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Combined summaries and individual breaking-news reports, all in one recency-first feed.
The Chicago Cubs placed right-handed reliever Trent Thornton on the 15-day injured list Saturday due to a left ankle sprain. Thornton has been a key bullpen contributor for Chicago this season, recording a 5-5 record with three saves, a 3.35 ERA, and 31 strikeouts over 48.1 innings in 48 relief appearances. His roster spot was taken by reinstated pitcher Edward Cabrera.
Andrew Sears gets his second major league start for the Detroit Tigers on Saturday against the Colorado Rockies. The rookie left-hander holds an 0-1 record with a 4.38 ERA across three appearances (12.1 IP, 15.7 K%, 5.9 BB%). Sears was recalled from Triple-A after starter Keider Montero returned to Venezuela, following a strong outing where he pitched 5.2 innings with four strikeouts.
Tanner Gordon will start for the Colorado Rockies on Saturday against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. The right-hander is 1-4 with a 5.40 ERA and 34.6% groundball rate across 21 games (nine starts) spanning 93.1 innings this season. Gordon has pitched significantly better away from home, carrying a 2.68 ERA and 1-1 road record as Colorado seeks to snap an eight-game road losing streak.
Jac Caglianone remains out of the Kansas City Royals' lineup for Saturday's game against Boston, marking his sixth consecutive missed contest. The outfielder is continuing to recover from a left flexor strain in his elbow, with no clear timeline established for his potential return to action. John Rave will start in right field and bat seventh in Caglianone's absence on Saturday.
The Los Angeles Dodgers placed Shohei Ohtani on the 15-day injured list due to right biceps inflammation. Backdated to Tuesday, the stint makes him eligible to return September 23 for five remaining regular-season games. Ohtani aggravated the injury during a swing on Monday against Cincinnati. Posting a .277 average with 30 home runs and an 8-2 record with a 1.79 ERA, Ohtani's IL stint severely impacts his National League MVP chances.
John Holobetz delivered a solid starting performance for Triple-A Worcester, pitching into the sixth inning in a 4-1 loss to the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. The right-hander struck out seven batters while allowing just one run on a solitary home run. Despite his effective outing, Worcester managed only five hits on the night, leaving Holobetz with a non-decision in the quiet offensive effort.
Tanner Houck made a rehab appearance for Double-A Portland on Friday, tossing three innings while allowing one run on one hit and one walk. The 2024 All-Star struck out four batters and threw 48 pitches as he continues his recovery process following 2025 Tommy John surgery. Boston is continuing to monitor the 30-year-old right-hander's workload as he works his way back toward game action.
Brent Headrick has emerged as an elite bullpen arm for the New York Yankees, logging 73.1 innings with a 1.96 ERA, 2.31 FIP, and 2.2 fWAR through September. Although his ERA has risen to 4.00 over 18 August-September innings, his underlying metrics remain elite, featuring a 32.2% strikeout rate and a steady 26.5% hard contact rate. The Yankees continue to monitor his workload ahead of the postseason.
Clay Holmes gets the starting assignment for the Chicago Cubs on Saturday afternoon against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Wrigley Field. The veteran pitcher enters the matchup carrying a 6-7 record alongside a strong 2.83 ERA on the season. Holmes will face off against Pittsburgh ace Paul Skenes as Chicago looks to secure a victory in this late-season National League Central rivalry game.
Willson Contreras took a major step toward returning from a hamstring injury by beginning a rehab assignment with Double-A Portland on Friday. Serving as the designated hitter, the Red Sox veteran went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored in his first game action. Contreras is scheduled to play first base for the Sea Dogs on Saturday, with a potential return to Boston's major league lineup as early as Sunday's series finale against the Royals.
Cam Leiter recorded five strikeouts over 3.1 innings for High-A Great Lakes in Friday's 5-0 season-ending loss to the Dayton Dragons. After allowing just one hit and a walk through his first three frames, the Dodgers pitching prospect surrendered two consecutive singles in the fourth inning. Those runners were eventually driven in, marking the first two earned runs allowed by Leiter across four starts since earning his promotion to High-A.
Framber Valdez (10-10) earned the win Friday, allowing one unearned run on six hits and two walks over six innings in a 6-2 victory over the Rockies. Valdez struck out two on 90 pitches (58 strikes) for his fourth consecutive quality start. Over his last eight starts since August, he holds a 2.86 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, and 5-3 record over 50.1 innings.
Jake McCarthy went 3-for-5 in Friday's 6-2 loss to the Tigers. McCarthy is having a career year in his first season with Colorado, establishing personal bests with 15 home runs, 29 steals, 76 RBI, and 71 runs while posting a .297/.339/.485 slash line through 132 games. He owns an .896 OPS at Coors Field and a .752 OPS on the road.
The Washington Nationals optioned former de facto closer Clayton Beeter to Triple-A Rochester following extended bullpen struggles. Beeter registered a 4.50 ERA, 5.43 FIP, and a 47:31 K:BB ratio over 48 innings (50 appearances) this season. Elevated walk rates (14.8%) and a reduced strikeout rate (22.5%) ultimately cost him his high-leverage bullpen role.
Gavin Williams will have his next start bumped from Saturday to Monday against the White Sox. Coming off his eighth double-digit strikeout game in his last 11 starts, Williams will skip pitching this week to open Monday's critical series. He is tentatively lined up for two starts next week, including a Sept. 20 turn against the Athletics.
Ben Rice will rest Saturday against the Mets after going 3-for-4 with a home run and two runs scored in Friday's victory. Paul Goldschmidt starts at first base in Rice's place, while Aaron Judge serves as the designated hitter as Rice gets a chance to rest his legs.
Dillon Dingler isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Rockies, receiving a routine breather after snapping his power drought with a two-run home run during Friday's victory. Eduardo Valencia will fill in at catcher and bat fifth for Detroit in Dingler's absence.
Cam Schlittler is establishing himself as both the AL Cy Young favorite and a legitimate AL MVP candidate following another dominant performance for the New York Yankees. The 25-year-old right-hander tossed seven strong innings of one-run ball against the Colorado Rockies, pushing him to the AL lead in bWAR while ranking third in fWAR. Schlittler has served as the ultimate stabilizing force for New York, taking every turn in the rotation despite pervasive injuries across the pitching staff and lineup.
Carson Kelly delivered a marquee performance in the Chicago Cubs' 12-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates, earning Superhero status for his offensive impact. Kelly went 2-for-3 with a double, two RBIs, a run scored, and a hit-by-pitch. His crucial two-out, two-run double in the second inning provided the game's key WPA play and gave Chicago a lead they would not relinquish. The veteran catcher continues to be a steadying presence behind the plate as Chicago prepares for a postseason push.
Liam Doyle wrapped up his first professional season with the Double-A Springfield Cardinals on a dominant run. The left-hander posted a stellar 1.50 ERA with 52 strikeouts over 42 innings in his final eight starts, overcoming an initial slow start while developing his secondary pitches to pair with an electric fastball. On the year, Doyle maintained an elite 30 percent strikeout rate against a 12.5 percent walk rate in the hitter-friendly Texas League, establishing high upside for St. Louis.
