MLB Player News

The Cardinals recalled Loutos from Triple-A Memphis on Sunday.

He'll begin his second stint of the season with the big club after he received his first call-up May 20 and made two scoreless appearances out of the bullpen before being sent back to Memphis on June 4. Loutos is likely to handle a low-leverage relief role while he's up with the Cardinals.

Atlanta optioned Kerr to Triple-A Gwinnett on Sunday, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

Atlanta will swap the left-handed Kerr out of its bullpen for a right-hander in Grant Holmes, whose contract was selected from Gwinnett in a corresponding move. After making a pair of spot starts in late May, Kerr shifted into a relief role this month and gave up three earned runs on eight hits and four walks over 5.1 innings spanning four appearances.

Walker (4-3) allowed an unearned run on a hit and a walk with one strikeout over one inning to take the loss Saturday versus the Angels.

Walker's scoreless streak ended at 5.1 innings, though a two-out throwing error by Curt Casali contributed to the Giants giving up the decisive run in the seventh inning. Walker has allowed four runs (three earned) over 7.1 innings in June, and he's added four holds this month as he continues to see an increasingly large high-leverage role. He's at a 2.48 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 46:7 K:BB with 13 holds over 36.1 innings this season. While it hasn't happened yet in 2024, Walker would likely be next in line for save chances whenever Camilo Doval is unavailable, as Tyler Rogers has typically struggled when given ninth-inning assignments.

Jansen pitched 1.1 perfect innings to earn the save in Saturday's 8-4 win over the Yankees.

Greg Weissert was shaky in the eighth inning, but Jansen was able to get the last out of the frame with runners on the corners. The Red Sox added some insurance in the bottom of the eighth, and Jansen slammed the door in the ninth. The right-hander is up to 11 saves this season, though he has picked up just two of them over four appearances in June. For the season, he's been reliable with a 2.74 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 30:11 K:BB over 23 innings.

Stanek allowed a hit but was not charged with a run over one-third of an inning, earning the save in Saturday's 7-5 win over the Rangers.

Eduard Bazardo struggled in the ninth inning after being brought in with a six-run lead. He gave up three runs and Stanek allowed one inherited runner to score before getting Corey Seager on a groundout to end the contest. Stanek is gaining an increasingly notable role in the Mariners' bullpen, having earned four saves over his last six appearances, though he likely got this opportunity because Andres Munoz had pitched the last two days. Stanek is up to seven saves with a 4.00 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 28:10 K:BB over 27 innings. At this point, the Mariners' closer situation should be considered a committee between Stanek and Munoz, with the latter likely to receive assignments in the highest-leverage spots.

Megill notched a save against the Reds on Saturday, allowing one run on one hit and one walk in one inning.

A trio of Milwaukee pitchers combined to shut out Cincinnati over eight innings before the ball was handed to Megill for the ninth. The right-hander didn't make things easy, issuing a walk and allowing a run-scoring double before getting his first out, but he was ultimately able to slam the door for the save. Megill has been great in his first venture as a closer this season, going 12-for-13 in save tries while posting a 2.25 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 25:6 K:BB over 20 innings. He appears to have a firm grasp on ninth-inning duties for the Brewers, at least until Devin Williams (back) is able to return from the injured list, potentially in the latter half of July.

Wilson (4-3) earned the win over Cincinnati on Saturday, pitching 5.1 scoreless innings during which he allowed three hits and two walks while striking out six batters.

Milwaukee opted to have Jared Koenig open the contest, and he notched two outs before Wilson entered with a runner on first base in the first inning. The right-hander closed that frame successfully, then kept the Reds off the scoreboard for five more innings before turning the game over to the bullpen. Wilson's excellent outing earned him his first victory since May 24. After opening the campaign in the bullpen, Wilson has been bouncing between a traditional starting role and bulk relief lately, and in either capacity he's pitched pretty well, giving up three or fewer earned runs in all but one of his 17 appearances this season.

Estevez struck out two in a perfect ninth inning to earn the save in a 4-3 win over the Giants on Saturday.

Called upon in the ninth inning for the second night in a row, Estevez needed just 12 pitches to secure his 12th save of the season. Estevez has not allowed a baserunner in five June appearances and has now converted six consecutive save opportunities dating back to May 20. On the season, Estevez is 12-for-15 in save chances with a 3.68 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 22:3 K:BB in 22 innings.

Francis (3-2) picked up the win Saturday, allowing four hits over four scoreless relief innings in a 5-0 victory over the Guardians. He struck out two without walking a batter.

The right-hander was the fourth Toronto pitcher into the game, but he handled the bulk-relief role with aplomb, firing 44 of 68 pitches for strikes. Francis has tossed eight scoreless innings over his last two appearances, but with Yariel Rodriguez (back) close to coming off the 15-day injured list, Francis likely won't be in line for a full-time appointment to the rotation. Since a tough beginning to the season as a starter, Francis has posted a 3.06 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 12:4 K:BB through 17.2 innings over his last six outings sandwiched around an IL stint of his own due to forearm tendinitis.

Lange was removed from an appearance at Triple-A Toledo on Friday due to an upper-body injury, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.

Lange made the Tigers' Opening Day roster and owned a 4.34 ERA in 18.2 innings before being sent to Toledo. He signaled to the dugout immediately after throwing a pitch Saturday and was grabbing at his side. Lange underwent an MRI on Saturday, and while the Tigers have yet to reveal the results of the test, early indications are that Lange sustained a severe injury.