MLB Player News

Estevez retired the Mets in order with a strikeout Thursday for his 11th save in a 2-1 win.

Fantasy owners have been reaping great rewards from Estevez, as he's recorded five saves in the last eight days and is carrying terrific rate stats by Colorado pitching standards. In fact, he's only given up one run in his last nine appearances. Adam Ottavino has made a successful return to the Rockies, but Estevez has a pretty solid hold on the closing job at this point.

Lopez appears to be the leading candidate to be recalled to start Saturday's game against the Giants.

He tossed a shutout with seven strikeouts on July 24 for Triple-A Syracuse, so he could take the ball Saturday with a couple extra days of rest. Lucas Giolito could also be an option, as he last pitched July 24 for the Nationals and has since been optioned to Triple-A. Lopez has proven that he is capable of racking up strikeouts against big league hitters, punching out nine in 4.2 innings in his lone start in the majors earlier this month. However, his command needs a lot of refinement, making him a high-risk/high-reward option if he does indeed take the ball for the Nationals on Saturday.

Nelson (6-9) was beaten up for eight runs (six earned) on nine hits and a pair of walks over 4.2 innings in Wednesday's loss to Arizona. He struck out seven.

Only the whiffs offer a dim silver lining to this tart, the third time in Nelson's last 10 outings that he's given up six earned runs. The 27-year-old righty's been having a nice year on the whole, but with his strikeouts down and his walks up, the writing's been on the wall for regression. He's likely got more coming to him, too, as Nelson's peripherals suggest his ERA ought to be a full run higher than its current 3.71 mark.

Estevez sent down the Orioles in order in the ninth inning Wednesday to preserve a 3-1 lead and earn his 10th save of the season.

Estevez continues to shine in the closer role, picking up his second save in as many days. He needed just seven pitches to pick up this one, shutting down a powerful Orioles offense and punching out All-Star catcher Matt Wieters for the final out. Estevez has now converted 10 of 11 save chances on the season, and should get plenty more chances if the Rockies continue their recent winning pace.

Chapman made his Cubs debut Wednesday, coming on with a seven-run lead and striking out two in a perfect ninth against the White Sox.

The Cubs didn't need their new closer to preserve a tight one -- they just wanted to give him a chance to get his sea legs under him after Monday's trade, so they tossed him in on the back end of a blowout of their crosstown rivals. The transition to pitching in the NL Central won't be a hard one for Chapman, who spent six seasons with the Reds and should remain one of the top few closers in the game.

Iglesias has pitched multiple innings in nine of his 10 relief outings, and he has a 0.44 ERA in 20.1 innings in that role, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

That usage pattern is purposeful -- the Reds don't want to use him on back-to-back days, so instead they'll find a good spot to have him go two or more innings.

The Rockies activated Rusin (shoulder) from the 15-day DL on Wednesday, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

Rusin will join the Rockies' bullpen, providing length while serving in a long-relief role. In 12 games with Colorado this season, 29 year-old lefty has posted a 4.12 ERA with 39 strikeouts in 54.2 innings.

Jansen allowed one hit and struck out two Rays in an inning of work to pick up his 30th save Tuesday.

This one didn't come easy, as Jansen allowed a leadoff single to Oswaldo Arcia and hit Logan Forsythe with a pitch with two outs. Still, the closer got the job done en route to his third straight 30-save campaign.

Montero won't be summoned from Double-A Binghamton to start Saturday, as the Mets will turn to Bartolo Colon on short rest instead, Newsday's Marc Carig reports.

He seemed to line up better for that start than any other minor league pitcher in the Mets' system, but Colon, being a soft-tossing 43-year-old, will be called upon to take the ball against the Rockies on short rest. Montero will remain at Double-A for now as he tries to get back on track after struggling at Triple-A to start the season.

Estevez threw a scoreless ninth inning Tuesday to earn an easy save in a 6-3 win over the Orioles.

Estevez now has nine saves in 10 opportunities since taking over the closer role for the Rockies in mid-June. While his ERA sits at 3.96, he's allowed just two earned runs in nine July appearances. His job seems safe for the time being.