MLB Player News

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.

Coulombe (biceps) began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Norfolk on Tuesday and struck out two batters over a scoreless inning.

The reliever is eligible to return from the 15-day injured list Thursday and would appear to be in line to rejoin the Orioles at that time or shortly thereafter. Coulombe has been terrific out of the Orioles bullpen this season, holding a 2.77 ERA and 48:9 K:BB over 39 innings.

Texas manager Bruce Bochy said Smith's recent bout of ineffectiveness was due to lack of command of his fastball, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reports. "It's kind of been a one-plane pitch instead of working the four different quadrants of the strike zone," the manager said. "We need to get back and locate that fastball. Command, as I've said many times, is more important than velocity."

Smith has blown two saves and sports a 15.19 ERA over his last seven outings. He agreed with the manager that location is the reason for the recent struggles. Bochy did not give a clear answer when discussing the closing role, but the manager had Aroldis Chapman attempt to close Monday's game, which eventually went to extra innings where Smith blew the save. There was a stretch earlier this month when it looked like the back end of the bullpen was set with Josh Sborz, Chapman and Smith, in that order. However, recent events mean fantasy managers should understand that Smith is not guaranteed to close every game. The Rangers are off Wednesday, and the manager hopes the bullpen can reset.

Sewald allowed two hits and a walk while striking out one in a scoreless inning to earn the save in Tuesday's 6-3 win over the Rangers.

Sewald again flirted with danger, allowing multiple baserunners for the fourth time in nine outings since he joined the Diamondbacks. He's only paid for it once in a blown save versus the Twins on Aug. 6 -- he's kept runs off the board in his other eight appearances. Sewald is at a 3.00 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 70:19 K:BB with 27 saves in 31 chances over 51 innings this year. He'll need to cut back on the traffic on the basepaths to continue to turn in strong results as the Arizona closer.

Zerpa (1-2) allowed five runs (four earned) on four hits and a walk while striking out four over three innings to take the loss Tuesday versus the Athletics.

Zerpa served as more of an opener, allowing the Royals to ease Zack Greinke back in for his return from an elbow injury. Zerpa ended up giving up all the runs the Athletics scored during his time on the mound, and his future in the rotation for the rest of this season is likely in doubt. He's pitched to a poor 7.16 ERA, 1.53 WHIP and 13:4 K:BB through 16.1 innings over six appearances (two starts).

May struck out one in a perfect inning to earn the save in Tuesday's 5-4 win over the Royals.

May threw 14 pitches (eight strikes) to submit his second straight clean inning against the Royals. He's pitched three of the last four days, so it's possible he may not be available to close if Wednesday's day game presents a save opportunity. May is at a 4.37 ERA, 1.51 WHIP and 29:26 K:BB with 13 saves in 16 chances over 35 innings this season. Lucas Erceg would be the most likely candidate to collect a save chance if May is resting Wednesday.

Harris (3-6) earned the win Tuesday in the Athletics' 5-4 victory over the Royals, allowing four runs on five hits and two walks while striking out five over 3.2 innings.

Harris wasn't sharp, throwing 54 of 86 pitches for strikes in the bulk-relief outing, but he was able to keep the Athletics ahead after they took the lead in the second inning. It's an improvement on the eight runs in three innings he gave up Aug. 2 versus the Dodgers in his previous major-league outing. Harris has an uninspiring 6.00 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 56:28 K:BB over 63 innings through 14 appearances (six starts) in the majors this year. With Luis Medina (finger) on the injured list, Harris could stick as part of the rotation even if he continues to work behind an opener. Harris is tentatively lined up for a favorable road outing versus the White Sox over the weekend.

Robertson walked one and struck out one in a scoreless and hitless inning to earn the save in Tuesday's 3-0 win over the Padres.

Robertson took a blown save his last time out, allowing three runs in an inning versus the Dodgers on Saturday. It appears that was just a blip on the radar, as he was in much better form Tuesday while picking up his 18th save in 23 chances this season. The veteran right-hander has allowed multiple runs three times over eight outings in August, but he's still at a 2.89 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 56:19 K:BB through 53 innings between the Mets and the Marlins this year.