MLB Player News

Hjelle was recalled from Triple-A Sacramento on Sunday, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.

The 25-year-old was demoted to Sacramento on Saturday but will quickly rejoin the big-league club. Hjelle could provide some length out of the bullpen Sunday with Scott Alexander starting as an opener against the Diamondbacks.

Junis was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento on Sunday, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.

Junis took the loss Saturday after he gave up four runs over 4.2 innings against the Diamondbacks, and he'll head to the minors for the final few days of the season. The 30-year-old had a strong start to 2022 but finished with a 4.42 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 98:25 K:BB across 112 innings.

Phillips (7-3) earned the win over Colorado on Saturday, allowing one hit and striking out two batters in one scoreless inning.

Phillips got the eighth inning with the score tied 4-4 and worked around a two-out single and stolen base to keep the Rockies off the board. Los Angeles put up a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame, rewarding Phillips with his seventh win. The right-hander continues to thrive as one of the league's most effective bullpen arms -- since June 1, he's posted a minuscule 0.42 ERA and 0.63 WHIP along with a 51:10 K:BB over 45 outings covering 43 innings.

Law (2-3) took the loss against the Cubs on Saturday, allowing one run on one hit with one walk over 1.2 innings. He struck out two.

Law relieved Nick Lodolo to begin the sixth and went 1-2-3 through the first hitters he faced. The right-handed reliever returned in the seventh and appeared to be cruising to another 1-2-3 inning before surrendering a two-out homer to Seiya Suzuki to put the Reds down 2-1. Law has now allowed five runs over his last two appearances, taking the loss each time.

Hughes retired the final out of Saturday's win over the Reds via strikeout to earn the save.

Manuel Rodriguez started the ninth inning for the Cubs, but the team turned to the lefty Hughes to face left-handed pinch hitter TJ Friedl, who he retired on three pitches to earn his eighth save of the year. Rodriguez, however, has seemingly emerged as the team's preferred closing option with a few days left in the season. Both players could be in the mix for saves heading into 2023, depending on what Chicago does in the offseason.

Junis (5-7) took the loss Saturday against the Diamondbacks. He allowed four runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out four over 4.2 innings.

Junis entered the game in the second inning after lefty Scott Alexander served as an opener for 1.1 innings; Junis' most notable blemish occurred on a two-run double from Sergio Alcantara to give the Diamondbacks a 3-1 lead in the fourth. The righty has struggled during his last 11 appearances, recording a 6.20 ERA and 1.57 WHIP over 53.2 innings. The 30-year-old has not allowed a home run in three straight games.

Jansen picked up the save Saturday against the Mets, allowing no runs on no hits while striking out two and walking none over one inning.

Jansen now has saves in back-to-back appearances and in six of his last eight appearances. The veteran is one save shy of tying Emmanuel Clase for the most in baseball. Jansen needed just 11 pitches to finish out the game Saturday, lowering his ERA to 3.48 in the process.

Hicks (neck/arm) had a strong bullpen session Friday and is on track to be activated from the 15-day injured list prior to the end of the regular season, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

Hicks appears set for a fairly minimal stay after hitting the IL on Sept. 17. The 26-year-old right-hander had a 4.87 ERA and 1.23 WHIP across 20.1 innings between the start of August and when he was shelved with fatigue and neck spasms, so he's likely to slot into a mid-leverage role once he's ready to go. Assuming he doesn't have a setback in the next couple of days, he'll likely have time to appear in one regular-season game before the postseason begins.

Graterol struck out one in a perfect inning to earn the save in Saturday's 6-4 win over the Rockies.

Graterol struggled in his last appearance, which came as an opener Thursday versus the Padres. He allowed two runs on three hits in one inning in that outing, but he looked much more comfortable back in his usual high-leverage role Saturday. The save was his fourth of the season and his first since July 10. The 24-year-old right-hander now has a 3.14 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 43:10 K:BB while adding 10 holds, a blown save and a 2-3 record through 48.2 innings this season. The Dodgers' ninth-inning usage is a full-blown committee at this point, so it's unclear who might operate as the closer in the postseason.

Hader allowed a hit and struck out two in a scoreless inning to earn the save in Saturday's 5-2 win over the White Sox.

Hader pitched around a one-out single from Eloy Jimenez to protect a three-run lead. While he took a blown save in Wednesday's extra-inning win over the Dodgers, Hader has still gone 8.2 innings since he last allowed an earned run. He's converted five of six save chances across those nine appearances. The 28-year-old is 35-for-39 in save chances this year with a 5.29 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 80:21 K:BB in 49.1 innings between the Padres and the Brewers.