MLB Player News

Okert gave up a run on a hit, two walks and a hit-by-pitch while striking out one in the eighth inning Friday to record his 12th hold of the season in a win over the Mets.

Brought in to face New York's 2-3-4 hitters in a 4-1 game, Okert made things a little too interesting by serving up a solo shot to Francisco Lindor before loading the bases with two outs. Fortunately, the southpaw got Eduardo Escobar to fly out to end the rally. Okert has given up runs in back-to-back appearances, but with Tanner Scott still holding down the closer role, Okert's spot as the Marlins' top left-handed setup man seems fairly secure. Since the beginning of June, he sports a 2.70 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 14:6 K:BB through 13.1 innings with three wins and six holds.

Floro walked one and struck out one in a scoreless sixth inning to record his fourth hold of the season in Friday's win over the Mets.

The veteran right-hander notched saves in his prior two appearances, but Floro was back in a setup role Friday, facing the heart of the Mets' order to protect a 2-1 lead. Tanner Scott remains the Marlins' closer but has had trouble finding the plate lately, and if his control issues force manager Don Mattingly to make a change, Floro appears to be the top option to replace him despite a merely adequate 3.95 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 9:2 K:BB through 13.2 innings since the beginning of June.

Williams tossed a scoreless eighth inning and picked up his league-leading 22nd hold in Friday's victory over the Pirates.

Williams allowed a couple runners to reach base Friday, but when it was all said and done he wound up keeping the opponent off the scoreboard for the 23rd time in his last 23 appearances. Since that streak began, Williams has also posted a tiny 0.69 WHIP and a 36:8 K:BB over 21.2 frames.

Milner tossed a scoreless inning of relief in Friday's victory over the Pirates.

Milner had a nine-appearance scoreless streak snapped in his first outing of July, but he bounced back Friday by retiring all three batters he faced in the seventh inning. Milner is quietly going about his business and now owns a 2.25 ERA and 1.12 WHIP in 32 innings over 34 appearances this season. He's added a 3-1 record and four holds.

Phillips (3-3) earned the win over the Cubs on Friday by pitching a perfect 10th inning.

After Los Angeles rallied to tie the game in the bottom of the ninth, Phillips was asked to keep the Cubs off the scoreboard in the 10th. He did so with relative ease, inducing three groundouts to retire the side on eight pitches. Phillips was then credited with the win as a result of Will Smith's walk-off single in the bottom of the frame. Phillips has gone 16 straight outings without allowing an earned run, surrendering just seven hits while posting a 17:4 K:BB in 15.2 innings over that span. He's been one of the team's most effective relievers this season, recording a 1.60 ERA, 0.83 WHIP and 10.4 K/9 while picking up three wins and 10 holds over 33 appearances overall.

Scott walked one in a scoreless ninth inning Friday to record his 11th save of the season in a 5-2 win over the Mets.

The southpaw fought with his control, firing only 13 of 22 pitches for strikes, but the balls the Mets were able to put into play found their way into gloves. Scott's inability to find the plate consistently is beginning to cost him, as he has a 4.66 ERA, 1.55 WHIP and 13:9 K:BB through 9.2 innings over his last 10 appearances with two blown saves. If Marlins manager Don Mattingly elects to switch closers again, it appears as though Dylan Floro could be the next man up.

Hader gave up one earned run on two hits and a walk while striking out two to earn the save in a 4-3 win over the Pirates on Friday.

Hader had some trouble with the Pirates in the ninth inning, but he managed to close out the game to pick up his MLB-leading 26th save. With two outs and running on contact, Kevin Newman tried to score the tying run from first on a Daniel Vogelbach single, but he was thrown out at the plate on a relay. Despite relying on his defense to get the job done, Hader earned a dramatic road save. He's allowed a run in each of his last three appearances, but he still owns elite ratios with a 1.88 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 49:10 K:BB in 28.2 innings this year.

Hand pitched a perfect ninth innings with no strikeouts to earn the save in a 2-0 win over the Cardinals on Friday.

Hand only needed eight pitches to retire the side and earn his fourth save of the campaign. The 32-year-old veteran arm has now tallied three saves since Corey Knebel was pulled out of the closer role due to control issues in mid-June. Hand finds himself in a closer committee with Seranthony Dominguez, who earned the save in Thursday's game.

Robertson allowed a run on one hit and two walks in one inning, taking a blown save in Friday's 4-3 extra-inning loss to the Dodgers.

Robertson loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning, and Mookie Betts delivered a game-tying sacrifice fly. This was the third time in eight outings Robertson has taken a blown save, though he's given up only three runs in 8.2 innings in that span. The veteran right-hander is 12-for-17 in save chances with a 2.10 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 45:17 K:BB through 34.1 innings this year. He'll likely remain in the closer role as long as he's wearing a Cubs uniform, barring a terrible stretch of pitching.

Thompson allowed an unearned run on two hits, one walk and a hit batter with eight strikeouts in 5.2 innings in a no-decision versus the Dodgers on Friday.

Thompson kept a tough opponent in check until the sixth inning, when a Seiya Suzuki error allowed the Dodgers to get on the board. All things considered, this was a good outing for Thompson since he lasted only four innings in his previous start. The 27-year-old right-hander has maintained a 3.16 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 74:25 K:BB across 77 innings in 19 appearances (11 starts) this year. He's limited opponents to two or fewer runs in four of his last five outings, a run of success he'll look to keep going in a projected home start versus the Orioles next week.