MLB Player News
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Grant Anderson RP | MIL
Rangers' Grant Anderson: Sent back to minors
The Rangers optioned Anderson to Triple-A Round Rock on Sunday.
Anderson will head back to the minors after he served as the Rangers' 27th man in Saturday's doubleheader with the Yankees. He mopped up in relief during the Rangers' 8-0 loss in the first game of the day, covering 3.2 innings and striking out three while allowing one earned run on one hit and two walks.
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Emmanuel Clase RP | CLE
Guardians' Emmanuel Clase: Perfect in 34th save
Clase struck out one batter in a perfect inning of work to earn a save against the Twins on Saturday.
Cleveland's bullpen went nine-up, nine-down after starter Gavin Williams provided six one-run frames. Clase accounted for the final three outs, which he notched with relative ease on 13 pitches. With 34 saves on the season, Clase ranks second in the majors behind Ryan Helsley (37). Clase needs six more saves to reach 40 for the third consecutive campaign.
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Lucas Erceg RP | KC
Royals' Lucas Erceg: Notches first save as Royal
Erceg earned a save against the Cardinals on Saturday, allowing two hits and striking out two batters over 1.1 scoreless innings.
Erceg entered in a tight situation with a three-run lead and two outs in the top of the eighth frame, as the Cardinals had two runners on base and Paul Goldschmidt -- who homered earlier in the contest -- at the plate. The righty reliever fanned Goldschmidt to end the frame, then remained in the contest after the Royals put up two runs in the bottom of the inning. Erceg allowed back-to-back singles to begin the ninth but retired the next three batters to secure his first save since joining Kansas City at the trade deadline. He's been lights out since becoming a Royal, recording 6.1 scoreless frames during which he's posted an 8:0 K:BB. James McArthur has been struggling and Hunter Harvey (back) landed on the injured list Saturday, so Erceg appears to be the team's reliever most likely to see save opportunities, at least for the time being.
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Tyler Alexander RP | TEX
Rays' Tyler Alexander: Decent in bulk-relief role
Alexander allowed one run on six hits and two walks while striking out three over 4.2 innings Saturday versus the Orioles. He did not factor in the decision.
Alexander continues to operate in a bulk-relief role, and he's had success during his current stint in the majors. He's allowed two runs and posted a 15:3 K:BB over 14.1 innings over his last four appearances, and Saturday was the first time in that span he didn't come away with a win. Alexander has a 5.20 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 63:16 K:BB over 71 innings in 15 appearances (six starts) in the majors this year. If Ryan Pepiot (knee) returns to the majors next week, Alexander may be moved off the 26-man roster or feature as a traditional multi-inning reliever going forward.
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Josh Hader RP | HOU
Astros' Josh Hader: Earns 25th save
Hader earned a save in Saturday's 5-4 win over the Red Sox, allowing one hit and striking out one in a scoreless ninth inning.
Hader allowed a leadoff double to Rafael Devers but was able to strand him there to secure his 25th consecutive successful save since blowing his first attempt of the season April 2. That total puts the southpaw in a tie for fourth in the majors with Robert Suarez. On the season, Hader owns a 3.68 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 78:18 K:BB across 51.1 innings.
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Burch Smith RP | DET
Orioles' Burch Smith: Picks up another win
Smith (4-0) allowed a run on one hit over one inning but earned the win Saturday over the Rays.
Smith gave up a game-tying solo home run to Jose Caballero in the seventh inning, but the Orioles retook the lead in the eighth and held on. This was Smith's second appearance in a row during which he's nabbed a win, and he's added two holds despite allowing two runs over 4.1 innings in August. For the year, the right-hander has a 3.83 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 38:11 K:BB over 42.1 innings between the Orioles and the Marlins. Smith is unlikely to see a lot of high-leverage work, but he could be called on in tight spots when the bullpen is thin.
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Brad Keller SP | PHI
Red Sox's Brad Keller: Suffers loss in return
Keller (0-3) took the loss against the Astros on Saturday, allowing three runs on six hits and two walks with six strikeouts across four innings.
In his first major-league appearance since June 23, Keller served as a bulk reliever and surrendered three runs on homers by Yordan Alvarez and Alex Bregman. The 29-year-old has yielded eight long balls across 37.1 major-league innings this season with a 5.30 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 30:13 K:BB.
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Seranthony Dominguez RP | CHW
Orioles' Seranthony Dominguez: Nabs first save with new team
Dominguez walked one and struck out one over a scoreless and hitless inning to earn the save in Saturday's 7-5 win over the Rays.
Dominguez has steadied himself since he was traded from the Phillies to the Orioles on July 26. Over eight innings with Baltimore, he has allowed just one run with a 9:2 K:BB, and now he has a save. It's especially noteworthy he got the save chance Saturday, as regular closer Craig Kimbrel hadn't pitched over the last three days. Kimbrel has allowed nine runs (seven earned) over his last 7.2 innings, but he's on a three-inning scoreless streak. Manager Brandon Hyde told reporters after the game that he's trying to keep the pressure off Kimbrel during his recent slump while also giving the veteran a vote of confidence, Andy Kostka of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports, but this usage suggests Dominguez has established himself as a high-leverage option with his new team. For the year, Dominguez has a 4.09 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 49:14 K:BB while adding two saves and five holds over 44 innings.
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Mason Miller RP | SD
Athletics' Mason Miller: Strikes out three for 17th save
Miller earned the save in Saturday's 1-0 win over the Blue Jays, walking one and striking out three in a scoreless ninth inning.
Miller was summoned to protect a 1-0 lead in the ninth inning and did so without allowing the Blue Jays to put a ball in play, touching 103 mph on his fastball and generating five swinging strikes on 18 pitches. The 25-year-old has converted both his save attempts since returning from the injured list due to a finger injury and owns a 2.11 ERA, 0.82 WHIP and 73:15 K:BB across 42.2 innings this season.
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Osvaldo Bido SP | CHW
Athletics' Osvaldo Bido: Throws six scoreless in win
Bido (3-3) earned the win against the Blue Jays on Saturday, allowing two hits and one walk while striking out five across six scoreless innings.
Bido followed up his first quality start of the season Sunday with the best start of his career, silencing the Blue Jays in a 1-0 victory. He generated 11 swinging strikes on 89 pitches and did not allow a single hard-hit ball. On the season, the 28-year-old owns a 3.92 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 39:19 K:BB across 39 innings and lines up for a home matchup with the Giants next weekend.