MLB Player News

Murray didn't factor into the decision in Friday's 11-3 rout of Atlanta, allowing one hit over three scoreless innings. He struck out one without walking a batter.

Making just his third big-league appearance, Murray faced one batter over the minimum as the opener while tossing an efficient 32 of 40 pitches for strikes. The Astros currently have only four healthy starting pitchers and seemingly no help coming from either Triple-A or the injured list, so they could be turning to their well-stocked bullpen every fifth turn through the rotation, with Murray likely to be part of that equation. The 28-year-old righty hasn't given up a run in his first 5.1 MLB innings, and Friday's third-inning single by Marcell Ozuna was the first baserunner he'd allowed.

Alvarez went 2-for-3 with a solo home run in Friday's 8-3 loss to the Rangers.

The backstop got his team on the board by slicing a 98.2 mph fastball from Jacob deGrom over the wall in the right-field corner to lead off the third inning, but the Mets were already in a 6-0 hole at that point. It was Alvarez's eighth homer of the season, and his first in eight games since returning from his latest IL stint, but he's batting just .182 (4-for-22) during that span as he plays through both a fractured left index finger and a sprained right thumb, the latter of which will likely require offseason surgery. With Luis Torrens (forearm) on the shelf and New York desperately trying to hang onto a wild-card spot, however, Alvarez will get as much playing time as his pain tolerance allows.

Tong (1-2) took the loss Friday, surrendering six runs on four hits and three walks over two-thirds of an inning as the Mets fell 8-3 to the Rangers. He struck out one.

The 22-year-old rookie couldn't escape the first inning, walking two of the first three batters he faced, and Tong may have been feeling jitters in a high-profile matchup against former Mets ace Jacob deGrom. Tong was the victim of bad luck as much as his control problems, however, as he gave up three opposite-field singles on bloops and flares -- none hit harder than 89.1 mph -- before a well-placed double by Michael Helman into the left-field corner with an exit velocity of just 81.5 mph chased the right-hander from the game. Tong sports an unsightly 8.49 ERA, 1.71 WHIP and 13:7 K:BB through his first three starts and 11.2 big-league innings, and with Kodai Senga looking sharp in his first Triple-A start Friday, the Mets may make a change in their rotation as they try to desperately cling to a wild-card spot. If he gets another turn, Tong is currently set to make his next start at home next weekend against the Nationals.

Eaton started in right field and went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's 4-1 loss to the Yankees.

Eaton busted up a no-hit bid by New York pitching with a seventh-inning home run, one of two hits Boston mustered on the evening. He's been part of the crew helping to fill a void in right field, along with Nick Sogard and Rob Refsnyder. That void will eventually be filled by Wilyer Abreu (calf), who is running at 85 percent, per MLB.com. Abreu could return during next week's series against the Athletics beginning Sept. 16. Since being called up from Triple-A Worcester in August, Eaton is batting .278 with a .750 OPS, one home run, two RBI and six runs scored over 15 games.

DeGrom (12-7) picked up the win Friday, giving up three runs on four hits over seven innings in an 8-3 victory over the Mets. He struck out two without walking a batter.

The veteran righty didn't display the same kind of dominance he possessed the last time he stepped on the mound at Citi Field at the end of the 2022 season while a member of the Mets -- deGrom managed to generate only five swinging strikes on 88 pitches (59 total strikes) -- but he didn't need to as the Rangers backed his revenge game with six runs in the top of the first inning. DeGrom was still plenty effective, retiring the final 15 batters he faced in his 14th quality start of the year, and he hasn't allowed more than three runs in any of his last six outings, posting a 2.91 ERA, 0.82 WHIP and 36:6 K:BB in 34 innings over that stretch. He lines up to make his next start on the road next week in Houston as Texas tries to stay in the AL wild-card picture.

Texas manager Bruce Bochy said Friday that Seager (abdomen) was able to rotate his body, MLB.com reports.

Seager's ability to rotate his body enables the Rangers to speed up his recovery. He hopes to begin swinging a bat soon and could return during the team's final homestand beginning Sept. 19.

Smith (shoulder) struck out two and allowed one earned run on one hit and one walk over one inning Wednesday in a relief appearance for Triple-A Toledo after being activated from the 7-day injured list Tuesday.

Smith had been on the shelf at Toledo since the All-Star break due to a right shoulder strain before rejoining the Triple-A bullpen upon completing a six-appearance rehab assignment between the Florida State and Midwest Leagues. The 25-year-old righty possesses a spot on the Tigers' 40-man roster and could be a candidate for a promotion in the final two weeks of the season if Detroit has a need for another bullpen arm.

Perez (1-5) took the loss Friday as the White Sox were downed 4-0 by the Guardians, giving up three runs on four hits and two walks over 6.2 innings. He struck out three.

The veteran southpaw had no margin for error as Tanner Bibee was busy firing a two-hit shutout opposite him, but Perez still delivered his third quality start in his last four outings on 96 pitches (61 strikes). Since coming off the IL in mid-August, Perez has produced a 3.34 ERA, 0.93 WHIP and 24:9 K:BB in 32.1 innings over six appearances (five starts), but he has an 0-4 record to show for it due to a lack of run support -- incredibly, Chicago's been shut out in four of those six games. He's scheduled to make his next trip to the mound at home next week against the Orioles.

Triple-A Toledo reinstated Flores (shoulder) from its 60-day injured list Thursday.

Flores hasn't appeared out of the bullpen in either of Toledo's two games since his activation, but he appears to be healthy again after a shoulder injury had kept him on the shelf all season. The right-hander appeared to be trending toward a return in late August after he made four rehab appearances in the Florida State League last month, but he may have incurred a minor setback that prompted Toledo to delay his activation a few more weeks.

Bibee (10-11) picked up the win Friday, allowing two hits over nine scoreless innings in a 4-0 victory over the White Sox. He struck out 10 without walking a batter.

Both hits were one-out singles in the third inning, and the right-hander quickly escaped the jam by coaxing a double-play grounder out of Mike Tauchman. Bibee racked up 35 called or swinging strikes among his 103 pitches (74 total strikes) as he produced his first career shutout, and the first by any Cleveland pitcher since Zach Plesac in 2019. The 10 Ks also tied Bibee's season high, and he's lasted at least six innings in four straight trips to the mound, posting a 3.54 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 20:6 K:BB in 28 innings over that stretch. He'll look to keep rolling in his next start, which lines up to come on the road next weekend in Minnesota.