The White Sox got Huascar Brazoban back just in time to use him, and the right-hander answered with a clean inning in Chicago’s 8-1 win over the Tigers.
Brazoban had been out since August 24 with a left lat strain, and the club activated him from the 15-day injured list before the game. To make room, left-hander Chris Murphy was sent to Triple-A. Brazoban didn’t just return - he picked up the win after tossing a scoreless frame.
It was the kind of outing Chicago has been waiting for from a reliever whose stuff has flashed but whose results have been uneven. In 11 appearances with the White Sox, Brazoban still carries a 5.73 ERA.
The trade-deadline pickup from the Mets has been slowed by walks and home runs, but the White Sox clearly still see a chance for him to matter down the stretch. If he helps them secure a playoff berth, he could also work his way onto the postseason roster.
Elsewhere in the Central picture, Colin Holderman’s status remains unsettled as the White Sox chase the Guardians in the AL Central. Cleveland is a game ahead in the division race, but Holderman’s wrist issue has complicated things.
Right wrist inflammation put him on the 15-day IL on September 4, and he then felt discomfort again during the first game of a minor league rehab assignment on Thursday. MLB.com’s Tim Stebbins reported that Holderman received an injection in his wrist yesterday and is expected to resume throwing on Monday.
With the regular season winding down, there isn’t much room for error, though a division title and first-round bye would buy him more recovery time. Holderman has been a steady piece of Cleveland’s bullpen, putting up a 2.73 ERA in 52 2/3 innings.
Braxton Ashcraft’s season is over. The Pirates right-hander told MLB.com’s Aiden Stepansky and other reporters that he won’t pitch again in 2026.
That outcome looked likely when he landed on the 15-day IL on September 7 with right arm discomfort, and the encouraging part is that tests found nothing beyond fatigue. Ashcraft said, “ If we had another week, I would be pitching again,” Ashcraft said.
“ But with us being eliminated [from postseason contention], there’s nothing to gain other than pride, and pride is the killer of everything in this game. So I think right now the objective is to look toward next season for me.”
His first full MLB season ends with an All-Star selection and a 3.65 ERA across 165 1/3 innings, a strong foundation for Pittsburgh’s rotation moving forward.
In St. Louis, Blaze Jordan’s rookie year is also coming to a close.
The Cardinals third baseman went on the 10-day IL on August 29 with a left high-ankle sprain, and manager Olli Marmol told reporters, including John Denton of Roundtable Sports, that the team has decided to shut him down with one week left in the season. Jordan finishes his first big league campaign with a .247/.276/.382 line and three home runs in 199 plate appearances, with better production against left-handed pitching than right-handed pitching.
With the Cardinals getting little from third base overall in 2026, Jordan should get another chance next year, likely in some kind of platoon role.
In Other News...
White Sox Bullpen Picture Just Got More Complicated Before First Pitch
Rain kept the White Sox and Tigers waiting before first pitch, but the bigger pregame note came from Chicagos roster shuffle. Huascar Brazobn was reinstated from the injured list, while Chris Murphy was optioned to Triple-A Charlotte, a move that adds another layer to a bullpen that has already been asked to absorb plenty of uncertainty this season. It also leaves the club with one more arm available as it tries to navigate an already delayed night at the ballpark.
The matchup itself still carries the usual pregame texture, with starting lineups in place and Troy Melton drawing attention for his recent work on the mound. But the weather delay means the White Sox are now dealing with both the elements and a bullpen setup that can change quickly once the game finally gets going. For a team still sorting through its relief options, every delay has a way of making the picture a little murkier. [Read more 🡒]
White Sox Fans Got One Last Encouraging Sign From Charlottes Lineup
The final game of the Triple-A season gave White Sox fans another reason to keep an eye on Charlotte, where the Knights finished with a 7-4 win over Norfolk and put together a clean offensive showing to close things out. Charlotte piled up 11 hits and launched three home runs, a reminder that the lineup kept producing even with the season down to its last night.
Junior Perez was at the center of it, earning MVP honors after adding a home run and two RBIs to the effort. The Knights also had to withstand a late push from Norfolk before the pitching staff shut the door, leaving Chicago with one more encouraging snapshot from a farm system that will matter a lot once the offseason turns toward next year. [Read more 🡒]
White Sox Just Sent A Clear Message About Murakamis Future
Munetaka Murakamis early run in Chicago has already turned into a bigger conversation than just his bat. The White Sox brought him in on a two-year deal before the season, and while there is mutual interest in pushing that partnership deeper into the future, the front office is not treating an extension as something it has to force through right now.
General manager Chris Getz has already said the two sides are still talking, but the club is clearly willing to let Murakami work through his slump before making any long-term move. For a White Sox team trying to sort out its bigger picture, the patience makes sense, even if it leaves the door open on a deal that could become much more important once his form catches up to the expectations. [Read more 🡒]