MLB Player News

Diaz picked up the save Saturday against Miami, allowing no runs on no hits while striking out three and walking none.

Diaz pitched a clean ninth inning, throwing 12 of 16 pitches for strikes against the heart of Miami's order. It was the eighth time this season that the reliever struck out at least three batters in an appearance. The save was his 16th of the year and the outing lowered his ERA to 2.12.

Hader picked up the save Saturday against the Blue Jays, allowing a run on two hits while striking out two and walking none over one inning.

Hader picked up his league-leading 22nd save of the year. He allowed just his third earned run of the season in the game, a Lourdes Gurriel RBI single in the ninth. It took Hader 20 pitches to get out of the inning and close out the game. Across 22.2 innings this season, Hader has allowed nine hits and six walks. He will take a 1.19 ERA into his next appearance.

Leiter (1-2) allowed two runs on four hits across two innings of relief to take the loss Saturday against the Cardinals. He didn't have any walks and struck out two.

Leiter allowed two hits in the seventh inning but escaped without allowing any runs, and the Cubs proceeded to tie the game at 3-3 in the top of the eighth. However, Leiter was less fortunate in the bottom of the frame. A one-out double followed by a wild pitch left a runner on third. Leiter then hit Harrison Bader with a pitch and followed that by allowing a sacrifice fly and a run-scoring single. The righty has struggled this year with a 6.04 ERA, and he could get shipped back to Triple-A Iowa at some point.

Jansen picked up the save against the Dodgers on Saturday, striking out all three batters he faced in a perfect ninth inning.

Jansen pitched for Los Angeles for the first 12 seasons of his major-league career, so he may have had extra motivation to do well Saturday. Whatever the case, the closer looked overpowering in his outing, striking out Cody Bellinger, Max Muncy and Trea Turner on 14 pitches. Jansen has been rock solid in June, posting a 1.80 ERA, 0.70 WHIP and 15:0 K:BB across 10 innings while converting all eight of his save chances and adding one win.

White did not factor in the decision against Atlanta on Saturday, allowing three runs on five hits and two walks while striking out three over four innings.

White was recalled prior to the contest to make the start, which was originally lined up to be handled by Andrew Heaney (shoulder). White got through two scoreless innings before Dansby Swanson hit a two-run homer in the third, and the right-handed hurler was lifted after allowing a pair of singles to open the fifth frame. White has a 4.25 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 30:10 K:BB through 29.2 innings on the season, and he may be given the opportunity to stick in the rotation while Heaney remains out of action.

Helsley (3-0) gave up one hit and two walks over 1.2 scoreless innings while striking out two to earn the win in a 5-3 victory over the Cubs on Saturday.

The Cardinals' power reliever was brought into a tie game after co-closer Giovanny Gallegos coughed up a two-run lead in the top of the eighth. Helsley got the final five outs of the game to pick up his third win of the season after the Cardinals posted two go-ahead runs in the bottom of the eighth. The 27-year-old right-hander hasn't given up an earned run over the entire month of June and boasts a superb 12.3 K/9 rate. He should continued to see high-leverage usage out of the bullpen.

Dominguez threw a perfect inning to earn the save in Saturday's 4-2 win over the Padres.

Four Phillies relievers each threw a perfect inning Saturday, including Corey Knebel (seventh) and Brad Hand (eighth) prior to Dominguez closing things out. Ten days into the new closer committee in Philadelphia, Dominguez has two saves and a hold in four scoreless appearances over 3.2 innings, while Hand is 2-for-3 in save chances and the former closer Knebel has just one hold. With a dominant 1.63 ERA, 0.83 WHIP and 35:7 K:BB across 27.2 innings, Dominguez has the best overall numbers of the high-leverage group, and if he can keep it going, he could pull away with the closing duties.

Bednar (3-2) was charged with the loss after he pitched two-thirds of an inning, surrendering two runs on two hits and two walks on his way to a blown save Saturday versus the Rays. He struck out one batter.

Bednar was called upon to protect a 5-4 lead in the bottom of the ninth inning and he retired the first two batters he faced before imploding. He issued back-to-back two-out walks before Jonathan Aranda singled to load the bases. Isaac Paredes then promptly ripped a two-run single, delivering the Rays a walkoff win. Bednar suffered his third blown save of the season and blew his second straight opportunity. The closer still owns a 1.78 ERA and 0.88 WHIP over 35.1 innings while he's converted 11 out of 14 save chances this year.

Manager Dave Roberts said Saturday that Gonzalez (elbow) has resumed throwing, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

It's not clear when Gonzalez resumed throwing, but it's encouraging to see him progressing in his recovery after he underwent left elbow surgery in mid-May. Roberts is optimistic that that the southpaw will rejoin the Dodgers sometime in August.

Manager Dave Roberts said Saturday that Kahnle (forearm) has resumed throwing, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Kahnle was shut down in May due to a forearm strain in his forearm related to the Tommy John surgery he underwent in 2020. While it's not yet clear how long the right-hander has been throwing, Roberts hopes that the 32-year-old will be able to return sometime in August.