MLB Player News

Armstrong (calf) didn't record a strikeout while allowing one run on two hits in one inning during a rehab appearance Friday with Triple-A Columbus.

Armstrong was initially placed on the shelf July 25 due to a left calf strain before being transferred to the 60-day IL less than two weeks later. He's eligible for reinstatement Sept. 23 and should be on track to rejoin the Guardians on that date or shortly thereafter, assuming his subsequent rehab appearances go well.

Espino will serve as the Guardians' opening pitcher for Saturday's game against the Twins in Minnesota, Paul Hoynes of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Gavin Williams had been lined up to start Saturday, but the Guardians will instead push their ace back a couple days in the schedule so that he can make his next start Monday in the series opener versus the division-leading White Sox. Espino will thus be called upon to make his first MLB start Saturday, though he's pitched almost exclusively in relief both for the big club and at Triple-A Columbus this season and will likely be limited to a 1-to-2-inning appearance. Once Espino exits the game, Joey Cantillo could be called upon to pitch in bulk relief.

The Tigers recalled Sears from Triple-A Toledo on Saturday.

Sears will come up from Toledo to make what will likely be a spot start Saturday against the Rockies in Detroit. The rookie owns a 2.01 ERA and 1.01 WHIP across 44.2 innings in the minors this season but has allowed six earned runs in 12.1 frames with the Tigers.

Gomez (2-3) took the loss after allowing three runs on two hits and two walks over one-third of an inning Friday against the Cleveland. He didn't record a single strikeout.

Gomez entered the game in the top of the ninth inning but was largely ineffective, throwing just 12 of his 21 pitches for strikes and quickly running into trouble. He walked Bazzana before Angel Martinez doubled, and then Gomez uncorked a wild pitch that allowed Bazzana to score the go-ahead run. Brayan Rocchio followed with a two-run double that stretched Cleveland's advantage to three, and Gomez was removed after retiring just one of the five batters he faced. Gomez saw his run of four consecutive scoreless outings come to an end, and while he's posted seven scoreless appearances over his last nine, he's given up seven runs in that span. One subpar outing won't remove Gomez from his closing duties, however, especially since he's gone 22-for-22 in save chances in 2026 while posting a 3.92 ERA through 59 appearances in 2026.

Smith earned his 36th save of the season after allowing one hit over a scoreless ninth inning in Friday's 5-2 win over the Twins. He did not record a strikeout or a walk.

Smith was handed a three-run cushion after Cleveland broke a 2-2 tie in the top of the ninth, and he got the job done en route to his 36th save of the season -- the second-highest total in the AL behind Bryan Baker's MLB-leading 39. Smith allowed a leadoff single to Josh Bell in the top of the ninth but quickly erased it by getting Kody Clemens to ground into a double play, and then Smith induced a Royce Lewis groundball to finish the victory. Smith owns a 2.18 ERA as Cleveland's primary closer this season. He's converted eight of 10 save chances since the All-Star break, posting a 0.83 ERA and 0.92 WHIP with a 32:11 K:BB across 20 appearances in that span.

Gaddis (4-3) earned the win in relief after allowing one hit and striking out one over 1.1 scoreless innings in Friday's 5-2 victory over the Twins. He did not issue a walk.

Gaddis entered the game with two outs in the seventh and a runner on second after Erik Sabrowski had allowed the tying run to reach base. Kaelen Culpepper's RBI single tied the game at 2-2, with the run charged to Sabrowski, but Gaddis settled down afterward and retired the next four batters he faced. Gaddis has been extremely reliable for the Guardians this season, and this outing extended his streak of scoreless appearances to 13. Over that stretch, the right-hander owns a 0.62 WHIP and 11:4 K:BB across 13 innings.

Crochet (lat) threw 25 pitches during a side session Friday, MLB.com reports.

It was Crochet's third side session but carried some significance, as it was the left-hander's first on the main mound at Fenway Park while donning his home white Red Sox uniform. He continued to increase his intensity -- up to 80-to-90 percent -- and introduced his sweeper during the session. Crochet is scheduled to throw one more bullpen session early next week before potentially facing live hitters.

Newcomb will serve as the White Sox's opening pitcher for Saturday's game against the Cardinals, James Fegan of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Newcomb has allowed six earned runs across his last five innings, but the White Sox will trust him to shut down St. Louis' bats in the first inning or two of Saturday's affair. Luis Castillo will follow Newcomb as a bulk reliever.

Miles will serve as the Blue Jays' opening pitcher for Saturday's game against the Orioles, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Miles has pitched 13 consecutive shutout innings, so the Blue Jays will trust him to lock down the first inning or two of Saturday's contest before turning the game over to a bulk reliever. Spencer Arrighetti is the most likely candidate to cover multiple frames once Miles exits the contest.

Bednar earned the save in Friday's 6-4 win over the Mets, allowing one run on two hits while striking out one batter across 1.2 innings.

Bednar was brought in for the eighth inning with the bases loaded, and he limited the damage to only one run on a Marcus Semien sacrifice fly. Bednar came back out for the ninth and gave up a leadoff homer to A.J. Ewing, the first long ball the former has allowed since July 28, but Bedner responded by getting the next three batters out to secure the save. He's up to 33 saves on the year, tied with Aroldis Chapman and Louis Varland for fifth-most in the majors, and Bednar has a 2.70 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 71:18 K:BB over 63.1 innings.