Rangers' Shawn Armstrong: Kicking off bullpen game
Rotowire
Armstrong will start Friday's game against the White Sox, Jeff Wilson of AllDLLS.com reports.
Armstrong will make his first start of 2025, though he's expected to throw just one or two innings before handing the ball off to another reliever as part of the Rangers' bullpen game. Armstrong hasn't pitched more than two innings in an appearance this season. He has a 3.33 ERA and a 29:13 K:BB over 27 innings on the campaign.
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Rangers' Shawn Armstrong: Picks up second save
Rotowire
Armstrong walked one in a scoreless and hitless inning to earn the save in Thursday's 1-0 win over the Astros.
This was a game played on narrow margins, and Armstrong got the job done after Jacob deGrom outdueled Hunter Brown over the first eight innings. This was Armstrong's second save in three days, and it appears he's the next man up while Luke Jackson (hand) and Chris Martin (elbow) are unavailable. Armstrong has done fairly well this year with a 2.89 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 20:9 K:BB across 18.2 innings, earning two saves and two holds as well as one blown save in 17 appearances. He's just a temporary closer for now, and it's likely Armstrong will resume more of a middle-relief role once the Rangers' bullpen is healthier.
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Rangers' Shawn Armstrong: Strikes out side for first save
Rotowire
Armstrong picked up the save after throwing a clean ninth inning in Tuesday's 4-1 win over Colorado. He struck out three.
Chris Martin was initially summoned to work the ninth, but he was pulled before recording an out due to right elbow tightness. That setback coupled with setup man Robert Garcia having worked each of the past two days forced manager Bruce Bochy to turn to Armstrong, who struck out the side on 17 pitches for his first save of the year. Luke Jackson is currently managing a hand injury, so Armstrong could be in line for a short-term boost in high-leverage work until Texas' bullpen gets healthier. Armstrong owns a 3.06 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 20:8 K:BB over 17.2 innings this season.
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Rangers' Shawn Armstrong: MLB deal with Texas
Rotowire
The Rangers signed Armstrong to a one-year contract Monday, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.
Armstrong spent time with three different teams in 2024, finishing with a 4.86 ERA and 66:25 K:BB over 66.2 innings between the Rays, Cardinals and Cubs. The 34-year-old righty should operate in middle relief for Texas.
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Shawn Armstrong: Reaches free agency
Rotowire
The Cubs released Armstrong on Tuesday.
Armstrong cleared waivers after being designated for assignment last week and is now a free agent. The veteran reliever will look for a new club this offseason after collecting a 4.86 ERA and 66:25 K:BB over 66.2 innings for the Rays, Cardinals and Cubs in 2024.
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Cubs' Shawn Armstrong: Departs 40-man roster
Rotowire
The Cubs designated Armstrong for assignment Friday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
The Cubs claimed Armstrong after he had been jettisoned from the Cardinals' 40-man roster and the veteran reliever will now go through the waiver process again. Armstrong yielded four runs with a 4:4 K:BB over 7.1 frames during his brief time with the Cubs.
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Cubs' Shawn Armstrong: Claimed by Cubs
Rotowire
The Cubs claimed Armstrong off waivers Friday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Armstrong was acquired by the Cardinals from the Rays in late July as part of the trade package for Dylan Carlson. Armstrong posted a 2.84 ERA and 1.03 WHIP over 12.2 innings with St. Louis, but he was designated for assignment Tuesday. He'll stay in the NL Central and give the Cubs much-needed bullpen depth after Julian Merryweather was placed on the 15-day injured list Tuesday due to right knee tendinitis.
Cardinals' Shawn Armstrong: Jettisoned from 40-man roster
Rotowire
The Cardinals designated Armstrong for assignment Tuesday, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.
Armstrong was acquired from the Rays in the Dylan Carlson trade and has pitched well with a 2.84 ERA and 12:2 K:BB over 12.2 innings. The Cardinals are likely hoping the right-hander gets claimed so they can clear a bit of salary. Riley O'Brien will replace Armstrong on the roster and in the bullpen.
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Cardinals' Shawn Armstrong: Picks up first win with new team
Rotowire
Armstrong (3-2) earned the win Sunday over the Twins, retiring both batters he faced.
Armstrong has been moderately effective in a middle-relief role since joining the Cardinals, allowing four runs over 11.1 innings across 10 appearances. He's added an 11:2 K:BB in that span. For the year, Armstrong has a 4.97 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, 61:21 K:BB, one save and three holds over 58 innings between the Cardinals and the Rays. Given the success of St. Louis' high-leverage relievers, Armstrong is unlikely to move up the hierarchy.
