MLB Player News

Estevez (shoulder) increased his intensity and volume in a flat-ground throwing session Friday, MLB.com reports.

Estevez is slowly progressing in his recovery from a right rotator cuff strain suffered during a rehab assignment May 6 while working back from a left foot contusion. After a return to throwing May 27, the right-hander is increasing the intensity of his work, which is an encouraging sign. A formal timeline for the next steps in the veteran's progression and his return to Kansas City remains unclear, though bullpen sessions and facing live hitters would likely be among the next milestones. Lucas Erceg initially took over as the Royals' primary closer in Estevez's absence but has struggled mightily, opening the door for Alex Lange, who has converted four saves in June.

Ragans (elbow) threw a second bullpen session Friday, MLB.com reports.

Ragans' bullpen session Friday comes on the heels of a 23-pitch session Wednesday. The continued throwing is an encouraging sign, and the Royals will determine the next steps in his recovery after evaluating how the 28-year-old feels over the weekend. The southpaw has been on the injured list since May 8 with a left elbow impingement and made a rehab start May 23, but his progression was paused after he experienced discomfort in the aftermath of the outing. Before being sidelined, Ragans posted a 1-4 record with a 4.84 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 45:23 K:BB across 35.1 innings (eight starts).

Banda (2-0) earned the win Friday against the Cardinals after allowing one hit over two-thirds of an inning.

Banda entered the game with one out in the eighth inning and allowed a single to JJ Wetherholt that loaded the bases. However, he retired Ivan Herrera with a popout and Alec Burleson with a flyout to end the threat. Banda has been outstanding for the Twins of late and hasn't allowed an earned run in his last 14 appearances (13.1 innings) dating back to May 10, posting a 13:6 K:BB in that stretch.

Pearson (1-0) earned the win Friday against the Royals with two scoreless innings. He allowed one hit and struck out one.

Pearson did a good job finding the strike zone with 13 strikes on 15 pitches, and he made quick work of the seven batters he faced despite allowing a single to Salvador Perez in the sixth inning. Pearson hasn't allowed any runs in six of his seven outings this season and figures to continue as a middle reliever for Houston. He owns a 3.12 ERA across 8.2 innings and seven outings so far.

Avila (1-3) was tagged with the loss Friday against the Astros after allowing eight runs on five hits, including two home runs, and three walks over two-thirds of an inning.

Avila gave up two home runs to star slugger Yordan Alvarez while being responsible for eight of the nine runs the Astros scored in the first inning. This was a step in the wrong direction for Avila, who was coming off back-to-back starts in which he'd allowed just one run over five frames. Avila, who carries a 7.02 ERA over his last five starts, is slated to make his next start on the road against the Nationals.

Hader recorded his second save of the season while pitching a perfect inning in Friday's 10-8 win over the Royals. He didn't record a strikeout.

Hader has gone 2-for-2 in save chances this season, and he looks as dominant as ever despite not making his season debut until June 3 following a left shoulder strain that kept him sidelined for the first two-plus months of the campaign. Hader owns a 7:1 K:BB in five appearances in 2026 and has yet to allow a run or a hit.

Morris earned his second save of the season in Friday's 9-8 win over the Cardinals by pitching a perfect ninth inning. He didn't record a strikeout.

Yoendrys Gomez has recorded three of the Twins' prior four saves, but it was Morris who pitched the ninth inning Friday and got the job done on just nine pitches (six strikes). It was Morris' second save of the season, and he also snapped a run of three straight outings allowing at least one run.

Varland picked up the save Friday against the Yankees, striking out two over a perfect ninth inning.

The right-hander saw a streak of 18 straight outings without giving up an earned run come to an end during his previous appearance Tuesday, but he bounced back Friday by throwing 12 of 16 pitches for strikes and securing his 12 save of the year. Varland retains a firm grip on Toronto's closer role with a 0.49 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 48:10 K:BB over 36.2 innings.

Harris struck out two over 1.1 perfect innings to earn the save in Friday's 6-4 win over the Rockies.

Harris took a blown save Monday versus the Brewers but bounced back to earn a hold Wednesday. He was able to get a save Friday with a sharp performance, his first clean outing since June 3. On the year, Harris has a 2.67 ERA, 1.49 WHIP and 39:23 K:BB while adding six saves and 10 holds. His high-leverage role isn't in doubt, but the Athletics have used three different pitchers to get saves just this week. Harris' six saves lead the team, two ahead of Mark Leiter, who hasn't earned one since May 21.

Zeferjahn walked one and struck out one without allowing a hit or a run in one-third of an inning to earn the save in Friday's 4-3 win over the Rays.

Mitch Farris worked in long relief despite this being a close game, but he ran into trouble in the ninth inning. He left runners on the corners after Jonathan Aranda's RBI single, and Zeferjahn was brought in. Zeferjahn walked Junior Caminero but struck out Cedric Mullins to end the threat. Over his last 12 outings, Zeferjahn has allowed nine runs (eight earned) across 10.1 innings with a 12:14 K:BB in that span. Kirby Yates has struggled this season and blew his most recent save chance, and though he remains the most likely Angels reliever to receive save chances, the bullpen is far from set in stone. On the year, Zeferjahn has 5.06 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 41:25 K:BB with two saves, five holds and two blown saves over 32 innings.