MLB Player News

Fuentes secured the save Wednesday against the Marlins, throwing 1.1 clean innings. He struck out two.

Closer Raisel Iglesias wasn't sharp in Tuesday's outing against Miami, giving up a pair of runs, which perhaps prompted Atlanta to turn a different direction for Wednesday's save situation. Although Fuentes has emerged as a real weapon out of the bullpen after scuffling to a 13.85 ERA last regular season, he doesn't appear to be a legitimate threat to Iglesias' closer role. Through 48.1 innings, Fuentes sports a 2.42 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 61:15 K:BB with 12 holds plus two saves in five chances.

Bradford didn't factor into the decision in Wednesday's 6-0 win over the Giants, allowing five hits and two walks over 4.1 scoreless innings. He struck out five.

After missing the entire 2025 season while recovering from an elbow injury that required an internal brace procedure that June, Bradford was brought along slowly after some renewed soreness in April and finally began ramping back up in July before being activated from the IL on Wednesday. He looked sharp in his season debut, albeit against a vulnerable opponent, and tossed 50 of 70 pitches for strikes before being lifted. The Rangers will also get Jordan Montgomery (elbow) back later this month, and Jack Leiter (ankle) could return in September, but Bradford made a strong early case to stick in the rotation. He'll look to get stretched out enough to pick up his first MLB win since Sept. 18, 2024 in his next outing, which is set to come on the road early next week against the Angels.

Varland (4-4) picked up the win Wednesday, striking out one in a perfect ninth inning as the Blue Jays downed the Astros 5-4 in 10 innings.

Called in to keep the game tied at 3-3, Varland fired 12 of 17 pitches for strikes and fanned Jeremy Pena to end the frame before Ernie Clement launched a game-winning, two-run homer in the top of the 10th. It was Varland's first win since June 9, but only because he's been so effective as the closer -- over 20 appearances and 22 innings since then he's converted all 13 of his save chances with a 2.05 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 28:6 K:BB.

Zeferjahn allowed a solo home run but also retired two batters via strikeout to earn a hold in Wednesday's 7-6 win over the Dodgers.

Zeferjahn allowed a solo home run to Shohei Ohtani, which happens to even the best pitchers. The hard-throwing righty rebounded from that small blemish to tally two more strikeouts, bringing his season-long total to 77 across 53.1 innings. Zeferjahn has now recorded a hold in each of his first two appearances since joining the Cubs at the trade deadline, working ahead of Jacob Webb on both occasions. That seems to indicate that Webb has the inside track on the closer role, at least until Daniel Palencia (elbow) returns, but Zeferjahn has the stuff to be effective in the ninth inning if the Cubs decide to go in that direction at some point.

Webb tossed a scoreless ninth inning to record the save in Wednesday's 7-6 win over the Dodgers.

After starter Shota Imanaga allowed just one run in his five innings of work, Chicago's middle relievers allowed five runs in three innings. Webb then managed to slow down the imposing Los Angeles lineup for his sixth save of the season. The righty has pitched well with a 2.49 ERA and 56 strikeouts across 50.2 innings this year, and he's done a good job since stepping into the closer role. However, Daniel Palencia (elbow) is due back soon, and the Cubs also picked up Ryan Zeferjahn at the trade deadline, which clouds the back end of Chicago's bullpen a bit moving forward. At the very least, Webb has earned the opportunity to keep seeing high-leverage work, possibly as part of a closer committee.

The Diamondbacks placed Thompson on the 15-day injured list Wednesday due to a lower-back strain, Jody Jackson of DBacks.tv reports.

Thompson may have tweaked his back during his last appearance in a 9-4 loss to Padres on Tuesday, when he allowed one run on three hits and one walk in just one-third of an inning. To bolster their bullpen in Thompson's absence, the Diamondbacks recalled southpaw Philip Abner from Triple-A Reno.

The Diamondbacks recalled Abner from Triple-A Reno on Wednesday, Jody Jackson of DBacks.tv reports.

As expected, Abner will rejoin the Diamondbacks bullpen after Ryan Thompson (back) was placed on the 15-day injured list in a corresponding move. Abner has spent most of this season in Triple-A, where he has a 4.60 ERA and 1.19 WHIP across 31.1 innings.

Cincinnati recalled Mey from Triple-A Louisville on Wednesday.

Mey will be up with the Reds for the third time this season after posting a 7.27 ERA, 1.96 WHIP and 14:10 K:BB in 8.2 innings over seven appearances between his prior two stints in the big leagues. He'll likely be ticketed for a low-leverage role out of the bullpen.

Washington activated Lord (side) from the 15-day injured list Wednesday.

After completing a rehab assignment with Triple-A Rochester, Lord has been cleared to return to the big-league club. Before landing on the IL, the 26-year-old posted a 3.88 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 52:21 K:BB over 58 innings. The Nationals designated right-hander Zack Littell for assignment in a corresponding move.

The Angels placed Bachman on the 15-day injured list Wednesday due to right forearm radial nerve inflammation.

Bachman was lifted just nine pitches in his most recent relief appearance in Sunday's win over the Brewers due to what the Angels initially termed as right arm fatigue. After additional tests on Bachman's arm revealed a nerve issue, the Angels opted to send him to the shelf. Bachman looked like a candidate to factor into the closing picture after the Angels parted with high-leverage relievers Ryan Zeferjahn and Kirby Yates ahead of Monday's trade deadline, but the forearm injury will take Bachman out of the mix for saves for the time being.