MLB Player News

Lange recorded two outs but also walked three batters and was pulled from a save opportunity in Saturday's 4-2 win over the Rays.

Lange was called on for the top of the ninth inning but couldn't complete the frame, as he needed 20 pitches to retire two batters before he was replaced by Beau Brieske. When Lange struggles, it's often the free passes that catch up with him, and he now has a whopping 34 walks in 44 innings this season. He should still have some job security as Detroit's closer, but the team may decide to go in a different direction if Lange can't limit the walks moving forward.

Brieske retired the final batter in Saturday's 4-2 win over the Rays via strikeout to record the save.

Brieske came on for Alex Lange, who recorded the first two outs of the inning but also walked three batters and tossed 20 pitches. It's too early to say there's a change in the closer role for Detroit, as Lange leads the team with 17 saves and should have some job security. However, it seems that Brieske could be an option for the role if the Tigers decide to make a switch at some point.

The Reds optioned Duarte to Triple-A Louisville on Sunday.

Duarte was sent out to make room on the 26-man active roster for right-hander Lyon Richardson, who is scheduled to start Sunday's series finale against the Nationals in his MLB debut. After being recalled from Louisville on Wednesday, Duarte made three appearances out of the Cincinnati bullpen, covering three innings and striking out four while giving up an earned run on two hits and no walks.

Assad allowed two runs on five hits across 3.2 innings and didn't factor into the decision in Saturday's 8-6 win over Atlanta. He walked two and recorded three strikeouts.

Assad pitched decently in his second start of the season, keeping the Cubs competitive before they went on to take the second game of the series. The righty snapped a stretch of five straight scoreless appearances, though he still has a strong 3.35 ERA this season. Though he was filling the spot in the rotation that previously belonged to the injured Marcus Stroman (hip), Assad is likely to head back to the bullpen in the near future. The Cubs have three off days coming up in the next two weeks and should be able to get by with a four-man rotation during that time.

Pivetta gave up three runs on six hits and two walks over four innings of relief in Saturday's 5-4 loss to the Blue Jays. He struck out two and did not factor into the decision.

John Schreiber got the nod as the opener for Boston on Saturday, and while manager Alex Cora had hinted before the game that Chris Murphy would be used as the primary pitcher after Schreiber, it was Pivetta who came out of the bullpen to begin the second inning. The right-hander was the only person who seemed to be faked out by the move, however, as he put together his worst appearance since originally shifting to a long-relief role back in May. Pivetta still sports an impressive 2.51 ERA, 0.87 WHIP and 45:8 K:BB through 32.1 innings since the beginning of July, but it looks like he will continue bouncing between a traditional starting role and bulk relief.

Law allowed one hit over 2.1 scoreless innings in Saturday's 7-3 loss to Washington.

Law, who entered with the Reds down 6-0, ate up seven outs between the sixth and eighth innings. The right-hander has worked largely in middle relief for the Reds and has posted a 3.68 ERA in 14.2 innings since his return from the injured list in early July. Control has been an issue, as it has been throughout his career; Law's issued 20 free passes over 35.2 innings (5.0 BB/9) this season.

Swanson gave up a run on three hits in two-thirds of an inning Saturday to record his fourth save of the season in a 5-4 win over the Red Sox.

Tim Mayza worked the eighth inning without much trouble and retired the first batter in the ninth, but Swanson proceeded to give up three straight singles after he entered the game and escaped blowing the save only when Connor Wong's high fly to left-center field came up inches short of being a walkoff hit off the Green Monster, and instead led to Reese McGuire getting doubled off second base. Swanson has gone 2-for-2 in converting save chances since Jordan Romano (back) landed on the IL, but Jordan Hicks -- who had pitched three of the prior four days -- appears to be first in line to handle closing duties until Romano returns.

Smith gave up two runs on one hit and one walk in the ninth inning Saturday but still recorded his 20th save of the season in a 9-8 win over the Marlins.

A one-out, two-run homer by Jake Burger ramped up the pressure on the veteran lefty, but Smith got soft contact out of the next two batters to preserve the Rangers' fifth straight win. The long ball was the first he'd served up since June 14, with Smith posting a 1.93 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and 13:1 K:BB through 14 innings in between. Despite the late June addition of Aroldis Chapman to the Texas bullpen, Smith's hold on the closer role has been secure, and he still appears to have a shot at collecting 30 saves in a season for the third time in his career.

Sewald struck out three over a scoreless seventh inning in Saturday's 12-1 loss to the Twins.

Sewald, the closer Arizona acquired at the trade deadline, made his debut for his new organization, entering in the seventh inning of a 10-1 game. Because of the Diamondbacks' slump -- they've lost five straight since the trade -- there have been no save opportunities for Sewald. Despite seven days between outings, the right-hander was sharp, throwing nine of 12 pitches for strikes.

Weathers (1-7) took the loss Saturday, coughing up six runs on six hits and four walks over 3.2 innings of relief as the Marlins were downed 9-8 by the Rangers. He struck out five.

Entering the game in the fifth inning, the southpaw was immediately greeted by homers off the bats of Corey Seager and Josh Jung, turning a 5-3 Miami lead into a deficit the team never overcame. Adding insult to injury, that also stuck Weathers with a blown save in his Marlins debut. He did at least soak up some innings, tossing 95 pitches (but only 52 strikes), while starter George Soriano lasted only 59 pitches before exiting. Weathers' performance didn't make much of a case for him to move into the rotation, but it's not yet clear how the Marlins will handle their fifth starter spot from here.