MLB Player News

Maurer struck out a batter and threw a scoreless ninth to record his 14th save Friday against the Tigers.

Maurer has now converted nine consecutive save opportunities and has walked just two batters over his last 12 appearances. He is now 14-of-16 on save conversions for the season, and his 29:6 K:BB over 29.1 innings is nothing to sneeze at.

Vizcaino gave up a hit in a scoreless ninth inning to record his first save of the season in Friday's 5-4 win over the Brewers.

A leadoff double by Eric Thames made things interesting, but Vizcaino kept his cool and got out of the jam. The 26-year-old only got the call in the ninth because Jim Johnson had pitched in three of the last four games and was unavailable, but it wouldn't be a surprise to see the Braves gradually begin to work Vizcaino into the closer mix in anticipation of a deadline deal involving Johnson.

Leiter (1-0) fired six shutout innings, allowed just three hits and a walk and struck out five batters in his first win Friday against the Diamondbacks.

Leiter was unremarkable during his time in the Phillies' bullpen (4.74 ERA, 12:14 K:BB), but he looked awfully sharp in his first start against one of the better lineups in the National League. He needed just 81 pitches to go the six innings and managed to keep the ball in the yard while inducing eight flyouts. Leiter managed a brilliant 27:4 K:BB in his three starts back at Triple-A Lehigh Valley, so it's possible that he's simply better suited to a starting role. Leiter will likely keep getting chance to prove that hypothesis until Jerad Eickhoff (back) returns from injury.

Nelson (5-4) gave up four runs on six hits and three walks over five innings in Friday's 5-4 loss to the Braves. He struck out eight.

He continues to pile up the Ks, and Nelson now has a 68:14 K:BB in 58.1 innings over his last nine starts to go along with a 2.78 ERA and 1.25 WHIP. The 28-year-old will look to keep his breakout season going Thursday on the road in Cincinnati.

Okert was recalled Friday from Triple-A Sacramento, Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Okert was sent down to Triple-A to regain his confidence and has performed admirably for Sacramento, notching four saves over 12 innings with a 2.25 ERA and a sparkling 0.67 WHIP. Okert owns a 6.23 ERA at the MLB level this season, but the Giants are hoping he'll pitch more like he did in his first major-league stint last season, when he managed a 3.21 ERA and 14 strikeouts in as many innings.

De La Rosa had his contract purchased from Triple-A Reno on Friday.

De La Rosa has impressed with Reno this season, compiling a 2.35 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 23:4 K:BB over 15.1 innings of relief. He'll replace JJ Hoover on the active roster, while catcher Oscar Hernandez was designated for assignment to clear room on the 40-man.

Hoover was placed on the 10-day disabled list Friday with right shoulder inflammation.

Hoover lasted just nine pitches (one out) before exiting his last game, and this latest development may help explain the short outing. After an impressive first month to the season (1.86 ERA in April), Hoover struggled in May and June and watched his ERA tick up to 4.18. He'll be eligible to rejoin the big club July 3 should he be ready, though the Diamondbacks have yet to place a timetable on his return. In the meantime, Rubby De La Rosa had his contract selected from Triple-A Reno and will replace him on the roster and in the bullpen.

Sims, 23, has a 3.94 ERA and 81:29 K:BB in 80 innings for Triple-A Gwinnett.

Once a highly touted phenom, Sims is now an afterthought in the stocked Braves farm system. Still, opposing batters are hitting just .224 against him in 2017, and he is fanning more than a batter per inning. A red flag is that he's allowed a staggering 14 home runs this season, which is tied for second most in the International League. Nevertheless, with Sean Newcomb now in the big leagues, Sims could be the next man up for Atlanta.

Leiter was recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley and will start Friday's game against the Diamondbacks, Meghan Montemurro of The News Journal reports.

Casey Fien (shoulder) was placed on the disabled list to make room for Leiter, who is set to make his first major-league start. The 26-year-old compiled a 4.74 ERA and 12:14 K:BB in 19 innings out of the Phillies' bullpen earlier in the season, and didn't fare much better with Lehigh Valley (4.74 ERA in 19 innings), so it could be a good day to stack Diamondbacks hitters against him in daily lineups.

Chafin recorded two outs in the eighth inning of Thursday's 10-3 win over the Rockies. He gave up one hit and struck out a batter.

Chafin entered the contest with no outs and a runner on second base, and after notching a strikeout and inducing a groundout, he allowed the runner to score on an infield single. Manager Torey Lovullo subsequently pulled Chafin from the contest, but J.J. Hoover came in to close out the inning and keep an earned run off Chafin's ledger. Chafin now sports a 1.85 ERA and 34 strikeouts in 24.1 innings this season, making him arguably the Diamondbacks' top reliever after Archie Bradley.