MLB Player News
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Alexis Diaz RP | ATL
Dodgers' Alexis Diaz: Gets call in ninth inning Friday
Diaz earned a hold against the Padres on Friday, tossing a scoreless two-thirds of an inning while allowing one hit and striking out two batters.
Despite the fact that Diaz hadn't notched a save or even a hold over his first seven outings with the Dodgers, manager Dave Roberts summoned him Friday in an intensely high-leverage situation -- Diaz inherited a one-run lead in the ninth inning against the Padres, who entered the contest one game ahead of Los Angeles for first place in the NL West. Though Diaz allowed a one-out single to Jackson Merrill, the veteran reliever impressed overall, striking out the other two batters he faced while firing 14 of 20 pitches for strikes. The Dodgers' late-innings bullpen situation remains unsettled with closer Tanner Scott (elbow) along with top setup men Kirby Yates (back), Michael Kopech (knee) and Brock Stewart (shoulder) all on the IL, so Roberts has been mixing things up in recent weeks. However, Scott, Yates and Kopech are all nearing returns, so Diaz may not be the best pickup for speculative save opportunities moving forward.
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Jhoan Duran RP | PHI
Phillies' Jhoan Duran: Feeling 100 percent
Duran (ankle) said Saturday that he's feeling 100 percent after being carted off the field during Friday's game, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
It's an incredibly encouraging sign for the 27-year-old closer, who was struck by a comebacker in the right ankle Friday. Duran appears to be feeling well enough to pitch, but the Phillies could opt to give him a night off as a precaution, given his critical role and the team's recent investment.
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Luke Weaver RP | NYY
Yankees' Luke Weaver: Nails down 13th hold
Weaver earned a hold against the Cardinals on Friday, allowing one hit and striking out two batters over 1.1 scoreless innings.
Weaver entered in a tight situation in the seventh frame, inheriting runners on second and third base with two outs. The right-hander uncorked a wild pitch to allow one run to cross the plate but then struck out Lars Nootbaar to escape further damage. Weaver returned for the eighth and allowed a runner to reach base on a single and his own error, yet he was able to get out of the inning on another punchout. After struggling a bit in July, Weaver has bounced back with a strong August, tossing 7.2 scoreless frames and posting a 10:1 K:BB across seven appearances. He remains one of the team's top setup options even after the trade-deadline acquisitions of Camilo Doval and David Bednar.
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Travis Adams RP | MIN
Twins' Travis Adams: Lit up in Tuesday's start
Adams dropped to 1-2 on the season in Tuesday's 9-1 loss to the Yankees after striking out two batters and yielding four earned runs on four hits and four walks over 2.1 innings.
After striking out seven and allowing two earned runs in a five-inning start versus the Tigers on Aug. 4, Adams shifted to the bullpen for his next appearance. The Twins went back to Adams in a starting role Tuesday, but he was undone by the long ball early, serving up a solo shot to Aaron Judge in the first inning and a three-run blast to Anthony Volpe in the second. After allowing three of the first four hitters to reach base in the bottom of the third, Adams was mercifully pulled from the game. Minnesota will have another opening in its rotation this Sunday against the Tigers, but it's unclear if Adams will be the team's choice to start or work in bulk relief that day. Thomas Hatch worked in long relief behind Adams on Tuesday and could also be a candidate to handle multiple innings Sunday.
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Bailey Horn RP | DET
Tigers' Bailey Horn: Tosses scoreless inning Friday
Horn worked around two walks to toss a scoreless inning of relief in Friday's 7-0 win over the Twins.
Horn was tasked with working the ninth inning, but with the Tigers up 7-0, it wasn't really a high-leverage spot. It was the lefty's first appearance in the majors since July 6. Horn has spent most of the season with Triple-A Toledo, where he's posted a 3.06 ERA and 44 strikeouts across 35.1 innings. He should work in a middle-relief role for Detroit for however long he sticks around, giving the team another left-handed bullpen option behind Tyler Holton and Brant Hurter.
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Andres Munoz RP | SEA
Mariners' Andres Munoz: Nails down 29th save
Munoz struck out one in a perfect ninth inning Friday to record his 29th save of the season in an 11-9 win over the Mets.
The right-hander continued his career-best campaign with his eighth straight successful conversion. Since his last blown save July 10, Munoz has compiled a 0.69 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 16:9 K:BB over 13 innings. He's tied for third in the majors in saves with Trevor Megill, four back of MLB leader Robert Suarez.
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Aroldis Chapman RP | BOS
Red Sox's Aroldis Chapman: Nabs win Friday
Chapman (4-2) picked up the win Friday, striking out one in a perfect ninth inning in a 2-1 victory over the Marlins.
The veteran closer needed 11 pitches (nine strikes) to dispatch the bottom of Miami's order in the top of the ninth inning, setting him up for the win when Trevor Story walked it off with an RBI single in the bottom of the frame. Chapman hasn't been charged with a run since July 23, and since the beginning of June he sports a dominant 0.38 ERA, 0.46 WHIP and 35:5 K:BB over 23.2 innings while collecting one win, three holds and 13 saves in 14 chances.
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Daniel Palencia RP | CHC
Cubs' Daniel Palencia: Takes loss Friday
Palencia (1-3) allowed a run in an inning of relief to take the loss Friday against the Pirates.
Palencia was tasked with preserving a 2-2 tie in the top of the ninth inning, but he allowed a solo home run to Jack Suwinski that ultimately gave Pittsburgh the win. It was the young reliever's first loss since June 9 and just the third home run he's allowed all season. Palencia has been excellent with a 1.85 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 9.5 K/9 across 43.2 innings, and he should remain locked in as Chicago's closer despite the slight hiccup.
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Phil Maton RP | TEX
Rangers' Phil Maton: Blows another save Friday
Maton (2-5) blew the save and took the loss Friday as the Rangers fell 6-5 to the Blue Jays, giving up one run on one hit and two walks in one inning of relief. He struck out two.
The closer role in Texas seems to be up for grabs. Robert Garcia entered the game in the seventh inning to protect a 3-0 lead and got only one out while serving up a two-run homer to Alejandro Kirk. Maton's performance was just as bad -- after Danny Coulombe gave up three straight singles to begin the bottom of the eighth in a 5-2 game, Maton walked in two runs before Kirk got to him as well for a game-winning, two-run single. Maton has taken losses and blown saves in back-to-back appearances, and over 7.1 innings in August since being traded to the Rangers he's managed a 7.36 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 9:4 K:BB. Garcia, meanwhile, has begun the month with a 12.60 ERA in five innings. Shawn Armstrong, who has a 0.75 ERA, 0.58 WHIP and 15:2 K:BB in 12 innings since the All-Star break, and Cole Winn, who hasn't allowed a run since rejoining the big-league roster July 21, may find themselves getting ninth-inning auditions.
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Jeff Hoffman RP | TOR
Blue Jays' Jeff Hoffman: Strikes out side in win
Hoffman (8-4) was credited with the win Friday in a 6-5 victory over the Rangers, striking out the side in a perfect ninth inning.
The Blue Jays rallied for four runs in the bottom of the eighth to take their first lead of the game, but the official scorer elected to give Hoffman the win instead of the save after he cruised through the top of the ninth on 11 pitches (nine strikes). After a brutal five-walk performance against the Dodgers on Aug. 10 that came after a week-long layoff, Hoffman has been absolutely dominant, recording eight of his last nine outs via strikeout and allowing only one hit in three scoreless frames.