MLB Player News

May earned a save against the White Sox on Thursday, allowing one hit in a scoreless inning.

May had a three-run lead to work with in the bottom of the ninth inning and made quick work of Chicago, needing just nine pitches to get three outs around a single. The save was the second in three days for the right-hander, pushing his total to 14 on the campaign. He had tallied 12 saves over eight big-league seasons prior to this year.

Jax earned a save over the Rangers on Thursday, allowing one walk and striking out one batter over one scoreless inning.

Twins closer Jhoan Duran threw 33 pitches over 1.2 innings in a loss Wednesday, so Jax was summoned Thursday with the team up by two heading into the ninth inning. Jax issued a one-out walk but erased it by inducing a game-ending, double-play groundout. The right-hander notched his second save of the campaign, but his other came over two months ago, and he's not expected to see many more opportunities as long as Duran is healthy.

Bautista picked up the save Thursday, delivering a perfect ninth inning to close out a 5-3 win over the Blue Jays.

Bautista set the Blue Jays down in order in the ninth inning Thursday to earn his 33rd save, tying him for second most in the league. The 28-year-old extended his scoreless streak to six innings, lowering his ERA to a pristine 1.49 to go along with a 0.93 WHIP and 109:26 K:BB across 60.1 frames this season.

Alzolay allowed an unearned run in the 10th inning but managed to secure the save in Thursday's 5-4 win over the Pirates.

Pittsburgh scored their automatic runner following a ground out and a sacrifice fly, but Alzolay comfortably got through the 10th inning on 13 pitches. He's up to 20 saves, including one in each of the last two days. Alzolay has yet to pitch three days in a row this season, so he may not be available if the Cubs have a save opportunity Friday.

Palencia (4-0) worked around two walks to pitch a scoreless inning of relief and earn the win in Thursday's 10-inning win over the Pirates.

Palencia got into some trouble in the ninth inning but managed to keep his record spotless. The rookie earned a win in his MLB debut back on July 4, and he's now compiled a 4.30 ERA across 14.2 innings. Despite grabbing a few wins in relief, Palencia doesn't have a ton of fantasy appeal with his role in the middle of Chicago's bullpen.

Jackson allowed two runs on six hits while striking out two over six innings in Thursday's 5-4 loss to the Cubs.

Jackson allowed a pair of runs in the second inning after Rob Zastryzny worked the opening frame. However, the 27-year-old Jackson would settle in and blank the Cubs over his final five innings, allowing just two additional hits. Since joining the Pirates in early August, the 27-year-old right-hander has worked to a 3.32 ERA and 1.05 WHIP over 19 innings. It remains to be seen if Pittsburgh will deploy Jackson as a traditional starter, though he's currently lined up to pitch early next week in Kansas City.

Single-A Dunedin placed Barriera on its 7-day injured list Aug. 3 due to biceps soreness, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Barriera, the No. 23 overall pick in the 2022 First-Year Player Draft, dealt with a shoulder issue in spring training, was shut down again after a May 25 start due to elbow soreness, and now has been shut down again after his velocity was down during a two-inning appearance July 29. Given that he's a hard-throwing 19-year-old with several recent arm injuries, his risk of needing some sort of surgery before advancing to the upper levels of the minors is extreme. All told, he logged a 3.98 ERA, 0.93 WHIP and 25 strikeouts in 20.1 innings across Single-A and the rookie-level Florida Complex League this season.

Pittsburgh transferred Perdomo (elbow) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day injured list on Thursday.

Perdomo was placed on the 15-day IL this past Sunday due to left elbow discomfort and is now officially done for the remainder of the 2023 season. Rob Zastryzny will fill the vacated 40-man roster spot as he joins the Pirates' bullpen ahead of Thursday's series opener against the Cubs.

Pittsburgh optioned Ramirez to Triple-A Indianapolis on Thursday.

Ramirez tossed 2.1 scoreless innings of relief Wednesday against the Cardinals, but the Pirates will call up a fresh bullpen arm in left-hander Rob Zastryzny ahead of Thursday's series opener versus the Cubs.

The Cubs optioned Rucker to Triple-A Iowa on Thursday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Keegan Thompson is up to replace him in Chicago's bullpen ahead of Thursday's series opener versus the Pirates. Rucker, 29, has registered a 4.91 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 40:19 K:BB over 40.1 innings of relief this year in the majors.