MLB Player News

Romano struck out one without allowing a run, hit or walk over two-thirds of an inning to earn the save in Saturday's 10-7 win over the Cardinals.

Juan Mejia wasn't able to make quick work of the Cardinals in the ninth inning, creating a save situation. Romano got the job done instead, rebounding from his blown save and loss Friday. Romano is now at a 4.88 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 31:15 K:BB across 27.2 innings between the Rockies and the Angels this year. He's converted 15 of 19 save chances while adding one hold. Considering Romano has pitched consecutive days, he may not be available to take a save chance Sunday.

Diaz (neck) will begin a minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Sunday, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

Diaz last pitched for the Dodgers on Aug. 17, when he gave up three runs on four hits over one inning at Colorado. He landed on the injured list the next day with a diagnosis of neck inflammation. Diaz may not need an extended rehab stint, but even if he's fully recovered, he's expected to log lower-leverage work upon his return to the big-league club.

The Dodgers optioned Hurt to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Saturday, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.

Hurt has posted a 2.92 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 18:7 K:BB over 11 appearances spanning 12.1 innings since the All-Star break, but Los Angeles has opted to send him down to clear a spot on the active roster for Bobby Miller (shoulder), who was activated from the 60-day IL. Given Hurt's recent contributions, there's a good chance he'll be back up with the Dodgers before the end of the regular season.

The Cubs recalled Assad from Triple-A Iowa ahead of his start Saturday against Miami, Vinnie Duber of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Assad has put up a 3.46 ERA and 1.10 WHIP across 83.1 innings in the big leagues this season and has given up four runs in nine innings since being sent down to Triple-A in late August. He'll now return to the majors to pitch against a Marlins offense that's put up a .677 OPS in the last two weeks, and he could stick around in the Cubs' rotation if he delivers another strong performance. Tyler Ferguson was optioned to Iowa in a corresponding move.

The Cubs optioned Ferguson to Triple-A Iowa on Saturday, Vinnie Duber of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Ferguson gave up one run in 1.2 innings during his lone appearance after coming up from Iowa on Tuesday. He'll now head back to the minors to make room for Javier Assad, who was recalled to start Saturday's game against the Marlins.

The Giants optioned Walker to Triple-A Sacramento on Saturday, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Walker will lose his place in San Francisco's bullpen to make room for Joel Kuhnel, who was claimed off waivers from Milwaukee on Friday. Walker has struggled to a 7.16 ERA and 1.81 WHIP in 32.2 big-league innings this season and could spend the rest of the year at Triple-A.

Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol indicated Friday that Graceffo is under consideration to make a start during next week's series in San Francisco, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

The qualifier is that the Cardinals will have to first get through a weekend series at Coors Field without needing to use Graceffo out of the bullpen, which is easier said than done. A midseason pitch mix change has unlocked Graceffo, who has logged a 2.22 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 31:11 K:BB over 28.1 innings since ditching his curveball for a new slider. He threw three perfect innings with four strikeouts while starting a bullpen game last week versus the Orioles, and the righty has since added an additional five scoreless frames with a 9:1 K:BB over two subsequent outings. Graceffo threw a season-high 48 pitches his last time out, so he should be capable of around 50-to-60 pitches next week if he does wind up making a spot start.

Megill struck out the side in a perfect ninth inning Friday, recording his 26th save of the season in a 10-7 win over the Reds.

The right-hander got Dane Myers and Elly De La Cruz to chase knuckle curves after Juan Brito couldn't catch up to a 98.3-mph fastball at the top of the zone to begin the frame. Megill fired 20 pitches (15 strikes) in all as he converted his 18th straight save chance, with his last blown save coming back on June 5 at Coors Field. Since that stumble, he's produced a dazzling 0.29 ERA, 0.61 WHIP and 33:7 K:BB over his last 31.1 innings.

Romano (0-3) took the loss and was charged with his fourth blown save of the season Friday against the Cardinals. He allowed three runs (two earned) on one hit and a walk over one inning in Friday's 7-6 loss to the Cardinals.

Romano entered the ninth tasked with protecting a 6-4 lead but couldn't finish the job. He walked Thomas Saggese to open the inning before Jose Fermin reached on a throwing error with one out, setting the stage for Ivan Herrera's go-ahead three-run homer. Romano has gone 14-for-18 in save chances this season, and this was just his second blown save since the All-Star break. He owns a 2.84 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 18:9 K:BB over 19 innings since joining the Rockies.

O'Brien earned the save in Friday's 7-6 win over the Rockies after allowing one hit while striking out two without a walk in a scoreless ninth inning.

A three-run go-ahead home run from Ivan Herrera allowed O'Brien the opportunity to earn the save in the bottom of the ninth, and the star closer got the job done on 12 pitches (10 strikes). O'Brien made things interesting, however, as a throwing error on a pickoff attempt moved the potential tying run into scoring position after a single from TJ Rumfield, O'Brien sealed the win by striking out Cole Carrigg. O'Brien bounced back after being tagged with a blown save Thursday against the Dodgers and has gone 12-for-14 in save chances since the All-Star break despite a 5.60 ERA.