MLB Player News

Payamps tossed a scoreless eighth inning and picked up his fourth win of the season in Saturday's 4-3 victory over Atlanta.

Payamps entered Saturday's contest with the two teams knotted on the scoreboard, and he wound up with the win after the Brewers plated a run in the bottom of the eighth and prevented Atlanta from doing any further scoring. Payamps has been on a major roll of late, tossing 15 straight scoreless appearances and posting a 0.50 WHIP and 21:2 K:BB in 16.0 innings over that span. He is locked into the setup spot in front of closer Devin Williams.

Alzolay pitched a scoreless ninth inning to earn the save in Saturday's win over the Cardinals. He allowed one hit and struck out two.

Alzolay recorded a save for the second straight day and now has nine of them this season. The righty has clearly moved ahead of Mark Leiter for closer duties, with the latter working the eighth inning again Saturday. Alzolay has looked comfortable in the role with a 2.51 ERA and 10.0 K/9 this year, and he should continue to see the bulk of the save opportunities for the Cubs.

Atlanta selected Hernandez's contract from Triple-A Gwinnett on Sunday, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

The 26-year-old missed the entire 2022 campaign after undergoing Tommy John surgery, but he returned to the mound this season and pitched well between Double-A Mississippi and Gwinnett with 26 strikeouts and just four hits allowed across 16.2 scoreless innings. Hernandez's first appearance will mark his MLB debut, and he's likely to fill a low-leverage role during his first taste of the big leagues.

Fulmer did not factor into the decision Saturday, allowing one run on three hits and one walk over two innings against the Cardinals. He struck out two.

Fulmer didn't give the Cubs the start they'd hoped for, surrendering a leadoff home run to Lars Nootbaar on the very first pitch of the game. He also gave up a single and a walk in the inning but was able to work his way out of the jam and added two strikeouts in the second before being relieved by Drew Smyly to open the third. The right-handed reliever had not allowed a hit in three straight appearances coming in and now holds a lousy 9:7 K:BB in July.

Lawrence picked up the save in Saturday's 4-3 victory over the Marlins, allowing one walk over a scoreless inning.

Lawrence entered the game with a one-run lead in the bottom of the ninth and got Joey Wendle to ground out to open the inning before issuing a free pass to Yuli Gurriel. The right-handed reliever quickly made up for the walk, however, forcing Jon Berti to ground into a double play on the first pitch of the next at-bat to end the contest. It marked Lawrence's seventh save this season and his seventh straight appearance in which he did not allow a run.

Williams picked up a save against Atlanta on Saturday, allowing one hit and two walks while striking out three batters over one scoreless inning.

Williams didn't have much margin for error when he entered in the ninth frame, as the Brewers held just a one-run lead. The right-hander allowed a one-out single that quickly came back to haunt him when pinch runner Forrest Wall proceeded to steal second and third base, and Williams issued consecutive two-out walks to load the bases. However, he was able to escape the jam by getting Ozzie Albies to strike out swinging on a changeup. Williams thus converted his seventh consecutive successful save opportunity, and he's not allowed a run while posting a 14:3 K:BB over 6.2 innings during that stretch.

Bednar walked two and struck out one in a scoreless and hitless inning to earn the save in Saturday's 3-0 win over the Angels.

Bednar loaded the bases with one out, but got Trey Cabbage to hit into a game-ending double play. This was the fourth time in his last nine appearances that Bednar hass allowed multiple baserunners. The closer is up to 19 saves this season while maintaining an excellent 1.15 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 47:9 K:BB through 39 innings.

Alexander will serve as the Giants' opening pitcher Sunday versus the Nationals, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Anthony DeSclafani had been listed as the Giants' probable starter, but he will instead operate in bulk relief. Alexander, 34, carries a 3.04 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 15:6 K:BB in 26.2 innings (31 appearances) this season at the MLB level.

Diaz picked up the save in Saturday's 4-2 victory over the Diamondbacks. He allowed one run on two hits while striking out two over one inning.

Diaz struggled to close out Saturday's contest, serving up a solo homer to Corbin Carroll while also allowing a double to Christian Walker in the ninth, though the closer still managed to secure his 29th save of the season. The outing marked his first earned run allowed since July 3 (seven innings), a stretch in which he's a perfect 8-of-8 in save opportunities.

Blach will serve as the Rockies' opener Sunday versus the Marlins, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

It will be his first time working as an opener in 2023. Blach, 32, has allowed 13 runs -- 10 earned -- on 24 hits and two walks in 13.1 innings this season at the major-league level. Connor Seabold, recently demoted to the bullpen, could come on as a bulk reliever for Colorado in Sunday's game.