MLB Player News

Bubic struck out one over a perfect inning to earn his sixth hold of the year in Sunday's 2-0 win over the Twins.

While he's allowed six runs on 13 hits over his last nine innings, Bubic has more frequently received high-leverage assignments. In that same span, he has five holds and a blown save while adding 11 strikeouts. The southpaw is now at a 3.80 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 27:3 K:BB through 21.1 innings this year, working exclusively out of the bullpen following his return from Tommy John surgery in April of 2023. While he's seen more setup work, Bubic shouldn't be considered a threat to Lucas Erceg as the Royals' closer.

Erceg allowed a hit and struck out one in a scoreless inning while earning a save against the Twins on Sunday.

Erceg worked around a leadoff single by Christian Vazquez to close out the 2-0 win. After blowing two straight save chances and allowing seven runs over three appearances, Erceg has now converted three consecutive saves. He's now 11 for 16 in save opportunities with a 3.67 ERA over 54 innings. Of those 11 saves, eight have come since his Royals debut July 31.

Fitts did not factor into the decision in Sunday's loss to the White Sox, allowing two runs (zero earned) on six hits and one walk while striking out two in 5.2 innings.

Fitts pitched well in his MLB debut, cruising through five scoreless innings before allowing two unearned runs in a rocky sixth inning that included a Triston Casas error. Fitts used just 66 pitches in 5.2 innings, pitching to contact against an inept White Sox offense. Fitts struck out only two batters Sunday, but he has shown adequate strikeout potential in the minor leagues -- in 24 starts for AAA-Worcester this season, Fitts compiled a 4.17 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 111:37 K:BB in 116.2 innings. If Fitts sticks around in the rotation, he will face a much stiffer test next weekend against the Yankees.

Uceta notched his second save of the season Sunday against Baltimore, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out four in 1.2 innings.

Called upon to preserve a 2-0 lead with two runners on and one out in the eighth, Uceta promptly struck out the next two batters to escape the jam. Uceta then worked around a single and a walk in the ninth to pick up his second save of the season. Save opportunities have been few and far between, but Uceta has been dominant since Pete Fairbanks (lat) landed on the injured list on Aug. 19, throwing 7.1 scoreless innings with a sparkling 15:2 K:BB during that stretch. The 26-year-old Uceta hasn't allowed a run since July 31 and owns an impressive 0.75 ERA, 0.69 WHIP and 50:6 K:BB in 36 innings this season.

Diaz tossed a clean ninth inning Sunday to pick up the save against the Mets. He struck out two.

After going over three weeks without a save, Diaz collected his second in three appearances to raise his season total to 26. More importantly, it was the fourth straight clean appearance for Diaz, who held an ERA of 7.00 through 11 appearances in August but has allowed one baserunner and no runs thus far in September.

Double-A Corpus Christi placed Santa on its 7-day injured list Aug. 30 with an unspecified injury.

The 21-year-old righty made 14 starts for Single-A Fayetteville in 2023, but he's made the full-time move to the bullpen in 2024. Before landing on Corpus Christi's IL, Santa had produced an 8.69 ERA, 2.14 WHIP and 16:16 K:BB in 19.2 innings for the Double-A club.

Sulser is listed as the Rays' opening pitcher for Monday's game against the Phillies in Philadelphia.

Sulser hasn't covered more than 2.2 innings in any of his 39 appearances between the majors and Triple-A this season, so he's unlikely to work more than once through the batting order before exiting the contest. Tyler Alexander will likely be deployed in bulk relief behind Sulser.

Madden (1-0) allowed a run on five hits and a walk while striking out seven over five innings to earn the win over the Athletics on Sunday.

Madden entered the game in the second inning after Beau Brieske pitched a scoreless first as the opener. Through three outings (one start), Madden has been sharp, pitching to a 2.57 ERA, though he has a less impressive 1.21 WHIP and 10:4 K:BB over 14 innings in the majors. It appears the Tigers are comfortable sheltering Madden behind an opener even against soft opponents. He's tentatively projected to make his next appearance at home versus the Orioles.

Yates walked one and struck out none in a scoreless and hitless inning to earn the save in Sunday's 7-4 win over the Angels.

Yates has pitched four of the last five days and secured a save in each of those appearances. He's allowed just one run over his last 9.1 innings since his lone blown save of the year Aug. 18. The 37-year-old is up to 29 saves in 30 chances while maintaining a stellar 1.29 ERA, 0.84 WHIP and 79:24 K:BB over 55.2 innings this season. He'll be able to grab some rest with Texas' team off day Monday.

Hodge walked one and struck out one in a scoreless and hitless inning to earn the save in Sunday's 2-1 win over the Yankees.

Hodge continues to thrive in a high-leverage role. He's on a 14-inning scoreless streak, posting a 20:6 K:BB with just five hits allowed in that span. The 23-year-old right-hander has pitched to an excellent 1.70 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 46:16 K:BB while collecting four saves and nine holds over 37 innings this season. He has functioned as the Cubs' primary closer since Aug. 20. Hodge won't face much competition for the closing job while Jorge Lopez (groin) is on the injured list.