MLB Player News

Holderman (arm) struck out two and worked around one hit and one walk over 1.1 scoreless innings out of the bullpen en route to claiming his 21st hold of the season in Tuesday's 6-3 win over the Cardinals.

Holderman was pulled early in his previous relief appearance Saturday versus the Twins after experiencing arm cramping, but the issue kept him out of commission for only two days. While healthy, Holderman should continue serving as the Pirates' top setup man in front of closer David Bednar.

The Pirates optioned Moreta to Triple-A Indianapolis on Wednesday.

Moreta was sent out to the minors to clear room on 26-man active roster for right-hander Luis Ortiz, who was recalled from Triple-A ahead of his scheduled start Wednesday versus the Cardinals. The demotion comes after Moreta was touched up for two earned runs on three hits and one walk in 1.2 innings of relief in Tuesday's 6-3 win over St. Louis.

Doval (5-4) blew the save and took the loss Tuesday against the Phillies. He allowed two runs on two hits with a walk and a hit-by-pitch in one-third of an inning.

Doval was tasked with protecting a 3-2 lead in the ninth, but he proceeded to load the bases on a hit-by-pitch, a single and an intentional walk. Trea Turner then plated two with a walk-off single, resulting in the blown save and loss for Doval. After converting 33 of his first 36 save opportunities this season, the 26-year-old closer has now blown three consecutive save chances. Despite the rough patch, Doval still owns an impressive 2.60 ERA and 1.08 WHIP with 12.2 K/9 across 55.1 innings this year.

Bednar picked up the save Tuesday against the Cardinals. He allowed one hit while striking out one over a scoreless inning.

After allowing six runs in his previous 6.1 innings, Bednar blanked the Cardinals in the ninth inning Tuesday, improving to 27-for-30 in save chances this season. Despite some shakiness of late, Bednar still has a pristine 2.08 ERA with a 1.12 WHIP and 61:16 K:BB across 52 innings this season.

Finnegan picked up the save Tuesday against the Yankees, working around a walk in a scoreless inning.

Finnegan's now converted his last 11 save opportunities, though he'd allowed two runs over his previous two appearances (1.1 innings). Still, the 31-year-old right-hander's been solid since reclaiming the closing job in Washington, allowing just two runs over his last 17 appearances (16 innings). Overall, Finnegan's 22-for-29 in save chances with a 2.77 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 54:17 K:BB across 55.1 innings this season.

Romano picked up the save Tuesday against Baltimore. He struck out two in a perfect inning.

After Toronto took a 6-3 lead in the top of the 10th inning, Romano shut the door in the bottom half of the frame, striking out a pair to strand the free runner at second base and earn his 31st save. The right-hander is 3-for-3 in save chances since returning from the IL on Aug 15, allowing just one hit over three scoreless innings. Overall, Romano sports a 2.60 ERA with a 1.16 WHIP and 56:16 K:BB across 45 innings this season.

Munoz notched his eighth save in a win over the White Sox on Tuesday, recording the final out of the game on a strikeout.

Despite its brevity, Munoz's save opportunity was anything but easy considering it involved retiring the dangerous Luis Robert with a man aboard. The right-hander got the job done on just four pitches, putting the prodigious slugger away swinging on a 97-mph sinker to convert his second straight save chance and generate his third consecutive scoreless appearance. Munoz appears to be settling into the primary closer role, although the ninth-inning job in Seattle isn't as centered on one pitcher as it is on other clubs around baseball.

Topa (3-3) got the victory over the White Sox on Tuesday, firing 1.1 perfect innings during which he recorded a strikeout.

Topa breezed through his brief time in the game, impressively firing nine of his 11 pitches for strikes while getting Eloy Jimenez on an inning-ending groundout with two aboard when he first entered in the seventh. The right-hander hasn't allowed a run since July 22, a span of 13.1 innings during which he's recorded two wins overall alongside seven holds.

Iglesias gave up a hit and a walk in a scoreless ninth inning Tuesday to record his 25th save of the season in a 3-2 win over the Mets.

It wasn't the sharpest appearance from the right-hander, but Iglesias got Francisco Alvarez to hit into a double play after he put the first two batters of the inning aboard. The veteran closer hasn't blown a save since June 12, converting 16 straight and posting a 2.16 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 35:5 K:BB over his last 25 innings.

Kimbrel (7-3) earned the win in Tuesday's 4-3 victory over San Francisco. He allowed one hit and struck out one in a scoreless ninth inning.

Kimbrel entered in the ninth inning with Philadelphia trailing 3-2 and managed to escape the frame unscathed. Trea Turner then delivered a walk-off, two-run single in the bottom of the inning to earn Kimbrel his seventh win of the campaign. After a rough first month, the long-time closer has been dominant since May 9, successfully converting 16 of his 18 save opportunities with a 1.54 ERA, 0.73 WHIP and a 55:10 K:BB across 41 innings during that stretch.