MLB Player News

Hand allowed three hits and two earned runs Saturday while striking out one to earn his 23rd save of the season.

This wasn't the best outing for Hand, as he allowed two doubles and a triple to begin the frame before recording three straight outs with the tying run standing at third base. While his season-long numbers suggest this outing can comfortably be cast aside as an isolated problem, Hand has now allowed multiple earned runs in three of his past six appearances. There's no indication he'll lose his role as closer -- excluding a potential trade -- but it is worth noting that Kirby Yates has struck out 41 batters and recorded a 0.79 ERA and 0.82 WHIP across 34 innings this season.

Rodriguez (3-1) allowed six hits and two walks while striking out five across 6.1 scoreless innings to earn the win Saturday against the Diamondbacks.

Rodriguez turned in arguably his best start of the season, allowing the Diamondbacks to record only one extra-base hit across his 6.1 innings of work. He induced a decent 11 swinging strikes but earned his success with eight groundball outs. Through 37 innings this season, Rodriguez maintains an impressive 3.16 ERA and both his FIP and xFIP largely back that mark as legitimate.

Miller (0-2) allowed six earned runs on nine hits and a walk while striking out six across five innings to take the loss Saturday against the Giants.

Miller was hit early and often in his second start of the season, as he allowed runs in three of the five innings he pitched. On the positive side of things, he did generate nine swinging strikes, an uptick from the six he recorded in his season debut. The Diamondbacks also seem to have no reservation about stretching him out, as he threw 96 pitches in Saturday's start, 62 of which went for strikes. After going roughly 15 months without pitching in the majors, it isn't surprising to see Miller return with rocky results, but that leaves him best as a stash option in most league formats.

Hernandez is expected to return to the bullpen when Jose Urena (shoulder) is activated from the disabled list, Joe Frisaro of MLB.com reports.

The right-hander is lined up to be the odd man out as the Marlins shuffle their starting quintet sometime in the next week. Hernandez, 23, owns a 5.05 ERA with just 22 strikeouts and 14 walks in 35.2 innings.

Ottavino threw a scoreless inning and worked around a hit to record his second save of the season Saturday against the Dodgers.

The shutdown reliever put a bow on German Marquez's brilliant eight-inning outing while subbing for normal closer Wade Davis, who had worked a one-inning closure on each of the previous two days and likely received a breather. Even without consistent save opportunities, Ottavino has remained a productive piece of many fantasy clubs via sheer dominance (1.42 ERA, 14.0 K/9, 3.8 BB/9 and two saves in 38 innings).

Barraclough struck out two in a perfect ninth inning Saturday to pick up his eighth save of the season in a 5-2 win over the Mets.

He extended his scoreless streak to 20.2 innings and 21 appearances, and Barraclough is a perfect 7-for-7 in save chances since taking over as the Marlins' closer at the beginning of June, posting a 12:2 K:BB in 12 innings on the month while allowing only one hit. The right-hander is emerging as a dominant ninth-inning option in Miami.

Dominguez worked around a hit to record his seventh save of the year Friday, logging a scoreless inning in a 3-2 win over the Nationals.

The right-hander didn't strike out a batter but induced two groundouts and a flyout, erasing a two-out double by pinch hitter Daniel Murphy and preserving the one-run victory. Dominguez also wrapped things up Wednesday and Thursday, signalling that he's the Phillies' primary and possibly sole closer.

Vizcaino (shoulder) threw a side session Saturday and will rest Sunday in anticipation of a Monday return to the Braves, Gabe Burns of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Previous reports put the Braves' closer in position to regain the role Sunday, and that still might happen, but the club probably doesn't want to exert him further after his Saturday workout. Vizcaino, who was placed on the disabled list last Sunday with shoulder inflammation, should reclaim his role of primary -- if not sole -- closer upon his activation, though Dan Winkler remains a setup man of interest in many fantasy leagues.

Leiter was recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Saturday, Meghan Montemurro of The Athletic Philadelphia reports.

Leiter has bounced between Lehigh Valley and Philadelphia throughout the year. He has a 4.50 ERA in eight innings with the Phillies, though his strikeout (25.7 percent) and walk (5.7 percent) rates are both strong. He'll take the low-leverage spot in the bullpen which was vacated by the optioned Hector Neris.

Neris was sent back to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Saturday after allowing five runs Friday night, Meghan Montemurro of The Athletic Philadelphia reports.

Neris' outing against the Nationals was the ugliest in a season full of ugly outings for the right-hander. He allowed five runs on a walk and four hits, including three home runs. In his last 11 innings, the former closer has allowed a whopping eight home runs. He has a lot of work to do just to prove that he deserves to pitch in the big leagues at all, let alone in high-leverage situations. He'll head back to Triple-A to try to prove himself, with Mark Leiter being recalled to take his place.