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Cardinals' Shawn Armstrong: Acquired by St. Louis
Rotowire
The Cardinals acquired Armstrong from the Rays on Tuesday in exchange for outfielder Dylan Carlson, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.
Armstrong was dominant in 2023 with a 1.38, 0.90 WHIP and 54:11 K:BB over 52 innings, but he's labored this season with 5.40 ERA in 38 appearances. The right-hander should primarily work in middle relief for the Cardinals.
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Rays' Shawn Armstrong: Serving as opener Sunday
Rotowire
Armstrong will serve as the Rays' opening pitcher for Sunday's game against the Reds, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Armstrong will open his seventh game of the season and will likely throw one or two innings before giving way to Tyler Alexander, who is expected to work in bulk relief. Armstrong threw two scoreless innings with four strikeouts Tuesday while serving as an opener in the Rays' game against the Blue Jays.
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Rays' Shawn Armstrong: Opening Tuesday's contest
Rotowire
Armstrong will serve as the Rays' opening pitcher for Tuesday's game against the Blue Jays, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Armstrong will draw his sixth opener assignment of the season and is unlikely to work more than an inning or two Tuesday before exiting the game. The Rays plan to call up lefty Tyler Alexander from Triple-A Durham ahead of Tuesday's contest, and he'll be in line to work in bulk relief behind Armstrong.
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Rays' Shawn Armstrong: Slated to open Thursday's game
Rotowire
Armstrong will serve as the Rays' opening pitcher for Thursday's game against the Athletics.
He'll likely work no more than an inning or two before giving way to lefty Tyler Alexander, who is expected to operate as a bulk reliever. Armstrong has previously been used as an opener four times this season, striking out 11 over six innings while allowing four runs (three earned) on six hits and two walks.
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Rays' Shawn Armstrong: Will open Friday's game
Rotowire
Armstrong will serve as the Rays' opening pitcher for Friday's game against the Royals, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
The right-hander will likely cover no more than an inning or two before turning the ball over to lefty Tyler Alexander, who is slated to handle the bulk of the innings out of the bullpen. Armstrong will be serving as an opener for the fourth time this season after allowing four runs (three earned) with an 8:2 K:BB over four innings in his first three starts.
Armstrong will serve as the Rays' opening pitcher for Wednesday's game against the Tigers.
Armstrong will draw his third "start" of the season, but he hasn't recorded more than six outs in any of his eight appearances and is unlikely to work more than once through the batting order, if that. Manager Kevin Cash hasn't outlined his plans for once Armstrong exits the game, but Tyler Alexander is available on his standard four days' rest and will presumably operate as a bulk reliever after tossing 5.1 scoreless innings in his last start Friday against the Yankees.
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Rays' Shawn Armstrong: Serving as opener Sunday
Rotowire
Armstrong will serve as the Rays' opening pitcher for Sunday's game against the Giants, Ryan Bass of Bally Sports Sun reports.
Armstrong isn't expected to work more than an inning or two before turning the game over to Tyler Alexander, who is slated to work as a bulk reliever. Through four appearances (one start) this season, Armstrong has covered 6.1 innings while striking out five and allowing four earned runs on six hits and four walks.
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Rays' Shawn Armstrong: Two-inning save Sunday
Rotowire
Armstrong pitched two innings, allowing one run on a hit and a walk while striking out one batter and securing a save in Sunday's 3-2 win over the Rockies.
Armstrong was called upon to protect a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the eighth frame, entering the game with no outs and the bases loaded. He was able to escape the inning unscathed before surrendering a run in the bottom of the ninth frame, but he was able to secure his first save of the 2024 campaign. Armstrong has been shaky at best so far this season, giving up five runs (four earned) over 6.1 innings in four appearances with Tampa Bay.
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Rays' Shawn Armstrong: Earns loss as opener
Rotowire
Armstrong (0-1) picked up the loss Sunday, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits and one walk over one inning. He struck out one.
Armstrong served as the opener for the Rays on Sunday, allowing two runs to cross in his one inning of work. While he allowed the first three batters to reach base, leading to the first run of the game on a Justin Turner single, the second run was set up by a passed ball and is the reason Armstrong ended up as the pitcher of record.
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Rays' Shawn Armstrong: Serving as opener
Rotowire
Armstrong will be used as an opener in Sunday's game against the Blue Jays, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
It's not an unfamiliar role for Armstrong, who has been an opener on nine occasions for the Rays over the last two seasons. Tyler Alexander is poised to follow Armstrong as the bulk reliever.
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Player Bio
HT/WT: 6-2, 225 lbs
Birthplace: New Bern, NC
Age: 34
School: East Carolina
Experience: 10
Bats/Throws: R, R
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