MLB Player News

Montgomery earned the save in Sunday's 1-0 win over the Angels, allowing a walk while striking out one in a scoreless ninth inning.

Montgomery improved to 10-for-12 in save chances this season while extending his scoreless streak to 17.1 innings -- he's allowed just seven hits while striking out 27 in that span. Montgomery's ERA is down to 2.87 on the season with a 1.06 WHIP and 92:23 K:BB across 59.2 innings.

The Cardinals optioned Rincon to Triple-A Memphis on Sunday.

He'll give up his spot on the 28-man active roster to left-hander Cooper Hjerpe, who is expected to pitch behind starter Kyle Leahy in Sunday's game against the Rockies. After getting his first big-league call-up Sept. 1, Rincon appeared in two games out of the St. Louis bullpen and surrendered seven earned runs on five hits and one walk over 1.1 innings.

The Cardinals recalled Hjerpe from Triple-A Memphis, and he's expected to pitch behind starter Kyle Leahy in Sunday's game against the Rockies at Coors Field, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

After getting bumped up from Double-A Springfield in early August, Hjerpe posted a 0.95 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 27:17 K:BB across 19 innings in his first five starts for Memphis. He will now get his first call to the big leagues and will be asked to provide length behind Leahy, whose workload is being managed down the stretch. Leahy has failed to last five frames in each of his past two starts but has given up two runs or fewer in each of his past 12 outings, so Hjerpe could have a decent chance at a win if Leahy has another short but effective start Sunday. According to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Cardinals plan to keep Hjerpe on a starter's workload moving forward, so he could piggyback Leahy in future turns through the rotation.

Manager Craig Counsell said he "fully expects" Webb (forearm) to be available to pitch Sunday against the Marlins, Vinnie Duber of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

The right-hander hasn't taken the mound since being struck by a 102.5-mph comebacker Wednesday against the Brewers, but he avoided a fracture and appears good to go after taking it easy for a few days. Webb has surrendered seven runs across his past four appearances but is still in the mix at closer for the Cubs, having recorded nine saves with a 3.15 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 65:21 K:BB over 60 innings this year.

The Orioles recalled Nunez from Triple-A Norfolk on Sunday.

Nunez has been up and down between the majors and minors this season and has posted a 4.29 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 55:25 K:BB over 50.1 innings spanning 44 relief appearances while with the big-league club. He's been deployed mainly in low-leverage situations but does have three wins, three saves and seven holds. Luis Robert landed on the 10-day IL due to a hamstring injury in a corresponding move.

Bello is expected to be used as a starter or bulk reliever in Monday's game against the Angels at Fenway Park, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

Interim manager Chad Tracy is likely to lean heavily on Bello as the Red Sox look to build in an extra day of rest for their rotation. Though Bello has been tagged for eight runs over 7.1 innings in his last two relief appearances, he's performed well on the whole this season out of the bullpen, turning in a 2.03 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 14.6 K-BB% across 62 frames.

The Astros recalled Ullola from Triple-A Sugar Land on Sunday.

This will be Ullola's fourth stint with Houston this season, and so far he's allowed four runs (three earned) while posting an excellent 9:1 K:BB over six innings spanning four appearances. Ullola will take the bullpen spot vacated by Kai-Wei Teng, who was optioned to Sugar Land in a corresponding move.

The Astros optioned Teng to Triple-A Sugar Land on Saturday.

Teng has had a rough go of late, giving up six runs with a 2:3 K:BB over his past 3.1 innings spanning three appearances. He'll lose his spot in the big-league bullpen to Miguel Ullola, who was recalled from Triple-A in a corresponding move.

Detroit optioned Sears to Triple-A Toledo on Sunday.

After making his first two big-league appearances out of the bullpen, Sears was called upon to start the second game of Friday's doubleheader with the Guardians. He ended up taking a no-decision put pitched effectively in a 4-3 loss, striking out four batters while yielding one earned run on four hits and two walks across 5.2 innings. Since he likely wouldn't have been available out of the bullpen for another two or three days, the Tigers sent Sears back to Triple-A to clear a spot on the active roster for lefty Brant Hurter (back), who was reinstated from the 60-day injured list.

Detroit reinstated Hurter (back) from the 60-day injured list Sunday, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.

Hurter last pitched for the Tigers on May 22 and has been rehabbing from a back injury. He spent about a month in the minors working his way back into form. To make room for Hurter on the 40-man roster, Matt Vierling (adductor/heel) was placed on the 60-day IL. Andrew Sears was optioned to Triple-A Toledo in a corresponding move.