MLB Player News

Simpson was optioned to Triple-A Rochester after Sunday's 5-3 loss to the Cardinals.

Simpson will head back to Rochester after making four appearances with Washington following his promotion Sept. 1 and allowing five runs over 4.1 innings. Southpaw pitcher DJ Herz (elbow) is expected to be activated from the 60-day injured list Monday to replace Simpson on the 28-man active roster.

Munoz (knee) will undergo imaging to diagnose his injury Monday, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

Munoz tweaked his right knee on the final pitch of a one-out walk to TJ Rumfield in the bottom of the ninth inning, and he was unable to remain in the game. The 27-year-old's status for the remainder of the regular season is now in question.

Dodd struck out the side to notch the save Sunday against Houston.

Closer Raisel Iglesias worked each of the past two days, opening the door for Dodd on Sunday. The southpaw helped Atlanta clinch the National League East title with an impressive showing, logging just his second save of the season and first since April 12 versus Cleveland. Dodd should continue to be a key high-leverage arm for Atlanta going forward, posting a 2.31 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and 50:14 K:BB with 14 holds across 46.2 innings.

Smith earned the save in Sunday's 1-0 win over the Athletics, allowing one hit and no walks with three strikeouts over 1.1 innings.

Smith was tasked with preserving a team shutout with two outs in the eighth inning and was able to complete the four-out save on 20 pitches. The 27-year-old has now held opponents scoreless in 10 straight contests, and he's yielded just two earned runs overall in 24 second-half appearances. He trails Bryan Baker's major-league-leading 40 saves by just one and owns a 2.02 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 103:22 K:BB across 71.1 innings in his first full season as the Guardians' closer.

O'Brien threw a clean ninth inning to earn the save Sunday against the Nationals.

The All-Star closer made quick work of Washington, retiring the side on just six pitches (all strikes). O'Brien has had a shaky month of September, converting only four of his last seven save chances, but Sunday's performance was a step in the right direction as he looks to end the campaign on a positive note. He has a 4.08 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 64:29 K:BB over 64 innings, piling up 38 saves in 46 opportunities.

The Giants recalled Beck from Triple-A Sacramento on Sunday, Justice delos Santos of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

Beck will rejoin the Giants for the first time since early August. The 30-year-old righty has made 11 appearances in the majors this year and has a 7.07 ERA, 1.57 WHIP and 6:5 K:BB over 14 innings.

The Giants optioned Abner to Triple-A Sacramento on Sunday, Justice delos Santos of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

The left-hander pitched the past two days against the Dodgers and will lose his place in the big-league bullpen after giving up six runs (five earned) on six hits and two walks. Prior to those two appearances, Abner had been pitching pretty well for the Giants across multiple stints in the majors with a 1.93 ERA and 1.14 WHIP despite a 5:7 K:BB across his previous 14 innings.

The Dodgers optioned Halvorsen to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Sunday.

Halvorsen fired a scoreless frame Saturday against the Giants, but overall it's been a struggle since he was acquired by the Dodgers in July, as he's posted an 8.10 ERA through 11 appearances. Kyle Hurt was called up Sunday in a corresponding move.

The Dodgers recalled Hurt from Triple-A Oklahoma City on Sunday.

The right-hander spent the past couple weeks at Triple-A and will rejoin Los Angeles ahead of Sunday's series finale versus San Francisco. Hurt has made 43 appearances in the majors this year and has a 4.33 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 56:23 K:BB over 43.2 innings.

The Rangers recalled Santos from Triple-A Round Rock on Sunday, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.

The right-hander had two brief stints with Texas earlier this season and allowed two earned runs in two innings during his lone appearance. Santos is filling the roster spot vacated by Cal Quantrill (lat), who was placed on the injured list.