MLB Player News

Mayers allowed two runs (one earned) on two hits and three walks over three innings in Sunday's 7-2 loss to the Nationals. He also recorded a strikeout.

After starter Carlos Martinez took his share of lumps, Mayers was called upon to eat up some innings in the middle portion of the game. It was the 25-year-old's second appearance since being summoned from Triple-A Memphis on June 25, with the right-hander also having fired an inning against the Diamondbacks last Thursday. Mayers has extensive minor-league starting experience, so he could conceivably be deployed in similar multi-inning fashion on a frequent basis during his time with the big club.

Leiter will start Tuesday against the Pirates, Jim Salisbury of CSN Philadelphia reports.

Jerad Eickhoff will make a rehab start Tuesday rather than return to the major-league rotation, leaving Leiter to make one more start before the All-Star break. He has a 3.27 ERA and an 11:1 K:BB in 11 innings over two starts in place of Eickhoff.

Rodney (3-2) blew his fourth save of the season but was bailed out by his offense in the bottom of the ninth inning during Sunday's win over Colorado.

Rodney had gone 19.1 innings without allowing an earned run before Sunday, so despite all his early-season struggles and track record of ninth-inning implosions, he's been rock-solid for the D-backs. His 4.45 ERA is still high, but with 21 saves, a 1.15 WHIP and 10.1 K/9, he's still one of the more valuable fantasy closers, especially since his job is secure.

Vizcaino pitched a scoreless 12th inning to record his second save of the season during Sunday's win over Oakland.

Vizcaino is having an impressive season (2.45 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 10.1 K/9) and owns a closer's pitch arsenal. However, he's inexperienced in the role and also blew a save opportunity Saturday. Rebounding Sunday is encouraging, though. With Jim Johnson a ripe candidate to be traded, Vizcaino could be collecting saves down the stretch for Atlanta, so he's definitely a reliever to keep tabs on, if not one to own already.

Adleman (5-5) allowed three runs on six hits and one walk across five innings in Sunday's loss to the Cubs. He struck out five.

Adleman pitched well for the most part, but a pair of home runs from Ian Happ accounted for all of the tallies against him, dooming him to his third loss in four starts. He displayed improved command, walking fewer than two batters for the first time in 11 starts and throwing first-pitch strikes to 15 of 21 batters he faced. Adleman has taken his lumps at times this season, but he has allowed more than three earned runs just once in his last eight starts. That streak will be put to the test when he faces the Diamondbacks on the road this Friday.

Maurer earned his 16th save of the year Sunday in a 5-3 win over the visiting Dodgers.

Maurer needed just 11 pitches -- eight of which were strikes -- to seal the deal in the ninth inning. The 26-year-old is now 16-for-18 in save situations this season, and although he's tied for ninth in league saves, Maurer's bloated 6.12 ERA and 0-4 record for the 34-48 Padres keep him several tiers away from baseball's elite closing options.

Suter will start Monday's game against the Orioles.

The Brewers had a couple uninspiring options to choose from, but with Paolo Espino getting used in relief Sunday, Suter became the clear choice. Suter has a 7.07 ERA in three career big-league starts (14 innings). He has the stuff to succeed as a reliever (1.59 career ERA) but really struggles to turn a lineup over multiple times.

Montero gave up four runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out six over 6.1 innings Sunday against the Phillies.

Montero is now 1-5 on the season with a 5.63 ERA, although he had been excellent in his three June appearances (1.46 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, 15 strikeouts in 12.1 IP). Assuming he remains in the rotation, he will make one more start before the All-Star break, next Saturday in St. Louis.

Pivetta gave up one run on one hit and four walks while striking out four in seven innings Sunday to pick up the win against the Mets.

Walks have been a bit of an issue for the rookie right-hander, as he has given up 27 free passes over his last 42 innings. However, the Mets could not square him up in this contest, so the walks did not come back to bite him the way they did when he walked five and gave up six runs over 2.2 innings in his previous start in Arizona. Pivetta's spot in the rotation should be safe for now, but he is a major ratio risk in standard leagues. He will make one more start before the All-Star break, going Friday at home against the Padres.

Santillan has thrown 11 consecutive scoreless innings for Low-A Dayton, including five shutout frames Friday against Fort Wayne, where he struck out eight.

So far this is the best campaign for Santillan, who has a 2.68 ERA and 1.16 WHIP with Dayton. He still walks too many batters (3.7 per nine innings at Dayton), but his strikeout rate has climbed and he's cut down on his homers allowed as well.