MLB Player News

Ginkel struck out both batters he faced to earn the save in Friday's 10-8 win over the Reds.

A save situation wasn't expected to arise in Friday's game, but Justin Martinez allowed a grand slam while Arizona was ahead by six. With the game getting closer, Ginkel stepped in and stopped the bleeding to pick up his first save in a month. In that span, he recorded four wins and four holds while surrendering five runs (three earned) over 13.2 innings in a setup role ahead of Paul Sewald, who was presumably unavailable after pitching three of the last four days. Ginkel is up to four saves with a 2.19 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 53:17 K:BB over 53.1 innings this season, and he should continue to see high-leverage work.

Walker will serve as the Giants' opening pitcher for Saturday's game versus Atlanta, Danny Emerman of KNBR 680 San Francisco reports.

It's a familiar assignment for Walker, as he'll work as the opener for the 11th time this season. Based on recent usage, Sean Manaea would seem to be the top candidate to work in bulk relief Saturday.

Phillips allowed a hit in a scoreless inning against Boston on Friday. He struck out two and earned a save.

Phillips worked around a leadoff single to close out the 7-4 win. Since the All-Star break, he's converted all eight of his save opportunities while yielding three runs over 13.2 frames. For the season, Phillips has 20 saves in 22 chances while registering a 2.39 ERA and a 54:11 K:BB through 49 innings.

Harvey picked up the save Friday in Miami, allowing one hit and striking out one to preserve a 7-4 win.

Kyle Finnegan could have been unavailable after throwing 31 pitches to notch a save Thursday versus the Yankees. Harvey was handed the ball and converted the save without a sweat, retiring three straight after a leadoff single. It's his 10th save of the season but his first since coming off the injured list earlier this month following an elbow injury. Harvey's looked sharp since his return, spinning seven scoreless frames with an 8:1 K:BB. Finnegan has also been terrific and is still the favorite for saves down the stretch, but Harvey has been the Nats' best reliever when healthy.

Pressly allowed four runs on four hits over two-thirds of an inning to take a blown save in Friday's 4-1 loss to the Tigers.

Pressly struck out the first two batters of the ninth inning as he looked to preserve a one-run lead. It wasn't meant to be however, as he gave up three consecutive singles, the third one being a broken-bat hit by Javier Baez which plated the tying run. Parker Meadows then launched a walk-off, three-run home run. Pressly finished July in a rut but had been unscored upon in his first seven appearances in August before this bump in the road.

Bednar worked around a solo home run in the ninth inning to pick up the save in Friday's 2-1 win over the Cubs. He struck out one.

After the Cubs were blanked for eight innings, Ian Happ led off the ninth with a home run to cut the deficit to one, but Bednar then closed the door to pick up his 28th save. The home run was only the second allowed by Bednar all season. He had allowed only six total earned runs through July but has now allowed seven in 11.1 August innings. Despite his recent struggles, Bednar has seven saves this month as the undisputed closing option in Pittsburgh.

Selby will serve as the Pirates' opening pitcher for Saturday's game versus the Cubs, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.

Selby has struck out 13 but allowed seven runs while walking six over his first 8.2 major-league innings. He'll pick up his first big-league start Saturday but will likely work just one or two frames before giving way to Osvaldo Bido, who could be ticketed for a bulk-relief role.

Bautista is undergoing tests after exiting Friday's appearance against the Rockies due to right arm discomfort, Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun reports.

Bautista was just one strike away from a save when he was lifted from the outing after delivering a 102.3 mph fastball. Orioles manager Brandon Hyde declined to go into more specifics when asked about the exact nature of the righty's injury, adding only that "when the best closer in the game leaves the game, it's never a good feeling." Yennier Cano would be the obvious choice to step in as Baltimore's closer should Bautista need to miss time. Danny Coulombe got a one-out save in relief of Bautista on Friday and could also be in the mix.

Bautista was removed from a save appearance versus the Rockies on Friday with an undisclosed injury, Steve Melewski of MASNSports.com reports.

Bautista was one strike away from putting the game on ice but evidently tweaked something while delivering a 102.3 mph fastball to Michael Toglia. The closer was visited by the trainer before exiting the field, and he'll likely be sent for testing. Danny Coulombe then needed just one pitch to strike out Toglia and secure an Orioles win.

Brentz (elbow) is expected to miss the remainder of the season after suffering a left lat strain while on his rehab assignment, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Brentz began a rehab assignment earlier this month while working his way back from Tommy John surgery, but now a new injury ends his season before it started. The left-hander should have a relatively normal offseason, but even if he begins 2024 on time he'll have gone nearly two years in between major-league appearances.