MLB Player News

Cisnero (shoulder) threw off a mound in late June, per MLB.com.

Cisnero was shut down from throwing in late May after feeling tightness in his lower back, but he's now almost a month into the resumption of his throwing program. His advancement to tossing off a mound suggests he is making strides toward a return, though it's uncertain when the righty reliever will be ready to pitch in games again. Cisnero hasn't faced hitters since making his third appearance in four days for the Angels in a relief outing versus Minnesota on April 27.

The Astros recalled Ort from Triple-A Sugar Land on Saturday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Since being claimed off waivers from Baltimore in May, Ort has allowed just one earned run in 12 innings with Sugar Land while striking out 17 batters and walking four. His dominant performance has now earned him another shot in the majors, and he figures to work in middle relief while with the Astros. Luis Contreras was optioned to Triple-A in a corresponding move.

The Astros optioned Contreras to Triple-A Sugar Land on Saturday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Contreras had cruised through 4.1 scoreless innings through his first four MLB appearances, but he'll now be sent back to Triple-A after allowing six earned runs in just 1.2 frames Friday. It's possible he returns to Houston if he gets back to putting up numbers similar to his 1.40 ERA in Triple-A, but for now the Astros will call up Kaleb Ort to replace Contreras in the bullpen.

Kopech gave up a run on two hits and a walk over 1.1 innings Friday to record his eighth save of the season in a 3-2 win over the Marlins. He struck out one.

With two on and two outs in the ninth inning, Kopech gave up an RBI single to Bryan De La Cruz, but he then got Josh Bell to ground out to escape the jam. Kopech isn't exactly locked in right now, stumbling to a 6.91 ERA, 1.67 WHIP and 19:7 K:BB over his last 14.1 innings while blowing three of six save chances, but the White Sox seem content to deploy him at the team's closer for now, perhaps in an effort to increase his trade value.

Holmes blew his fifth save chance of the season in Friday's 5-3 extra-inning loss to the Red Sox, giving up two runs on two hits in the ninth inning without striking out a batter.

With two outs in the ninth and the Yankees holding a 3-1 lead, Holmes gave up a single to Dominic Smith before leaving a sinker over the middle of the plate that Masataka Yoshida blasted to right field for a game-tying homer. Holmes has been tagged for runs in five of seven appearances since his last save June 9, stumbling to a 10.80 ERA and 1.65 WHIP in 6.2 innings over that stretch despite an 8:0 K:BB. His spot as the Yankees' closer doesn't seem to be in jeopardy yet, but the 31-year-old will likely need to right the ship before the trade deadline if he doesn't want New York shopping for his replacement.

Jansen gave up a hit in a scoreless 10th inning Friday to record his 17th save of the season in a 5-3 win over the Yankees.

The veteran closer is on an impressive roll. Jansen has been scored upon only once in his last 14 appearances, racking up two wins and 10 saves on 10 chances over that stretch with a 0.61 ERA, 0.82 WHIP and 13:2 K:BB over 14.2 innings. The 36-year-old isn't as dominant as he was during his Dodgers heyday, but Jansen is still finding ways to be effective and has yet to serve up a home run in 2024.

Foley allowed two runs on four hits but managed to secure the save in Friday's 5-4 win over the Reds.

Foley started the ninth inning with a 5-2 lead but was generally ineffective as he allowed Cincinnati back into the game before eventually escaping. Despite the blip, the righty has been mostly reliable this year, compiling a 3.26 ERA across 30.1 innings and recording 14 saves in 16 chances. Foley isn't the most exciting option, but as long as he remains the closer in Detroit, he'll maintain fantasy value.

Munoz pitched a perfect inning to earn the save in Friday's 2-1 win over the Blue Jays.

This was Munoz's first save since June 18 -- he blew a save June 24, which was his only opportunity over his last five appearances. The right-hander has seen the most high-leverage spots rather than being strictly confined to the ninth inning. He faced the 9-1-2 hitters Friday to earn his 14th save in 16 chances this year. Munoz has added a 1.54 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 43:14 K:BB across 35 innings while adding six holds. With Munoz's usage being more flexible, Ryne Stanek has forced his way into the closer conversation, though the Mariners' recent poor play hasn't led to many save chances for either reliever.

Topa (knee) threw a 20-pitch bullpen session Wednesday and is expected to throw again Saturday, Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

Topa has been out all season with a small tear in the patellar tendon of his left knee and had a platelet-rich plasma injection in mid-May. He still will likely need to throw several more bullpen sessions before he can go out on a rehab assignment.

Stewart (shoulder) threw 20 pitches to live hitters before Friday night's game, Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

The right-hander has been on the shelf with shoulder tendinitis since early May. He's had several bullpen sessions in the past few weeks, and the advancement to live hitters could be an indication he's ready for a rehab assignment. However, no schedule for the next step of his comeback has been announced.