MLB Player News

Mayers' contract was selected by the Angels on Saturday.

Mayers has made 15 relief appearances for the Angels this season, struggling to a 5.40 ERA. He worked as a starter while pitching for Triple-A Salt Lake but struggled to a 6.27 ERA in eight starts, so that experiment may be over. The Angels could lean on Mayers to provide length behind starting pitcher Jaime Barria in Game 1 of Saturday's doubleheader in Seattle, however, as Barria will be pitching on only two days' rest.

Ortega was called up to serve as the 27th man for Saturday's doubleheader against Seattle.

Ortega has thrown 33 innings for the big-league bullpen this season, posting a respectable 3.82 ERA. It's unclear if he'll have the chance to stick around beyond Saturday's twin bill.

Bernardino was called up by the Mariners to serve as the 27th man for Saturday's doubleheader against the Angels.

The 30-year-old lefty made his big-league debut last Sunday Sunday against the Astros, retiring one batter while giving up a hit, a walk and an unearned run. He's been effective in 12.1 innings for Triple-A Tacoma, giving up one earned run while striking out 17 and walking three.

Effross picked up a hold against St. Louis on Friday, allowing one walk and striking out two batters over 1.1 innings.

Effross entered with the Yankees holding a one-run lead and two outs in the sixth inning. The right-hander struck out Paul DeJong with two runners on base, then worked around a leadoff walk to set the Cardinals down in the seventh. Though Clay Holmes blew the save in the following frame, Effross secured a hold with his strong effort. He has 14 holds between the Cubs and Yankees this season and looks to be a high-leverage option for New York.

Bautista gave up a hit and a walk while striking out two in a scoreless ninth inning Friday to record his fourth save of the season in a 1-0 win over the Pirates.

Manager Brandon Hyde wouldn't commit to the 27-year-old as his sole closer following the Jorge Lopez trade, but as expected Bautista collected Baltimore's first save after the trade deadline. Cionel Perez, one of the other relievers Hyde mentioned as a ninth-inning option, worked 1.2 frames in a set-up role. Bautista's numbers certainly seem worthy of an extended run in the closer spot, as he's averaged 98.9 mph with his fastball and boasts a 1.77 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and 62:15 K:BB through 45.2 innings in what has been a dazzling rookie campaign.

Herget pitched a clean 10th inning Friday to pick up the save against the Mariners.

Herget had zero strikeouts and allowed zero baserunners. Jesse Chavez was used in a save situation in the ninth inning, but he gave up three runs. Meanwhile, Jose Quijada, who got a save earlier in the week, pitched the eighth inning and Ryan Tepera was unavailable. This looks like a full-blown committee for now after the Angels traded their previous closer, Raisel Iglesias, to Atlanta at the deadline.

Chavez (2-1) gave up three runs on three hits and one walk while striking out one in one inning Friday against the Mariners. He picked up a win while also being charged with a blown save.

The Angels ended up winning in 10 innings, with Jimmy Herget getting the save. Ryan Tepera wasn't available, and while Chavez was used in the initial save situation, it seems unlikely that he will get the next save opportunity, given his struggles in this first chance.

Quijada picked up a hold in the eighth inning of Friday's game against the Mariners.

Jesse Chavez blew the save in the ninth, Jimmy Herget picked up the save in the 10th inning and Ryan Tepera was unavailable, so this closer situation is still murky following the trade of Raisel Iglesias to Atlanta earlier in the week. While Quijada got a save earlier this week, he wasn't being held back for the save situation Friday.

Barria is starting Game 1 of Saturday's doubleheader against the Mariners, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.

He has gone between two and four innings in each of his last five appearances out of the bullpen, having most recently thrown two innings Wednesday, so this will essentially be a bullpen game. Barria has a 2.55 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 38 strikeouts in 53 innings this season.

Sewald (3-3) took the loss during Friday's 4-3 defeat at the hands of the Angels, allowing an unearned run while striking out one in the 10th inning.

Sewald entered for the top of the 10th inning and surrendered a sacrifice bunt and sacrifice fly to score initial runner Magneuris Sierra and take his first loss since June 12. Despite the defeat, the 32-year-old has lowered his ERA to 2.47 during five straight outings without allowing an earned run, though teammate Andres Munoz earned the team's most recent save.