MLB Player News

Barlow pitched a perfect inning to earn a hold in Tuesday's 8-5 win over the Royals.

Barlow has given up six runs over his last seven innings, but he's also picked up seven holds over nine appearances in that span. He's been a little shaky all season, as evidenced by a middling 3.91 ERA to go with a 1.34 WHIP and 34:12 K:BB through 25.1 innings, but Barlow still leads the Guardians with 15 holds. He's maintained a setup role while adding one save and a 2-2 record, though Cade Smith and Hunter Gaddis have been more reliable parts of the bridge to closer Emmanuel Clase.

Smith (3-0) allowed one hit over 1.2 scoreless innings to earn the win over the Royals on Tuesday. He did not strike out or walk a batter.

Smith entered the game while the Guardians were down, 5-3, but they put together a rally in the seventh inning to put him in line for the win. During his 10.1-inning scoreless streak, Smith has two wins, one save, four holds and a 14:1 K:BB. That impressive stretch has helped him get into the high-leverage mix. He's been fantastic in his first big-league season with a 1.67 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 38:7 K:BB over 27 innings, though he's unlikely to be anything more than a setup man with Emmanuel Clase entrenched as the closer.

Nunez struck out one in 1.1 perfect innings of relief Tuesday to record his second hold of the season in a win over the Nationals.

Making his eighth career MLB appearance, the right-hander provided the Mets' beleaguered bullpen with some crucial high-leverage help. Nunez is in his third stint this year on the big-league roster, but he might stick around for good this time around -- through 11.2 innings he sports a 2.31 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 19:3 K:BB. With Edwin Diaz (shoulder) still sidelined and Reed Garrett, Adam Ottavino and Jake Diekman all struggling, it's not out of the question that Nunez will get added to the saves mix in the short term.

Lamet elected free agency Tuesday.

After a brief stint in the majors with the Dodgers earlier in the season in which he made three appearances out of the bullpen, Lamet was pushed off the 40-man roster April 6 but stuck around in the organization after accepting an outright assignment to Triple-A Oklahoma City. Lamet had gotten stretched out as a starter at Oklahoma City, but a promotion wasn't imminent after he had produced a 4.82 ERA, 1.74 WHIP and 40:23 K:BB across 37.1 innings in the Pacific Coast League. The right-hander will look to find an opportunity in another organization and will likely have to settle for a minor-league deal.

Cabrera (2-2) took the loss Tuesday against the Orioles, getting charged with three runs on a hit and a walk over two-thirds of an inning.

Trevor Richards gave Toronto two perfect innings as the opener, but Cabrera hit Colton Cowser with a pitch to begin the third and things went downhill from there. Cabrera has been tagged for runs in three of his last six appearances, and on the season he carries a 5.48 ERA, 1.78 WHIP and 13:15 K:BB through 23 innings as he slips into a low-leverage role.

Erceg (forearm) has begun playing catch and could throw a bullpen session as early as Sunday, the Associated Press reports.

The talented setup man just went on the IL on Friday with a retroactive designation to May 26, and Erceg may possibly be tracking toward an on-time return if this latest news is any indication. Assuming the bullpen session unfolds on schedule and without setbacks, Erceg could potentially be activated Monday, the first day he'd be eligible.

Spence (4-3) took the loss Tuesday against the Mariners, allowing four runs on nine hits and a walk while striking out three over six innings.

Spence was able to toss two shutout frames before the Mariners doubled four times in the third, leading to three runs. Spence would allow an additional run in the fourth but was able to go six up and six down over the next two innings to end his outing. Spence was able to reach six innings for the first time this year, though he battled around plenty of hard contact and only punched out three batters against a Mariners team that has the highest strikeout rate in baseball against righties. The 26-year-old owns a 3.86 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 37:13 K:BB in 44.1 innings and lines up for another start over the weekend against the Blue Jays.

The Rays optioned Sterner to Triple-A Durham on Wednesday.

During his first stint in the big leagues, Sterner made a pair of two-inning relief appearances for Tampa Bay and struck out four while giving up two runs (one earned) on five hits and one walk. The 27-year-old will cede his spot on the 26-man active roster to right-hander Zach Eflin (back), who was reinstated from the 15-day injured list ahead of his start Wednesday in Miami.

Saucedo earned the save in Tuesday's 4-3 win over the Athletics after coming in to get the final out of the game. He did walk a batter before ending things.

Saucedo was called upon to get the final out of the game after Andres Munoz was forced to depart with a lower-back injury that flared up after a collision at home plate. He was tasked with stranding a runner at second and walked JJ Bleday before handling a Brent Rooker ground ball to end the game. It was Saucedo's second save of the year, though he also has two blown saves to his name as well. The 31-year-old owns a 3.00 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 15:7 K:BB in 15 innings.

Estevez picked up the save in Tuesday's 4-2 win over the Padres while pitching a perfect ninth inning.

Estevez needed just nine pitches to retire the side for his second save in as many days. He has not allowed a baserunner in any of his last three appearances and becomes the 16th pitcher to reach double-digit saves this year. The 31-year-old now owns a 4.26 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 18:3 K:BB in 19 innings this year.