MLB Player News

Megill tossed a scoreless ninth inning in Saturday's 5-0 victory over the Pirates.

Megill got a chance to finish Saturday's contest with the Brewers up a handful of runs, and after allowing a single to the first batter he faced, he slammed the door by striking out the next three. Megill has primarily been used in mop-up duty, but he has been effective of late, tossing 4.2 scoreless innings while giving up just three hits and posting a 7:2 K:BB over his last five appearances.

Wilson earned a hold against Tampa Bay on Saturday, striking out two batters in one inning.

Wilson followed Blake Snell's six scoreless frames with one of his own, needing just 13 pitches to retire the side in order. The right-hander has held the opponent scoreless in 17 of his past 18 outings, posting a 0.95 ERA, 0.79 WHIP and 23:5 K:BB over 19 innings during that span. He's emerged as one of the Padres' most reliable relievers and is tied for third in the majors with 14 holds, making him a solid option in fantasy leagues that count that category.

Padres manager Bob Melvin said this weekend that Suarez (elbow) will throw another bullpen session in the coming days but remains without a definitive timeline for a return from the 60-day injured list, 97.3 The Fan San Diego reports.

Suarez has been on the shelf all season with right elbow inflammation, but the reliever reached a major milestone in his recovery Friday, when he threw what Melvin said was a 26- or 27-pitch bullpen session that incorporated his full arsenal. Melvin acknowledged that the right-hander is on a similar buildup progression to a pitcher in the early stages of spring training, so Suarez will presumably need at least two or three weeks' worth of bullpen work, live sessions and minor-league rehab games before he's deemed fit to rejoin the San Diego bullpen. The 32-year-old was a key setup arm for the Padres as a rookie in 2022, making 45 appearances while logging a 2.27 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 61:21 K:BB in 47.2 innings while notching five wins, 12 holds and one save.

Leiter tossed two scoreless innings of relief in Saturday's 3-2 win over the Orioles. He allowed a hit and a walk while striking out two.

Leiter covered the seventh and eighth innings, and his efforts earned him his 12th hold of the season. Adbert Alzolay closed things out in the ninth, and it looks like the latter has established himself as the team's preferred closing option. Since Leiter's last save on June 2, he has three holds, while Alzolay has picked up two saves in that span. Leiter still has some fantasy value in deeper leagues, though it looks like Alzolay is the preferred choice for fantasy managers at this point.

Vasquez (2-0) earned the win Saturday against the Athletics, striking out two while allowing one hit, one walk and one unearned run over two innings.

Vasquez entered the game with the score tied in the bottom of the 10th and intentionally walked Esteury Ruiz to lead things off before needing just seven pitches to retire the next three batters. The lefty reliever returned in the 11th, this time with a one-run lead and proceeded to cough up the game-tying run on an RBI double from Carlos Perez. However, Kyle Schwarber came right back for Philadelphia in the bottom of the inning with an RBI single, giving the 29-year-old his second win of the season. Vasquez has struck out two in each of his last two appearances and lowered his ERA to 1.62 on the season with Saturday's effort.

Alzolay picked up the save Saturday against Baltimore. He struck out two over a scoreless inning while walking one and not allowing any hits.

Alzolay entered the game to protect a one-run lead in the ninth and got the first two batters to go down swinging before issuing a walk to Austin Hays. However, he made short work of Adley Rutschman in the next at-bat, getting him to ground out on a four-seamer to end the contest. It marked Alzolay's fourth save this season, and he has not allowed a run over eight appearances since May 21.

Hicks struck out the side in a scoreless ninth inning Saturday to record his first save of the season in a 5-3 win over the Mets. He also hit a batter and threw a wild pitch.

Giovanny Gallegos was expected to step into the closer role for the Cardinals while Ryan Helsley (forearm) was on the shelf, but instead Gallegos worked the eighth inning Saturday against the middle of the Mets' order while Hicks handled the ninth. The save was his first since 2019, as injuries and a failed conversion to starting took him out of the team's high-leverage mix, but it seems the flamethrowing right-hander will get another chance to help lock up wins for St. Louis. After a bumpy first month of the season, Hicks has a 3.00 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 28:11 K:BB through 18 innings since the beginning of May.

Puk walked one batter in a scoreless ninth inning Saturday to record his ninth save of the season in a 5-2 win over the Nationals.

The lefty has yet to allow an earned run since returning from the IL on June 7, and Saturday's walk was the first Puk had issued since May 4. His breakout 2022 with Oakland was clearly no fluke, and the 28-year-old now sports a 2.18 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 25:4 K:BB through 20.2 innings on the season while converting nine of 10 save chances.

McGough allowed a hit but didn't give up a run over two-thirds of an inning to earn the save in Saturday's 6-3 win over the Guardians.

Kyle Nelson started the ninth inning in a non-save situation but put two runners on base. McGough allowed one of those runners to score but had no additional trouble finishing off the contest. With two saves in his last four appearances, McGough appears to be continuing his ascent up Arizona's leverage ladder. He's been charged with just one unearned run over his last 15 innings while posting a 20:4 K:BB in that span. For the season, the 33-year-old has a 2.68 ERA, 0.84 WHIP, 42:12 K:BB, two saves and 12 holds through 37 innings. Miguel Castro, who picked up the win Saturday, and Andrew Chafin remain the most likely candidates for saves.

Beck allowed three hits and a walk while striking out two over four shutout innings to earn the save in Saturday's 15-0 win over the Dodgers.

This was a smooth outing with plenty of cushion for Beck, who helped the Giants spare their bullpen after they used eight pitchers in Friday's 11-inning contest. This is the second time Beck's gone three-plus innings to earn a save this season. He's been an effective long-relief option for San Francisco with a 3.31 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 30:6 K:BB over 35.1 innings in his first big-league season. He also has a win and a hold through 14 appearances.