MLB Player News

Heller retired the only batter he faced Monday to record his first hold of the season in a win over the Twins.

Most of Atlanta's high-leverage options were getting the day off after a heavy workload over the weekend, so Heller was brought in to get the final out of the eighth inning in a 4-1 game. It's only the second hold of the 31-year-old's career, with his first coming as a rookie in 2016 with the Yankees. Since joining the Atlanta bullpen in mid-June, Heller has an impressive nine strikeouts in 4.1 innings, but they come with four walks and a 1.85 WHIP.

Yates picked up the save Monday against the Twins, allowing one hit while striking out two over a scoreless inning. He didn't record a walk.

With Raisel Iglesias, A.J. Minter, Nick Anderson and Joe Jimenez all unavailable after working multiple times in Atlanta's previous series, Yates got the call in the ninth Monday and delivered his first save. It was Yates' second save chance of the season, as he blew an opportunity versus the Mets on June 7. Since giving up two runs to Seattle on May 20, Yates has allowed just three runs over his last 14.1 innings while sporting a 20:4 K:BB during that stretch. However, he likely won't be in the mix for many more save chances moving forward as long as the quartet of relievers mentioned earlier are available.

Williams picked up the save Monday against the Mets, tossing a perfect ninth inning. He didn't record a strikeout.

Williams retired Francisco Lindor, Pete Alonso and Daniel Vogelbach in order to record his 14th save. The right-hander is now 14-for-15 in save chances this season and sports elite numbers across the board (1.69 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 35:14 K:BB). The 28-year-old's career high for saves in a season is 15, which he set last year when he took over as the Brewers' full-time closer after the surprising trade of Josh Hader at the deadline.

Cosgrove (hamstring) allowed one run on one hit and one walk while striking out two over one inning Monday for the Arizona Complex League Padres.

Cosgrove landed on the 15-day injured list June 16 due to a left hamstring strain, but he's already been cleared for game action. He'll likely need another outing or two in the minors before being activated from the IL.

Smith was reinstated Monday from his 10-game foreign substance abuse suspension.

Smith received the 10-game ban after being ejected from the Mets' game against the Yankees back on June 13 when an umpire found sticky stuff on his right hand. He returns Monday to a 4.18 ERA and 28:10 K:BB through 23.2 innings for the year.

The Marlins claimed Villalobos off waivers from the Pirates on Monday and optioned him to Double-A Pensacola, Daniel Alvarez-Montes of ElExtraBase.com reports.

Villalobos will begin his second stint in the Marlins organization after he had previously been claimed off waivers by the Pirates in April when Miami designated him for assignment. Though he'll report to Pensacola initially, Villalobos has pitched exclusively at the Triple-A level this season, recording a 5.73 ERA and 1.82 WHIP in 22 innings out of the bullpen.

Walker will serve as the Giants' opening pitcher for Tuesday's game against the Blue Jays, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

For the fourth time in less than two weeks, Walker will handle the opener role for the Giants before turning the game over to the bullpen. Walker hasn't recorded more than five outs in any of his prior three "starts," so he shouldn't be expected to work more than once through the Toronto lineup. The Giants haven't designated a primary pitcher out of the bullpen behind Walker, but starter Alex Wood would be available on his normal four days' rest if manager Gabe Kapler wants to go that route.

Rodriguez (elbow) made his season debut Wednesday for the Mets' rookie-level Florida Complex League affiliate, tossing a scoreless frame while giving up one hit and no walks.

The appearance was Rodriguez's first in affiliated ball since the 2021 campaign, after he missed the entirety of last season and the early part of the current season while recovering from March 2022 Tommy John surgery. Prior to having the elbow procedure, Rodriguez finished the 2021 season at Single-A St. Lucie, so he could eventually rejoin the Mets' Florida State League affiliate once he makes a few more appearances at the rookie-ball level.

Ridings (lat) has made three appearances and has given up two earned runs on one hit and three walks while striking out five in 2.2 innings since being optioned to Triple-A Syracuse on June 15.

Ridings opened the season on the 60-day injured list while recovering from a right lat strain but was cleared to resume pitching in minor-league games in early June. Because of the extensive time that Ridings missed, the Mets will likely want to see the right-hander pitch effectively in the minors over a longer period of time before he gets a look in the big-league bullpen.

The Nationals selected Willingham from Triple-A Rochester on Monday, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

Willingham began turning heads in Double-A Harrisburg after he made 10 shutout appearances while striking out 14 batters through 10.2 frames. While his stats dipped a bit following his Triple-A promotion (3.46 ERA and 1.46 WHIP through 13 IP), he's now earned his first call up to the big leagues. Willingham will add depth to Washington's bullpen and likely serve in middle relief.