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Carl Edwards RP | DET
Cubs' Carl Edwards Jr.: Throws perfect inning in loss to Astros
Edwards struck out two in a perfect inning against the Astros on Saturday.
Edwards has not given up a hit in four September appearances, and his only walk was of the intentional variety. Other than a disastrous four-walk appearance on Aug. 13, Edwards has a 1.23 ERA, 0.55 WHIP, and 40:7 K:BB in 29.1 innings. He looks like a future closer.
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Robert Stephenson RP | LAA
Reds' Robert Stephenson: Yields four runs over three innings in no-decision versus Pirates
Stephenson allowed four runs on five hits in just three innings, but he took a no-decision in Cincinnati's victory over Pittsburgh on Saturday. He also struck out two and walked two.
The 23-year-old had the roughest outing of his young career, spotting the Pirates four runs in the first three innings, but the Reds tied the game with four runs in the fourth and then took the lead with three runs in the fifth. Stephenson is 2-1 with a 4.43 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 15 strikeouts in 20.1 innings this season. His next scheduled start is Friday again against the Pirates.
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Will Smith RP | KC
Giants' Will Smith: Could be in the mix for save opportunities
Smith could be in the mix for save opportunities as the Giants switch to a closer by committee.
Smith was acquired by the Giants to serve as their left-handed setup man, but with Santiago Casilla being removed from the closer role Friday, every late-inning reliever could potentially see save opportunities. The lefty has to be considered lower on the totem pole given his sub-par performance since joining San Francisco (4.63 ERA), but a situation may arise where the Giants need to get multiple left-handed bats out in the ninth and could turn to Smith.
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Derek Law RP | ARI
Giants' Derek Law: Could enter closing mix upon return from DL
Law (elbow) -- who expects to return either Tuesday or Wednesday -- could immediately enter the competition for the vacant closer role in San Francisco, CSN Bay Area reports.
Manager Bruce Bochy said Law will be in the ninth-inning mix when he returns. The rookie has arguably been the Giants' best reliever this season, posting a 1.94 ERA and 0.96 WHIP over 51 innings before landing on the disabled list with a right elbow strain Aug. 28. Bochy tends to lean on his veterans in high-pressure innings, but Law's dominance this year may force his manager to give him save opportunities. Expect the Giants to use a committee approach for the immediate future, but Law is definitely worth a stash for those looking for saves down the stretch.
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Cory Gearrin RP | NYY
Giants' Cory Gearrin: Converts save Friday
Gearrin picked up the save in Friday's extra-inning win over Arizona. He threw a scoreless inning and struck out two.
Gearrin converted one of the most unique save opportunities you will ever see Friday. He started the bottom of the 12th on the mound, but was moved to left field while Javier Lopez came in to face a lefty. Gearrin returned to the mound with two runners on and one out and got the job done, capping off a wild win for the Giants. There are two important things to take away from his outing. First, Gearrin earned the first save since Santiago Casilla had been removed as the team's closer. Second, the fact that manager Bruce Bochy went to such great lengths to keep Gearrin in the game shows the confidence he has in the 30-year-old. The Giants announced they would use a closer by committee, so it isn't guaranteed that Gearrin will continue to see save opportunities, but he obviously has the early lead in claiming the role after a successful conversion Friday.
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Rafael Montero RP | NYY
Mets' Rafael Montero: Starting Monday in Washington
Montero will get another turn in the Mets' rotation, starting Monday against the Nationals, The Record's Matt Ehalt reports.
He has allowed just three earned runs on five hits over 9.1 innings in his first two starts with the Mets this season, but he also issued 10 walks while striking out seven over those two starts. Considering he will be facing a loaded Nationals offense on the road, he makes for an extremely risky streaming option Monday. It remains to be seen if Montero will make another start after Monday, as the Mets are hoping to get Jacob deGrom and Steven Matz back at some point before the end of the regular season.
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Joely Rodriguez RP | BOS
Phillies' Joely Rodriguez: Contract selected by Phillies
Rodriguez's contract was selected from Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Saturday.
The 24-year-old southpaw posted an impressive 2.35 ERA and 1.15 WHIP while fanning 69 over 76.2 innings between three levels of the minors this year. He will work in low-leverage spots over the final three weeks of the season and could earn a permanent spot in the big league bullpen in 2017.
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Luis Garcia RP | MIN
Phillies' Luis Garcia: Recalled from Triple-A
Garcia was recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Saturday.
Garcia struggled in 8.2 innings with the big club earlier in the year (7.27 ERA), but has been much more fortunate n Lehigh Valley, where he had a 2.14 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 53 strikeouts in 54.2 innings. He'll serve in a low-leverage relief role over the final three weeks.
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Tim Adleman RP | DET
Reds' Tim Adleman: No-decision despite solid performance Friday
Adleman didn't factor into the decision against the Pirates on Friday, giving up two earned runs on seven hits and two walks over six innings. He also had two hits, including an RBI single, in his two at-bats.
The rookie righty was solid for the third straight appearance, with Friday's outing serving as his second quality start in his last three trips to the mound. Adleman did fail to record a strikeout, but was relatively efficient in firing just 90 pitches over his six frames. Although he hasn't recorded a victory since Aug. 19, Adleman has gone at least five innings in all but one of his nine starts this season, including five straight. He'll look to even his record at 3-3 when he takes on the Brewers next Wednesday.
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Mark Melancon RP | ARI
Nationals' Mark Melancon: Earns victory against Phillies on Friday
Melancon (2-1) nailed down a 5-4 victory over the Phillies on Friday, giving up a walk over an inning and striking out two.
The closer got the victory when Trea Turner blasted a 432-foot game-winning shot in the home half of the ninth after Melancon labored through a 21-pitch inning. Despite the elevated pitch count, it was a solid bounce-back performance for the 31-year-old, who gave up three earned runs over his prior two appearances. Melancon has a stellar 1.67 ERA and 54:12 K:BB on the season, and his 39 saves are the second-highest total of his career in that category.