MLB Player News
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Carlos Estevez RP | KC
Royals' Carlos Estevez: Up to 33 saves
Estevez earned the save in Thursday's 6-4 win over the Rangers, striking out one in a perfect ninth inning.
Estevez has now converted eight straight save chances while allowing just four earned runs across his last 14 innings. The right-hander leads the majors with 33 saves this season while posting a 2.72 ERA with a 1.10 WHIP and 47 strikeouts across 56.1 innings.
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Jack Perkins RP | ATH
Athletics' Jack Perkins: Grabs third straight win
Perkins (3-2) earned the win Thursday over the Twins, allowing two runs on three hits and four walks over five innings. He struck out two.
Perkins, who joined the A's rotation earlier this month, has won his last three starts while posting a 4.50 ERA with 14 strikeouts in that span (16 innings). Overall, the rookie right-hander sports a 4.19 ERA with a 1.16 WHIP and 37:18 K:BB across 38.2 innings this season. Perkins is currently lined up for a tough home matchup with the Tigers in his next outing.
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Jacob Webb RP | TEX
Rangers' Jacob Webb: Returns from IL
The Rangers activated Webb (back) from the 15-day injured list Thursday.
Webb has been sidelined all month with back spasms but is ready to roll after making three rehab appearances with Triple-A Round Rock. The 32-year-old has offered decent results in middle relief for the Rangers this season and will return to that role.
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Caleb Boushley RP | TEX
Rangers' Caleb Boushley: Sent down after spot start
The Rangers optioned Boushley to Triple-A Round Rock on Thursday.
Boushley made a spot start in Wednesday's 6-3 win over the Royals, coughing up three runs over three innings. Since he wasn't going to be available to pitch for at least a day or two, the righty will head back to Round Rock and will be replaced with a fresh bullpen arm in Jacob Webb (back), who was reinstated from the injured list.
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Devin Williams RP | NYY
Yankees' Devin Williams: Nabs extra-inning save Wednesday
Williams recorded his 18th save of the season in Wednesday's 6-4 extra-inning win over the Rays, giving up an unearned run on two hits in the 10th inning. He struck out three.
David Bednar blew the save in the bottom of the ninth to send the game to extras, and after the Yankees slugged two more homers in the top of the 10th to reclaim the lead, Williams found himself in another save situation. He allowed back-to-back hits to lead off the frame, bringing home the phantom runner and making things very dicey, but the Airbender proceeded to strike out the side and escape the jam. Bednar is still likely the top choice for closing duties, but Williams has gone five straight appearances without giving up an earned run while delivering an 11:1 K:BB over 4.1 innings, and he could be working his way back into the mix.
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Pete Fairbanks RP | TB
Rays' Pete Fairbanks: Hit hard in 10th inning
Fairbanks (4-4) allowed three runs (two earned) on two hits while striking out one across one inning to take the loss Wednesday against the Yankees.
Fairbanks entered the game in the 10th inning with the score knotted at 3-3. He allowed homers to the first two batters he faced, the first pair he's surrendered in his last six appearances. While his strikeouts remain down, Fairbanks has still been very effective this season by maintaining a 2.85 ERA and 1.08 WHIP across 47.1 frames.
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David Bednar RP | NYY
Yankees' David Bednar: Blows save but snags win Wednesday
Bednar (4-5) picked up the win after blowing the save in Wednesday's 6-4 extra-inning victory over the Rays, coughing up two runs on two hits and a walk in the ninth inning. He struck out three.
Called upon to protect a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the ninth, Bednar struck out the side, but not before serving up a two-run double to Hunter Feduccia. The right-hander then backed into the win when the Yankees slugged a couple more homers in the top of the 10th off Tampa Bay closer Pete Fairbanks. The stumble ended a seven-appearance scoreless streak for Bednar, but the blown save was his third since he was dealt to New York at the trade deadline, against three successful conversions. Devin Williams secured the save in the 10th inning, and the Yankees' closer role still appears unsettled with September rapidly approaching.
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Dylan Smith RP | DET
Tigers' Dylan Smith: Possible late-season option?
Smith (shoulder) is a candidate to get called up to the majors late in the season if he's healthy enough, Sam Dykstra and Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com report.
Smith has been on the shelf at Triple-A Toledo since July 6 with a shoulder strain, though there is some optimism that he'll be able to return in September, which could make him a candidate to help the Tigers out of the bullpen if a need arises. Prior to getting hurt, the 25-year-old righty had posted a 1.38 ERA and 0.85 WHIP in 13 innings across two stints with Detroit before being sent back to the minors in early July.
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Cade Smith RP | CLE
Guardians' Cade Smith: Blows save Wednesday
Smith allowed one hit and one run while striking out one over 1.1 innings, getting charged with a blown save in Wednesday's 3-2 extra-inning loss to Arizona.
Smith was unable to close the door in the bottom of the ninth inning, when Lourdes Gurriel took him deep and set up the Diamondbacks' walk-off win an inning later. Smith has performed well as a fill-in closer, so this one hiccup shouldn't diminish his value. He entered the contest with a 0.82 ERA and an 11:2 K:BB while converting all four save opportunities over the previous 11 innings.