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A.J. Puk RP | ARI
Marlins' A.J. Puk: Earns playoff-clinching win
Puk (7-5) earned the win Saturday against the Pirates, allowing one run on three hits over two innings while striking out three. He did not issue any walks.
Puk entered the game in the bottom of the fourth and struck out two of the first four batters he faced to get through the inning. However, the lefty reliever got himself into trouble in the fifth after surrendering a leadoff double to Ke'Bryan Hayes to open the frame, which would lead to one run coming across for the Pirates. Fortunately for Puk, the Marlins' offense would come through with two runs in the bottom of the inning, helping him secure his seventh win of the season as Miami clinched only its fourth playoff berth in franchise history.
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Bruce Zimmermann RP | STL
Orioles' Bruce Zimmermann: Sent to Triple-A
Zimmermann was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk on Sunday.
Zimmermann was recalled Saturday and pitched two scoreless innings of relief and will be sent back down the following day. Cole Irvin is up to take his place as a long reliever.
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Jacob Lopez SP | ATH
Rays' Jacob Lopez: Promoted, should pitch Sunday
Lopez was recalled from Triple-A Durham and is expected start or work in bulk relief Sunday in Toronto, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
The 25-year-old made his MLB debut in August and pitched well in three outings for the Rays with one earned run allowed and a 4:0 K:BB across seven innings, and he'll receive another look with the big club in the regular-season finale. Lopez was also effective at Triple-A Durham this year with a 2.72 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 87:47 K:BB in 18 starts after opening the campaign with Double-A Montgomery.
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Tanner Scott RP | LAD
Marlins' Tanner Scott: Clinches playoff berth with save
Scott picked up the save Saturday against Pittsburgh, striking out three over 1.1 innings while not allowing any hits or walks.
Scott entered the contest with two outs and two runners on in the bottom of the eighth and was able to get the final out to hold Miami's 6-3 lead. He returned in the ninth and struck out the side to nail down his 12th save of the season as the Marlins clinched their first playoff berth since 2020 with the win. Scott has now converted his last three save opportunities and has struck out the side in two of his last three appearances.
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Chris Paddack RP | TEX
Twins' Chris Paddack: Strong in bulk relief
Paddack (1-0) earned the win Saturday against the Rockies. He allowed two hits while striking out four over three scoreless innings.
Paddack entered the game after one inning, replacing Emilio Pagan, and fired off three scoreless frames for his first win of 2023. Though Paddack spent most of the season recovering from Tommy John surgery, he managed to make two appearances down the stretch, allowing three runs over two innings in his first outing before blanking the Rockies on Saturday.
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Karl Kauffmann RP | COL
Rockies' Karl Kauffmann: Rocked by Twins
Kauffmann (2-5) took the loss in Saturday's 14-6 loss against the Twins. He allowed eight runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out two over 4.1 innings.
Kauffman worked the second leg of the Rockies' bullpen game Saturday, following up Matt Koch's scoreless first by allowing eight runs across 4.1 frames. A majority of the damage was done in the third inning, when Trevor Larnach smacked a grand slam. With just one day left in the regular season, it appears Kauffman will finish his rookie campaign with a 2-5 record, an 8.23 ERA and 16:16 K:BB over 35 innings.
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Clay Holmes SP | CHC
Yankees' Clay Holmes: Picks up 24th save
Holmes picked up the save Saturday against Kansas City, striking out two in a perfect ninth inning.
The 30-year-old made quick work of the Royals, striking out two and inducing a weak groundout by Bobby Witt to end the contest. After a rough patch to end August, Holmes was dominant in September, posting a microscopic 0.75 ERA, 0.75 WHIP and 11:4 K:BB across 12 innings while converting all eight of his save opportunities.
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Frankie Montas RP | NYM
Yankees' Frankie Montas: Earns win in return
Montas (1-0) earned the win Saturday against Kansas City. He allowed two hits and one walk while striking out one over 1.1 scoreless innings.
In his first appearance of the 2023 campaign following arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder in February, Montas entered in the fifth inning of a tie game and surrendered a walk, a single and a double. Despite the traffic, he held the Royals scoreless for 1.1 innings, and the Yankees' offense tallied three runs in the sixth to hand the 30-year-old righty a win in his return. Montas finally put it all together for Oakland in 2021, winning 13 games with a 3.37 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 207:57 K:BB across 187 innings that season. However, after being traded to New York at last year's deadline, the righty posted a 6.25 ERA across 39.2 innings and endured a lengthy absence due to injury.
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Raisel Iglesias RP | ATL
Braves' Raisel Iglesias: Earns save No. 33
Iglesias picked up the save Saturday against the Nationals. He allowed one hit while striking out one over a scoreless inning.
Iglesias converted on his third save of the last four days, holding the Nationals scoreless in the ninth while fanning a batter. After blowing a pair of saves early in September, Iglesias has logged a save in each of his last four chances. With one day left in the regular season, Iglesias ranks eighth in saves and sports a 2.75 ERA across 58 appearances (55.2 innings).