MLB Player News

Green (3-2) picked up the win in Friday's 6-5 victory over the Rangers, striking out two batters over 1.1 perfect innings of relief.

Green breezed through the top of the Texas order on 17 pitches (11 strikes), and he got rewarded when Ernie Clement dropped a walk-off single into left field in the bottom of the ninth. The veteran-right-hander has a clear path to the Blue Jays' closing job with Yimi Garcia now a Mariner and Jordan Romano (elbow) not even expected to resume throwing until mid-August, but with Toronto in sell mode at the trade deadline, Green could also wind up following Garcia out the door. Since returning from a shoulder issue in late May, Green has delivered a 1.54 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and 20:7 K:BB in 23.1 innings while collecting two wins, four holds and five saves.

Waguespack (shoulder) resumed his long-toss progression Friday, MLB.com reports.

Waguespack has been sidelined since April 12 and previously had his rehab shut down. However, he's resumed throwing and could toss a bullpen session at some point during the week of July 29.

Atlanta optioned Hernandez to Triple-A Gwinnett on Saturday.

Hernandez will be pushed out of Atlanta's bullpen as a result of Jimmy Herget's (shoulder) return from the injured list Saturday. Hernandez allowed his first earned run of the season during Friday's loss the Mets, giving him a 0.82 ERA through 11 major-league innings.

Atlanta reinstated Herget (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list Saturday.

Right shoulder inflammation has kept Herget on the shelf since June 8, but he's now been cleared to return to Atlanta's bullpen after pitching a scoreless inning in the Florida Complex League. The 30-year-old has allowed three earned runs in 7.1 innings in the majors this season and should work in middle relief while in Atlanta. Daysbel Hernandez was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett in a corresponding move.

Wentz allowed two runs on four hits across 2.1 innings of relief in Friday's 9-3 loss to the Twins. He walked one and struck out three.

The Tigers turned to Wentz for some length after starter Keider Montero allowed six runs over five innings, and he continued his recent struggles. Wentz has allowed runs in his last five appearances and his season ERA has climbed to 5.73. While Detroit may have some rotation spots open up in the near future if it trades one or both of Jack Flaherty and Tarik Skubal, Wentz likely wouldn't be a reliable fantasy option if he took on a starting role.

Kimbrel (6-3) took the loss Friday versus the Padres, allowing two runs on two hits and striking out one over one inning.

Kimbrel's going through another bout of poor pitching -- he's allowed eight runs (six earned) over his last 3.2 innings, taking two blown saves in that span. Friday's collapse came in a tied game, as he was taken deep by Jurickson Profar for a two-run home run. Kimbrel is now at a 3.32 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 56:19 K:BB over 38 innings with 23 saves, four holds and six blown saves this year. If his struggles continue, he may be moved to low-leverage assignments briefly as he was in late April and early May. Should that happen, Yennier Cano, Jacob Webb and Seranthony Dominguez would be candidates to pick up the slack in the ninth inning.

Ortiz allowed three runs on five hits and three walks while striking out four over five innings in a no-decision versus the Diamondbacks.

This ended Ortiz's stretch of five straight outings -- including four starts -- without allowing more than one run. The right-hander faded in the sixth inning, allowing a solo home run to Joc Pederson and walking Christian Walker before Carmen Mlodzinski completed the Pirates' collapse. Ortiz is now at a 2.75 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 63:24 K:BB over 78.2 innings through 27 appearances (five starts) this season. His next outing is projected to come at Houston.

Sewald allowed a hit and struck out two in a scoreless inning to earn the save in Friday's 4-3 win over the Pirates.

Sewald allowed two runs in a non-save situation Wednesday versus the Royals, but he bounced back Friday to protect a one-run lead. This was his sixth scoreless outing in July, but his other four appearances this month each saw him yield multiple runs. The closer is 16-for-19 in save chances with a 3.55 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 25:4 K:BB through 25.1 innings this season.

Fulmer allowed three runs on two hits and three walks while striking out three over 5.2 innings in a no-decision versus the Angels on Friday.

This was Fulmer's longest outing of the year as he continues to build up his workload following a transition to the rotation. He's allowed six runs on seven hits and six walks over 15 innings across his three starts, and he's struck out 13 in those outings. He's at a 3.77 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 55:28 K:BB through 57.1 innings this season. Fulmer last regularly started in 2018 and hasn't exceeded 100 innings since that same year, so it's unclear how much he'll be able to handle in a starting role. He's projected to make his next start at home versus the Rockies.

Erceg allowed a hit and struck out one over a scoreless inning to earn the save in Friday's 5-4 win over the Angels.

Erceg was deployed in the eighth inning Thursday to protect a one-run lead, but he was called on to close things out Friday in a similar situation. With Mason Miller sidelined by a fractured finger on his non-throwing hand, Erceg is the favorite to close for the Athletics in the short term, though Tyler Ferguson received the first save chance in Miller's absence. Erceg has been a fine setup man this year with a 3.68 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 41:13 K:BB to go with three saves, 12 holds and three blown saves over 36.2 innings. He's kept runs off the board in 12 of his last 13 appearances, the exception being a four-run meltdown last Sunday against the Angels.