MLB Player News

Fairbanks picked up the save Tuesday, allowing one run on two hits and a walk while striking out two during one inning against the Angels.

Fairbanks entered the contest with three runs of cushion but still gave fantasy managers a bit of a scare. He allowed a pair of singles -- one of which plated Aaron Hicks -- then walked Anthony Rendon to put runners on first and second with two outs when he struck out Miguel Sano. After being one of the more reliable closers in baseball last season, Fairbanks owns an awful 15.00 ERA through four appearances and could be losing his grip on the ninth-inning job after allowing at least one run three times to date.

Finnegan picked up the save Tuesday against San Francisco, allowing two hits and two walks over 1.1 scoreless innings with no strikeouts.

Finnegan got himself in plenty of trouble Tuesday, allowing back-to-back singles and a walk to load the bases with no outs to start the ninth. With just two runs of cushion, it seemed like Finnegan was heading toward his second blown save of the season. However, he was able to get a force out at home on a fielder's choice and then got Matt Chapman to ground out into the game-ending double play. While fantasy managers have had to hold their breath during some of Finnegan's outings, he's received more save chances than expected thus far with the Nationals sitting just one game under .500.

Brown didn't factor into the decision Tuesday, allowing three hits and one walk over 4.2 scoreless innings against San Diego. He struck out five.

After coming out of the bullpen in his first two appearances, Brown took the ball for his first career start. He was held to just 77 pitches and isn't quite fully stretched out after throwing 44 and 52 pitches in his first two outings. However, after yielding six runs in 1.2 innings during his MLB debut, Brown has rebounded with one run allowed in his last 8.2 frames and seems to have the hold on Justin Steele's (hamstring) slot in the rotation. Brown's tentatively expected to take the mound Monday against the Diamondbacks for his next start.

Texas manager Bruce Bochy did not indicate any changes at closer after Leclerc blew a save Tuesday, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports. "We're just over a week here into the season," Bochy said. "These guys, with what they've done, no, I don't have concern."

The manager noted that Leclerc is healthy and suggested the right-hander is not yet "locked in." Leclerc has given up runs in four of five outings in addition to Tuesday's blown save, his first of the season.

Spiers allowed four runs (three earned) on seven hits and three walks while striking out one over four relief innings in Tuesday's 9-5 loss to Milwaukee.

Spiers, who was called up Monday to replace Tejay Antone (elbow), was needed for a bullpen-saving stint. After the Reds had fallen behind, 9-1 in the seventh inning, the game was in the hands of Spiers, who had been part of the rotation at Triple-A Louisville.

Ginkel fired a perfect ninth in a 3-2 win over the Rockies on Tuesday to pick up his first save of the year. He struck out two.

Ginkel finally earned his first save of the year as the team's primary fill-in closer while Paul Sewald (oblique) is on the mend. The 30-year-old was able to bounce back after giving up runs in back-to-back outings. He has kept things pretty clean overall though with a 3.38 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 7:0 K:BB in 5.1 innings.

Leclerc allowed two runs on one hit and a walk in one inning and was charged with a blown save in a 4-3 loss to the Athletics on Tuesday. He struck out two.

Leclerc issued a one-out walk in the ninth inning before serving up a go-ahead home run to Shea Langeliers. The 30-year-old Leclerc has now given up eight runs in five innings while posting a 4:6 K:BB so far. It's entirely possible the Rangers turn away from Leclerc in a ninth-inning role with him struggling badly to begin the year. David Robertson and Kirby Yates would be the likeliest candidates to see save chances if it were to happen.

Miller tossed a perfect ninth inning Tuesday in a 4-3 win over the Rangers to earn his first career save. He struck out two.

Miller entered protecting a 4-3 lead after Shea Langeliers put the A's in front with a go-ahead homer in the top of the frame. Miller was in nearly untouchable, getting a routine groundout before striking out back-to-back hitters to end the game. Miller has the lights-out stuff to become one of the best closers in baseball if he sticks in the role. He touched triple digits eight times out of his 16 pitches in Tuesday's appearance and has now fired five straight scoreless innings with a 9:2 K:BB.

Helsley earned his fourth save Tuesday in a win over the Phillies after tossing a scoreless ninth inning. He did not allow a baserunner and struck out two.

Helsley shut the door on the Phillies with a perfect inning and secured the shutout for the Cardinals. He's now tied with four others for the second-most saves in baseball with four and has allowed just one run over his last six innings.

McArthur (1-0) earned the victory in Tuesday's 4-3 extra-inning win over the Astros, firing two scoreless innings during which he gave up a hit and recorded two strikeouts.

McArthur entered the contest in the top of the ninth inning with the score tied at 3-3, setting the Astros down in order. He returned for the top of the 10th frame, working around a two-out single by Jeremy Pena to keep the game tied while also picking up a pair of strikeouts. The Royals then walked it off with an RBI single by Salvador Perez in the bottom of the frame, giving McArthur his first win of the 2024 campaign. The right-hander now owns a 5.40 ERA with seven strikeouts over 6.2 innings in six appearances with Kansas City this season, going 2-for-3 in save opportunities in the process.