MLB Player News

Hader struck out one batter in a perfect ninth inning to collect his 24th save of the season Wednesday against the Rangers.

Pitching for the third day in a row, Hader needed just 11 pitches to lock down his 24th save of the season. The 30-year-old has has been excellent over his past five appearances, notching four saves while allowing just one hit and three walks over 4.1 scoreless innings. Hader owns a 3.75 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 77:18 K:BB across 50.1 innings this season, converting 24 of 25 save opportunities.

Martinez earned the save in a 5-3 win over the Guardians in the second game of a doubleheader Wednesday, working around a hit and a walk while striking out two in a scoreless ninth inning.

Martinez found himself in some trouble in the ninth before ultimately striking out Lane Thomas, who represented the go-ahead run, to seal a 5-3 Arizona victory. The 23-year-old Martinez has been entrusted with back-to-back save chances for the Diamondbacks and has delivered five consecutive scoreless appearances, allowing just two hits while striking out 11 in that span (five innings). Overall, the right-hander sports a 1.97 ERA with a 1.21 WHIP and 61:26 K:BB through 50.1 innings this season. Martinez could continue to see work in the closer's role alongside the likes of A.J. Puk and Ryan Thompson, with Paul Sewald working in lower-leverage situations.

Urena (3-7) took the loss Wednesday against the Astros, allowing two earned runs on six hits and three walks in four innings. He did not record a strikeout.

Urena was fortunate to escape with only two earned runs allowed as he put multiple baserunners on in each of the first three frames. He stranded seven runners with the help of two double plays. The 32-year-old failed to record a strikeout Wednesday and has now registered a paltry four punchouts over his last three appearances (12.1 innings). During that span, the right-hander owns an ugly 7.30 ERA, 2.64 WHIP and 4:3 K:BB. With Max Scherzer (fatigue) out until at least Aug. 15, Urena could make another start for the short-handed Rangers. If he does stick around in the rotation, Urena will likely face off against the Red Sox early next week.

Lopez (2-2) tossed two scoreless innings of relief to earn the win Wednesday against the Twins. He allowed two hits and struck out two.

After starter Javier Assad covered only four innings, Lopez swooped in for the win against his former team. The righty struggled with the Twins, Orioles and Marlins last season, and he was released by the Mets earlier this year, but he's seemingly found a home in Chicago. In 14 relief appearances for his new team, Lopez has turned in a sparkling 0.54 ERA and he's struck out 14 batters across 16.2 innings.

Manager Dave Roberts said Wednesday that Graterol is dealing with a Grade 1 strain of his right hamstring, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

Graterol was initially believed to have suffered a Grade 3 strain during his outing Tuesday, but the Dodgers' skipper corrected his previous statements. The news gives the 25-year-old reliever a significantly greater chance of pitching again for the Dodgers this season, though it remains unclear how far he is from a return.

The Red Sox optioned Booser to Triple-A Worcester on Wednesday, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.

The 32-year-old has a 2.00 ERA and 4:3 K:BB over nine innings since being recalled by Boston on July 12, but he'll be the odd man out of the bullpen as Chris Martin (elbow) returns from the injured list. Booser has been a reliable bullpen piece for the Red Sox this season with a 2.77 ERA and 1.13 WHIP in 38 outings, so he should be back in the big leagues before too long.

The Red Sox reinstated Martin (elbow) from the 15-day injured list Wednesday, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

The right-hander looked good during his bullpen sessions over the past week and will rejoin the Red Sox without a minor-league rehab assignment. Martin has a 3.42 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 29:2 K:BB across 26.1 innings this season and should return to a setup role now that he's healthy.

The Dodgers placed Graterol on the 15-day injured list Wednesday with a Grade 3 right hamstring strain.

Graterol suffered the injury while making his season debut Tuesday, and although he hasn't yet been ruled out for the rest of the season, the timing and severity of his strain leave him with a very slim chance of pitching again in 2024. His spot on the active roster will be given to Michael Grove (ribs), who returned from the IL on Wednesday.

The Dodgers reinstated Grove (ribs) from the 15-day injured list Wednesday.

A right intercostal strain forced Grove onto the injured list in mid-June, and he began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City on July 21. In six appearances in the minors, he allowed two earned runs in 5.1 innings while striking out seven batters and walking two. Now fully recovered, he'll take on a middle-relief role with the Dodgers in place of Brusdar Graterol (hamstring), who landed on the injured list in a corresponding move.

Brash, who underwent season-ending elbow surgery May 8, has been with the Mariners during their current homestand and is set to begin playing catch in Arizona next week, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.

Brash has been taking a brief respite from rehabilitation activities and reconnecting with the big-league staff and teammates, but he'll be heading to Arizona for what will be a closely monitored start to his throwing program. Brash has already been engaged in one-handed pitch-and-catch plyometric exercises on a trampoline, and he reports being very pleased with the pace of the early stages of his recovery and the way he's felt while carrying it out. Due to the fact Brash had an internal brace procedure instead of a full Tommy John surgery, his recovery isn't expected to take much more than 12 months, leaving him with a chance to be back in action by June 2025.