MLB Player News

Kimbrel (7-4) allowed two hits and struck out two over a scoreless inning to earn the win Friday over the Astros.

Kimbrel was brought into a low-leverage spot with the Orioles trailing by three runs in the eighth inning. He danced around some danger and became the pitcher of record when Baltimore rallied for five runs in its half of the frame. This was Kimbrel's sixth scoreless outing in his last 13 appearances, a lengthy run of erratic form that has cost him the closer job, which is now occupied by Seranthony Dominguez. Kimbrel is at a 3.86 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 66:26 K:BB with 23 saves, six blown saves and four holds through 46.2 innings, and given his recent struggles, it's unlikely he get a lot of high-leverage looks in the near future.

Miller (3-5) allowed an unearned run on one hit and struck out one over one-third of an inning Friday, taking the extra-inning loss versus the Mariners.

Miller has been on the hook for the loss in each of his last two outings, though this was less his fault than his meltdown versus the White Sox on Wednesday. He's still allowed seven runs (six earned) over his last seven innings, and a 9:8 K:BB in that span isn't helping his cause. Miller is now at a 3.90 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 67:32 K:BB through 55.1 innings on the year. He's added 12 holds, but a BB/9 of 5.2 is far too high for him to be effective in any sort of high-leverage role.

Alexander allowed three runs on five hits and two walks while striking out one over 4.1 innings in a no-decision in Friday's 7-3 loss to the Dodgers.

After working as a bulk reliever his last time out, the Rays deployed Alexander in a traditional starting role Friday. The lefty was steady early on, but he ran into trouble in the fifth inning and exited the game after yielding a three-run home run to Enrique Hernandez. Alexander now maintains a 5.22 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 69:20 K:BB over 81 innings across 17 appearances (seven starts) this season. He is lined up to make his next appearance at Seattle, but it hasn't been revealed if he'll start or work behind an opener if he gets another turn through the rotation.

Lopez earned the save in Friday's 6-3 win over the Marlins, throwing a perfect ninth inning and striking out two batters.

Lopez was brought on to protect a 6-3 lead and looked great as he recorded his fourth save of the season. He has picked up two of the last three saves for the Cubs, with Porter Hodge collecting the other, and the two figure to be manager Craig Counsell's top high-leverage options down the stretch. The 31-year-old Lopez has been lights out since joining the team in June, pitching to a 0.79 ERA over 22.2 innings.

Holmes allowed a walk and struck out one in a scoreless ninth inning to earn the save against the Rockies on Friday.

Holmes was asked to protect a 3-0 lead in the ninth frame and did so on 19 pitches. The 31-year-old rebounded from a blown save in his last chance Sunday and has registered six scoreless outings in eight August appearances. On the season, he has 27 saves to go along with a 2.77 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 60:16 K:BB across 52 innings.

Foley threw a perfect inning to pick up a save against the White Sox on Friday.

Foley needed only four pitches to close out the 5-2 win. It was his first save since Aug. 15 and just his fourth since the start of July. Foley has turned in 8.2 straight frames without allowing an earned run, dropping his ERA on the year to 3.33 with a 33:16 K:BB through 46 innings.

Dominguez threw a scoreless inning to earn the save against the Astros on Friday.

Dominguez was called upon to protect a 7-5 lead in the ninth inning and did so on 19 pitches. Despite suffering back-to-back losses and yielding runs in three straight appearances entering Friday, the 29-year-old has converted all four of his save chances with the Orioles. He still appears to be the team's top choice for saves at the moment and owns a 4.31 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 55:15 K:BB across 48 innings this season, split between Baltimore and Philadelphia.

Farmer did not factor into the decision in Friday's 6-5 loss to the Pirates, striking out two over two perfect innings.

Farmer was tasked with opening a bullpen game for the Reds after Andrew Abbott (shoulder) was placed on the injured list, and he retired all six batters he faced on 27 pitches. While the 33-year-old has not exceeded two innings in any outing this season, he owns an impressive 2.58 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 54:24 K:BB across 59.1 innings.

Bednar earned the save against the Reds on Friday, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out one over a scoreless ninth inning.

Bednar was summoned to protect a 6-5 lead in the ninth frame and put runners on the corners with two outs before getting Elly De La Cruz to line out. It was just his third scoreless outing in nine August appearances, but the closer has converted three consecutive save chances. On the year, Bednar has converted 23 of 28 save attempts with a 5.56 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 49:16 K:BB across 45.1 innings.

Iglesias (3-1) earned a win over the Nationals on Friday. He struck out one batter over two scoreless innings.

Iglesias threw 15 of 21 pitches for strikes as he kept Washington off the board in the ninth and 10th innings, but his streak of 10 straight perfect appearances was snapped by a hit-by-pitch to lead off the 10th. It was the third time this season he completed two innings in an outing and all of them have come since the start of July. Iglesias has tossed 25 straight innings without allowing an earned run, lowering his ERA from 2.70 to 1.39 during that span. He owns a 50:8 K:BB while converting 28 of his 30 save chances through 50 appearances.