MLB Player News

The Cubs reinstated Palencia (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list and optioned him to Triple-A Iowa on Monday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Palencia will stick around with Iowa after he made six rehab appearances with the affiliate while he was on the shelf with a right shoulder strain. Though Palencia struck out eight over 4.2 scoreless innings across the last four appearances, the Cubs didn't have room for the right-hander in the bullpen. Palencia should rank high on the list for a call-up the next time the Cubs require an extra relief arm.

Ottavino struck out two in a perfect eighth inning Sunday to record his 10th hold of the season in a loss to the Diamondbacks.

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza deployed Reed Garrett in the seventh inning and Ottavino in the eighth to protect a 4-3 lead to great effect, but Jake Diekman then blew the save in the ninth. The pecking order for saves in the absence of Edwin Diaz (shoulder) remains murky, but all three pitchers could see chances depending on the matchups. Ottavino hasn't made much of a case to claim the full-time closer gig -- since the beginning of May, he's stumbled to an 8.49 ERA, 1.97 WHIP and 14:7 K:BB through 11.2 innings.

Garrett struck out the side in a perfect seventh inning Sunday to record his sixth hold of the season in a loss to the Diamondbacks.

With the Mets holding a 4-3 lead, the right-hander was called in to the face the heart of Arizona's order and fanned Lourdes Gurriel, Christian Walker and Jake McCarthy on 11 pitches (nine strikes). Garrett has had some stumbles of late, getting tagged for earned runs in four of his last nine appearances with a 9.00 ERA and 2.00 WHIP over that stretch, but he's still part of the high-leverage mix and a candidate for saves in the absence of Edwin Diaz (shoulder).

Diaz walked one batter and struck out another in a scoreless inning Sunday. He earned a save over the Cubs.

Diaz worked around a leadoff walk to finish off the 5-2 victory. He's struggled at times throughout the year but appears to be turning a corner; Diaz has allowed one run over his last 5.2 innings while converting five straight save opportunities. The 27-year-old righty has 12 saves with a 23:16 K:BB and 5.64 ERA through 22.1 innings this season.

Martinez (2-0) did not allow a hit or walk while striking out three over two scoreless innings to earn the win over the Mets on Sunday.

Martinez retired all six batters faced, including the eighth inning when he struck out the top of New York's batting order. It was a good series for Martinez, who threw five scoreless innings total, including a bullpen-saving three innings Thursday when starter Zac Gallen was removed just six pitches into the game. Martinez has not allowed a run in the last 14.2 innings.

Paredes allowed a hit over two scoreless frames and picked up a save over the White Sox on Sunday.

Paredes needed only 13 pitches to quickly roll through two shutout innings. It was his first career MLB save, and he's turned in seven scoreless innings with Milwaukee since being recalled from Triple-A Nashville on May 24. Paredes followed Kevin Herget's two shutout frames after Freddy Peralta threw five innings in his start. The Brewers made a conscious effort to save the bullpen after Saturday's win that involved several usual late-inning arms, including Trevor Megill, Hoby Milner and Elvis Peguero.

Diekman (1-2) took the loss and blew his second save of the season Sunday against Arizona, giving up two earned runs on two hits in one-third of an inning.

Diekman came on in the ninth inning to preserve a one-run Mets lead. He allowed a leadoff double before surrendering the game-winning two-run home run to Ketel Marte. The Mets bullpen has been a disaster recently -- presumptive closer Reed Garrett gave up two home runs Friday, and Adam Ottavino yielded four earned runs in his last appearance. Garrett remains the most likely candidate for upcoming save opportunities, but the pecking order will be difficult to predict with the Mets bullpen in flux.

King (2-1) pitched a perfect frame to earn the extra-inning win over the Phillies on Sunday.

King got a look in a high-leverage spot, and he kept the game scoreless with a spotless ninth inning. The Cardinals took the lead in the 10th, and Ryan Helsley closed it out. King hasn't allowed an earned run over his last 10 innings, though he's given up three unearned runs in that span. He's pitched to a strong 1.50 ERA, 0.83 WHIP and 13:2 K:BB over 18 innings while adding three holds and a blown save in 2024.

Iglesias picked up the save Sunday against Oakland, tossing a perfect inning with no strikeouts.

Iglesias needed just nine pitches to retire Zack Gelof, Kyle McCann and Max Schuemann in order. The 34-year-old is 15-for-17 on save chances this season and has allowed one hit in his last five innings of work. Overall, Iglesias has the fourth-most saves in the NL and owns a 2.42 ERA through 22.1 innings.

Helsley struck out two without allowing a hit or a walk in a scoreless inning to earn the save in Sunday's 5-4 extra-inning win over the Phillies.

A flyout allowed the initial runner to advance to third base, but Helsley struck out the next two batters to close this game. It was encouraging to see the 29-year-old have a dominant outing after allowing four runs over his previous three appearances. He's earned a save in eight straight outings despite his recent shakiness, and he still has a 2.42 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 27:6 K:BB over 26 innings while converting 19 of 20 save chances this season.