MLB Player News

Lee recorded his first career big-league save Wednesday, giving up one unearned run on one hit in the 10th inning of a 5-4 win over the Astros. He didn't walk or strike out a batter.

Tyler Rogers worked the eighth inning and Louis Varland the ninth to keep the game tied at 3-3, leaving Lee as the surprise recipient of a save chance after the Blue Jays took a lead in the top of the 10th. The right-hander did allow the phantom runner to score on a Yordan Alvarez single, but Lee wound up needing just five pitches (all strikes) to finish things out. While he's had success at Triple-A Buffalo this season, Lee's 6.23 ERA, 1.62 WHIP and 1:4 K:BB through 4.1 MLB innings this season will limit him to a lower-leverage role for the most part.

Anderson allowed three hits and a walk while failing to record a strikeout over 3.2 scoreless innings in a no-decision versus the Mariners on Wednesday.

Anderson last pitched Sunday, so he wasn't on full rest. The right-hander is being stretched out as a starter to fill the holes created when the Tigers shipped out Tarik Skubal and Casey Mize ahead of Monday's trade deadline, although Jackson Jobe (elbow), Jack Flaherty (forearm) and Justin Verlander (hamstring) are expected back in the coming weeks as well. Anderson has primarily worked as a reliever this season, pitching to a 4.01 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 78:25 K:BB through 67.1 innings over 41 games (three starts). While this was a fairly promising performance, Anderson won't be much of a factor in fantasy until he gets into the 70-80 pitch range and shows an ability to work at least five innings consistently to give himself a chance of collecting wins. His next start is projected to be at home versus the Guardians, but it'll take at least a couple more turns through the rotation before he's stretched out enough to contend for wins.

Munoz struck out two in a perfect inning to earn the save in Wednesday's 4-2 win over the Tigers.

Munoz is the 13th pitcher to reach the 20-save mark this season after slamming the door on the Tigers' comeback effort. He had allowed two runs over his previous 3.1 innings, a span that included his first blown save since early June. Munoz is at a 3.89 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 65:17 K:BB across 41.2 innings this year, and his six blown saves are one fewer than he had during the entirety of the 2025 regular season. Despite the struggles at times this year, he remains safely in the closer role for Seattle.

Kittredge earned the save in Wednesday's 5-2 win over the Angels, pitching a clean ninth inning with no strikeouts.

Kittredge needed just six pitches to retire the side and record his fifth save of the year. After allowing runs in his last two appearances to break a 15-game stretch with no earned runs allowed, Kittredge was able to get back on track Wednesday. Kittredge has quietly worked his way to second on the team in saves and should continue to be in the closer mix until Felix Bautista (shoulder) or Ryan Helsley (elbow) come off the injured list.

Smith was charged with a blown save in Wednesday's 6-5 extra-inning loss to the Mets, allowing an unearned run on one hit and two walks while striking out two in the ninth inning.

After walking Jared Young to lead off the ninth, Smith had New York down to their final out before giving up a double to Jorge Polanco, followed by a walk to Marcus Semien to load the bases. It looked like Smith would escape with the save after A.J. Ewing grounded to second base. However, Brayan Rocchio failed to field the ball cleanly, allowing the tying run to score and sticking Smith with his fifth blown save this season. Coming into the day, Smith had turned in seven straight scoreless innings, though he's had some trouble with his command of late with seven walks in his past 4.1 frames. Overall, Smith has converted 30 saves this season, posting a 2.41 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 73:18 K:BB across 52.1 innings.

Cruz secured the save Wednesday against the Twins, throwing a clean ninth inning. He struck out one.

With Alex Lange having surrendered 16 runs over his past 10 outings, Cruz is making inroads on claiming a larger share of the Royals' save opportunities going forward. Over 28 innings since the beginning of June, Cruz boasts a 2.25 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 28:6 K:BB. Each of the right-hander's three saves on the season have come since July 22 as well, making Cruz someone to consider for fantasy managers in need of saves while Kansas City continues to wait on Carlos Estevez (shoulder) to get healthy.

Bradford didn't factor into the decision in Wednesday's 6-0 win over the Giants, allowing five hits and two walks over 4.1 scoreless innings. He struck out five.

After missing the entire 2025 season while recovering from an elbow injury that required an internal brace procedure that June, Bradford was brought along slowly after some renewed soreness in April and finally began ramping back up in July before being activated from the IL on Wednesday. He looked sharp in his season debut, albeit against a vulnerable opponent, and tossed 50 of 70 pitches for strikes before being lifted. The Rangers will also get Jordan Montgomery (elbow) back later this month, and Jack Leiter (ankle) could return in September, but Bradford made a strong early case to stick in the rotation. He'll look to get stretched out enough to pick up his first MLB win since Sept. 18, 2024 in his next outing, which is set to come on the road early next week against the Angels.

Varland (4-4) picked up the win Wednesday, striking out one in a perfect ninth inning as the Blue Jays downed the Astros 5-4 in 10 innings.

Called in to keep the game tied at 3-3, Varland fired 12 of 17 pitches for strikes and fanned Jeremy Pena to end the frame before Ernie Clement launched a game-winning, two-run homer in the top of the 10th. It was Varland's first win since June 9, but only because he's been so effective as the closer -- over 20 appearances and 22 innings since then he's converted all 13 of his save chances with a 2.05 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 28:6 K:BB.

The Angels placed Bachman on the 15-day injured list Wednesday due to right forearm radial nerve inflammation.

Bachman was lifted just nine pitches in his most recent relief appearance in Sunday's win over the Brewers due to what the Angels initially termed as right arm fatigue. After additional tests on Bachman's arm revealed a nerve issue, the Angels opted to send him to the shelf. Bachman looked like a candidate to factor into the closing picture after the Angels parted with high-leverage relievers Ryan Zeferjahn and Kirby Yates ahead of Monday's trade deadline, but the forearm injury will take Bachman out of the mix for saves for the time being.

The Angels recalled Saucedo from Triple-A Salt Lake on Wednesday.

Saucedo will join the 26-man active roster as a replacement for fellow reliever Sam Bachman (forearm), who was placed on the 15-day injured list. Over six appearances out of the big-league bullpen this season, Saucedo has delivered a 5.40 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 6:0 K:BB over 3.1 innings.