MLB Player News

Blach will take the mound for a start versus Pittsburgh on Saturday, Kerry Crowley of the Bay Area News Group reports.

This will mark Blach's 13th start of the year for the Giants, though he's served exclusively out of the bullpen since late May. During those 12 starts, he logged a 4.90 ERA and 1.60 WHIP with a 30:23 K:BB in 60.2 innings. Blach will briefly enter the rotation due to the demotion of Chris Stratton and with Jeff Samardzija (shoulder) and Johnny Cueto (elbow) on the DL. Though Cueto is lost for the year, Samardzija is expected to begin a rehab assignment soon and is optimistic that he'll be back in action later this month.

Iglesias struck out one in a scoreless ninth inning to earn the save Friday against the Diamondbacks, allowing one hit and no walks.

Iglesias pitched in his first save opportunity since July 29 and is now 22-for-25 in save chances on the year. The righty has a 2.52 ERA and 1.04 WHIP to go along with a 52:15 K:BB in 50 innings. Iglesias continues to be a dependable closer even though he plays for the last-place Reds.

Holmes (1-2) gave up seven earned runs in just 2.2 innings in a loss against the Giants on Friday, yielding eight hits while recording just one strikeout and walking four in Pittsburgh's 13-10 defeat.

Holmes didn't fare well in this spot start as he got knocked around from the get-go in what turned into an all-out slugfest against the Giants. The showing ballooned his ERA up to 7.20 and his WHIP to 2.07 at the big-league level this season, so Holmes can't comfortably be streamed even if the Pirates do decide to give him another go in the rotation this season.

Yates got the save against the Phillies on Friday, working around two hits to post a scoreless ninth inning and close out San Diego's 2-0 victory. He struck out two without issuing a walk.

Yates is now 4-for-4 on save opportunities this season following this scoreless effort against Philadelphia and the role seems to be all his with Brad Hand traded to Cleveland. He's sporting a 1.59 ERA and a brilliant 0.93 WHIP in his 45.1 innings of work this season.

Leone (biceps) was credited with the victory in Triple-A Memphis' win over Oklahoma City on Thursday, firing a scoreless inning in which he allowed a hit.

Leone threw 12 pitches overall in what was his fourth rehab appearance, and his previously injured throwing arm seems to be holding up well. Given that he's now worked four innings overall with the Redbirds, Leone could be ready for activation at some point next week, Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com reports.

Ottavino picked up the save against the Dodgers on Friday, working around a hit to fire a scoreless ninth inning and close out Colorado's 5-4 victory. He recorded one strikeout and no walks.

Regular closer Wade Davis had a three-run meltdown on Thursday so the Rockies ended up turning to Ottavino in this contest, and the right-hander responded with a scoreless effort to bag his fifth save of the season. Ottavino has put up much better numbers than Davis this year, as he's sporting a 1.60 ERA and a 0.94 WHIP to go along with 82 strikeouts in 56.1 innings. Davis should still be considered the primary ninth-inning option for Colorado at the moment, but Ottavino only figures to a make an increasingly compelling claim for more of a look in the role if he continues to post the superior stats.

Poncedeleon picked up the save against the Royals on Friday, working around three walks and two hits to fire three scoreless innings and close out the Cardinals' 7-0 victory. He struck out one.

The right-hander's three-inning save was his first save of any kind this season. He's sporting a 1.23 ERA and 0.89 WHIP through 14.2 innings, so if he continues to put up ratios like that in a long-relief role, he could make a case for a rotation spot during the stretch run. That case could be bolstered by the fact that he threw seven scoreless innings in his only start of the season so far back on July 23. It should be noted, however, that he's currently sporting a 8:9 K:BB, so it's doubtful his ratios will stay that pristine if he doesn't start to limit the free passes.

Strop earned his ninth save of the year after tossing a scoreless ninth inning Friday against the Nationals, striking out one.

Strop was called on to hold a one-run lead and did just that, working around his own error to shut the door. He's done a very good job filling in for Brandon Morrow, whose return timetable from his biceps injury remains unclear. Strop and his 2.74 ERA and 9.0 K/9 should remain a capable closing option for the foreseeable future.

Blach is an option to start Saturday against the Pirates, Kerry Crowley of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

Blach hasn't started a game for the Giants since May. He has a 4.90 ERA in 60.2 innings as a starter this season but a 3.18 ERA in 34 innings of relief.

Holmes was called up by the Pirates on Friday to make his scheduled start against the Giants.

As expected, the 25-year-old will take the hill opposite Derek Holland. Holmes has a 3.65 ERA and 10:8 K:BB in 12.1 innings for the Pirates this season.