-19-related injured list last Thursday, Lively looks poised to make his second consecutive appearance as a bulk reliever. While working behind Derek Law in an 8-2 loss to the Tigers in his return to action, Lively took a no-decision after giving up three earned runs on four hits and no walks while striking out four over 4.1 innings. Cruz is expected to work just an inning or two Tuesday before turning the game over to Lively, who is the Reds pitcher most likely to factor into the decision. Looking ahead, Lively could end up sticking as a pure reliever, as the Reds have three remaining off days that would allow the team to get by with a four-man rotation the rest of the way. After tossing seven innings of two-run ball in Monday's 7-3 win, Connor Phillips could be poised to remain in the rotation as the No. 4 pitcher rather than Lively.

Bender (elbow) is expected to progress to live batting practice sessions soon, MLB.com reports.

Bender has been throwing off a mound for two months now and is almost ready to face hitters. The reliever is nearly 13 months removed from Tommy John surgery but is not expected to make it back before the end of the season.