MLB Player News

Montgomery (6-4) blew the save and took the loss Saturday as the Pirates fell 4-3 to the Tigers, giving up three runs on three hits in two-thirds of an inning. He struck out one.

The southpaw was the seventh pitcher of the afternoon for Pittsburgh in a bullpen day, but Montgomery couldn't protect a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the ninth inning, instead watching Eduardo Valencia walk it off with a two-run homer. It was Montgomery's third blown save of the season and his first since becoming the Bucs' primary closer after the All-Star break, ending a stretch of 17 straight conversions. Montgomery boasts a 2.93 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 103:26 K:BB in 67.2 innings during a breakout campaign.

The Padres optioned Hart to the Arizona Complex League on Saturday.

Hart will be pushed off the Padres' active roster in order to make room for Gavin Sheets (foot), who returned from the injured list Saturday. The 33-year-old southpaw will finish the season with a 4.92 ERA and 1.20 WHIP over 64 innings with San Diego.

Irvin (2-10) took the loss Saturday, giving up five runs (four earned) on seven hits and two walks over five innings of relief as the Nationals were downed 7-1 by the Mets. He struck out six.

Piggybacking with Connelly Early in the southpaw's Washington debut, Irvin inherited a 1-0 lead but couldn't make it hold up, serving up seventh-inning homers to A.J. Ewing and Ronny Mauricio. Irvin ends the campaign having lost all six of his decisions since returning from a shoulder strain in late July, stumbling to a 5.73 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 52:26 K:BB over 55 innings in that span while getting tagged for 13 homers.

The Padres placed Mize on the 15-day injured list Saturday with a sprained right ankle.

Mize struggled mightily during his start Friday against Arizona, coughing up seven runs in only four innings, and his ankle injury may help to explain his poor showing. He'll now be forced to sit out through the end of the NLDS, and the Padres will recall Griffin Canning in a corresponding move to add to their bullpen depth.

The Padres recalled Canning from the Arizona Complex League on Saturday.

Canning was pushed off the active roster Wednesday, but he'll rejoin the Friars' pitching staff as the replacement for Casey Mize (ankle), who landed on the injured list Saturday. Canning carries a 5.57 ERA through 85.2 innings in the majors this season but has been much more effective recently, allowing just one earned run in his last 14.2 frames.

Early didn't factor into the decision in Saturday's 7-1 loss to the Mets, allowing just one hit over three scoreless innings. He struck out one without walking a batter.

Making his first appearance as a National after being acquired from the Red Sox in late July for Curtis Mead (wrist), Early was on a strict pitch count after recovering from elbow inflammation that had kept him on the shelf since June 30. The 24-year-old southpaw made the most of his limited workload, firing 21 of 34 pitches for strikes and facing just one batter over the minimum. Early wraps up his season with a 3.33 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 94:34 K:BB through 94.2 innings, and with a healthy offseason he'll head into 2027 as one of the top arms in the Washington rotation alongside Cade Cavalli.

The Padres reinstated Sheets (foot) from the injured list Saturday.

Sheets has been out since late August due to a sprained left foot, but he'll return in time for the Padres' final two regular-season games and the postseason. The 30-year-old is expected to work exclusively as a DH now that he's healthy, allowing Ty France to keep his hold on the starting first base job.

Benge went 3-for-5 with a double and two runs scored in Saturday's 7-1 win over the Nationals.

The rookie outfielder is ending his first big-league season on a tear, recording multiple hits in six of the last 12 games while batting .375 (18-for-48) with three doubles, three homers, seven RBI and 10 runs. Benge has posted a .280/.344/.429 slash line through 590 plate appearances, and along the way became the first Mets rookie in history with a 20-20 season. The 23-year-old has cemented his place as one of the foundation pieces for the lineup.

Mauricio went 2-for-4 with two home runs and three RBI in Saturday's 7-1 win over the Nationals.

Getting the start at second base and batting ninth, the 25-year-old switch hitter launched a solo shot off right-hander Jake Irvin in the seventh inning and a two-run blast against southpaw Richard Lovelady in the ninth. Since missing the entire 2024 campaign due to knee surgery, Mauricio has struggled to earn a regular spot in the Mets' lineup, but his power remains intriguing -- he's homered 21 times in 90 games this season between Triple-A Syracuse and the majors.

Simpson (foot) isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Phillies, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Simpson will get a day off to recover after fouling a ball off his right foot during the sixth inning of Friday's contest. His absence will move Victor Mesa to left field, opening up right field for Jonny DeLuca.