MLB Player News

The Royals transferred Cruz (personal) from the paternity list to the restricted list Sunday.

After going on paternity leave Thursday, Cruz spent the maximum three days on the list. Rather than having Cruz return for the season finale Sunday versus the Guardians, the Royals instead shifted him to the restricted list, which opened up a spot on the 40-man roster for James McArthur (elbow), who was reinstated from the 60-day injured list. Cruz finished the 2026 season with a 4.30 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 65:20 K:BB in 58.2 innings and will likely be added back to the 40-man roster this offseason.

The Red Sox transferred Slaten (elbow) to the 60-day injured list Tuesday, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.

The transaction makes space for the return of Garrett Crochet (lat) from the 60-day IL. Slaten had previously been ruled out for the remainder of the season after getting a PRP injection to address degenerative changes in his flexor mass.

The Red Sox activated Crochet (shoulder) from the 60-day injured list Tuesday, Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reports.

Crochet has not appeared in a game since late April due to a strained left lat. However, the left-hander has checked off all the necessary boxes in order to convince the Red Sox he was ready for the American League Wild Card series against the Yankees. Crochet will be used in a relief role.

The Tigers optioned Hurter to the rookie-level Florida Complex League on Sunday.

The transaction was merely procedural, as Hurter wasn't in line to pitch in Sunday's season finale versus the Pirates after tossing 1.2 innings in relief a day earlier. The Tigers reinstated Jack Flaherty (forearm) from the 15-day injured list in a corresponding move. Hurter wrapped up the 2026 season with a 3.06 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 24:15 K:BB in 35.1 innings across 29 appearances.

Chivilli (elbow) was activated from the 7-day injured list Sept. 21.

Chivilli landed on the injured list in mid August with a posterior elbow injury. However, he's since been given a clean bill of health. Chivilli posted a 3.78 ERA and 1.26 WHIP with 16 strikeouts over 16.2 frames with the Yankees this season and is unlikely to see any action in the postseason after being optioned to Triple-A on Aug. 3.

Smith will start Game 1 of the American League Wild Card Series against the Astros on Tuesday, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

Smith is no stranger to working multiple innings, so the length of his start will likely depend on how he fares. He opened a game for the White Sox on Sept. 10, firing two scoreless frames against the Pirates while striking out three. Hagen ended the regular season with a 1.29 ERA and 0.96 WHIP with a 41:16 K:BB across 28.0 innings.

Blubaugh will start for the Astros on Tuesday in Game 1 of the American League Wild Card Series versus the White Sox, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Blubaugh is capable of covering multiple innings, but it will be a bullpen game for the Astros. The right-hander made 64 appearances for Houston this season in a relief role, collecting a 3.66 ERA and 94:42 K:BB over 96 frames. Hunter Brown will get the ball on normal rest for the Astros in Game 2 on Wednesday.

Okert (hamstring) threw a bullpen session Monday and could be included on the Astros' wild-card series roster against the White Sox, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Okert has been shelved since early September with a right hamstring strain, but it sounds like the Astros could get one of their better relievers back in time for the playoffs. The left-hander has logged a 2.13 ERA, 0.87 WHIP and 68:14 K:BB over 67.2 innings this season.

Red Sox manager Chad Tracy said Monday that the team has yet to decide whether Crochet (lat) will be include on the American League Wild Card series roster versus the Yankees, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.

Crochet has not pitched in a competitive setting since late April, as he has been brought along slowly in his recovery from a left lat strain. He's been throwing off a mound for several weeks and resumed facing hitters last week. If Crochet is included on Boston's wild-card series roster, it will be in a bullpen role, as he is not stretched out to be used as a starting pitcher.

Madden tossed three scoreless innings of relief with three strikeouts in Sunday's 4-2 loss to the Pirates.

The Tigers only got 1.1 innings out of starter River Ryan in the regular season finale Sunday, so they needed some length from Madden and two other relievers. The righty bounced back from allowing two runs in his last appearance to wrap up his 2026 campaign on a high note. Madden finishes the year with a 3.26 ERA and 46 strikeouts across 47 innings, and he figures to be in the mix for a bullpen spot with the Tigers once again in 2027.