MLB Player News

Hernandez (calf) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Saturday, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Hernandez appears on track to return from the 15-day injured list when first eligible next week. Selected away from the Dodgers in the Rule 5 Draft back in December, the 25-year-old left-hander had registered a sharp 2.63 ERA and 28:6 K:BB through 27.1 innings this season with Pittsburgh prior to suffering a minor right calf strain.

Holderman (wrist) is expected to be activated off the injured list Friday, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

If that is indeed the case, it will be just a minimum 15-day IL stint for Holderman to heal from a bout of right wrist inflammation. The 27-year-old has posted a 4.01 ERA and 28:7 K:BB in 24.2 innings this season out of the Pirates' bullpen.

Crowe (shoulder) advanced to throwing live batting practice Thursday, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Crowe is currently working out at the Pirates' spring training complex in Florida and could be cleared to head out on a minor-league rehab assignment within the next week. He's been on the shelf since late April due to right shoulder trouble.

Martinez allowed five runs on four hits and a walk without retiring a batter during Pittsburgh's defeat of San Diego on Wednesday.

Martinez entered in the seventh inning with the game still very much in reach for the Padres, who were down 2-1 at the time. However, things quickly got out of hand for the veteran hurler, as he allowed all six hitters he faced to reach base on four singles, a walk and a hit-by-pitch. Martinez had been one of San Diego's most reliable relievers over the first two months of the campaign, but he's taken a step back in June with a 9.26 ERA and 1.89 WHIP over 11.2 innings across 11 appearances.

Puk recorded the final two outs of Wednesday's 6-2 win over the Red Sox to collect his 12th save of the season.

Dylan Floro made things interesting in the ninth, giving up three straight singles with one out to put the potential tying run in the on-deck circle, but Puk needed only three pitches to squash the Boston rally by getting pinch-hitter Masataka Yoshida (forearm) to ground into a double play. Puk has given up earned runs in only one of 10 appearances since returning from the IL in early June, posting a 2.89 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and 7:1 K:BB through 9.1 innings over that stretch while converting six of seven save chances. The 28-year-old southpaw remains entrenched as Miami's closer.

Williams struck out two in a perfect ninth inning Wednesday to record his 15th save of the season in a 5-2 win over the Mets.

The right-hander continued an impressive stretch that has seen him get scored upon only once in his last 17 appearances, posting a 2.08 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 22:11 K:BB through 17.1 innings since May 10. Williams has converted 15 of 16 save chances so far in his first full season as Milwaukee's closer, and as expected he's cementing himself as one of the league's elite ninth-inning options.

Harvey picked up the save Wednesday against the Mariners, striking out two over one scoreless inning.

Harvey entered the game with a three-run lead in the bottom of the ninth and immediately took care of business, striking out Teoscar Hernandez to open the frame before getting Cal Raleigh to go down swinging to close things out. The right-hander did basically all of his work with his four-seamer and has now converted each of his last three save opportunities. He also has not allowed a run over his last five appearances.

Winn will make his first major-league start for the Giants on Thursday in Toronto, Evan Webeck of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

Winn's first three appearances in the big leagues have been in relief, although they've all lasted at least three innings. Nine of the 25-year-old's 12 outings at Triple-A Sacramento this season have come as a starter. That said, while this isn't an opener situation, Winn does figure to have a fairly limited workload Thursday consdering he threw just 44 pitches in his last appearance over the weekend.

Lawrence picked up a save against the Dodgers on Wednesday, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out three batters over 1.1 innings.

Lawrence entered in the eighth inning with two outs, two on and Colorado clinging to a two-run lead. He allowed a Freddie Freeman RBI single and walked Will Smith to load the bases but got J.D. Martinez to strike out to end the threat. Lawrence then returned for the ninth and had a much smoother frame, retiring the side in order to secure a save. He appears to be settling in as Colorado's closer with three saves over the past six days.

McGough (0-6) took the loss and a blown save Wednesday versus the Rays, allowing three runs on four hits with one strikeout in one inning.

McGough gave up three straight singles and a two-out double, allowing the Rays to rally for a 3-2 lead. Over his previous 15 appearances, McGough had allowed just one unearned run over 19 innings with a 27:6 K:BB, so this looks to simply be a bump in the road. The right-hander's up to four blown saves this year, but he also has six saves and 12 holds with a 3.00 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 50:14 K:BB over 42 innings. He's mostly been an effective late-inning option, providing stability in Arizona's bullpen, which ranks 21st in the majors with a 4.14 ERA from relievers.