MLB Player News

Ginkel (4-0) struck out three over 1.1 scoreless innings to earn the win over Seattle on Saturday.

Ginkel entered a tie game to begin the eighth inning and struck out the side before the Diamondbacks took the lead in the bottom of the frame. It looked like he'd finish the game, but manager Torey Lovullo pulled Ginkel after he quickly retired the first batter in the ninth. Andrew Chafin was brought in to nail down the save, but he allowed a triple and a walk before Scott McGough recorded the final out. After the game, Lovullo lamented to Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic what he termed "overmanaging" in using more relievers than was necessary. "I'm trying to get everybody involved, get people in a game and get them on a roll," he said. With several members of the bullpen struggling of late -- including Chafin and McGough -- Ginkel has been rolling and has emerged as Lovullo's go-to late-inning arm.

Brieske did not factor into the decision Saturday, allowing three hits over two scoreless innings against the Marlins while striking out two.

Brieske allowed a leadoff single to Luis Arraez to open the bottom of the first but managed to retire the next three batters, two by way of strikeout. The right-hander would come back out to pitch a scoreless second inning before being relieved by Joey Wentz to open the third. Brieske has not allowed a run in four of his six appearances this month and has issued just one walk over that six-game stretch while notching seven strikeouts.

Barlow gave up a hit and struck out two in a scoreless ninth inning Saturday to record his 13th save of the season in a 10-7 win over the Twins.

The right-hander rebounded from his third blown save of the season in impressive fashion, fanning Alex Kirilloff and Jorge Polanco en route to his fourth save in July. Barlow's recent stumbles have left him with a 5.35 ERA, 1.55 WHIP and 47:22 K:BB through 38.2 innings on the season, but his high-leverage experience could still make him an attractive target for a contender at the trade deadline.

Doval (3-3) allowed two runs on two hits and a walk while striking out one over one inning, taking a blown save but picking up the win Saturday versus the Red Sox.

Doval gave up a two-run, game-tying single to Justin Turner in the top of the ninth inning, but J.D. Davis's walk-off solo home run lifted the Giants to the win. Doval had pitched seven consecutive scoreless innings entering Saturday. Despite the misstep, the closer has a 2.68 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 63:19 K:BB through 47 innings while converting 31 of 34 save chances this season.

Phillips allowed a hit and struck out one over 1.1 scoreless innings to earn the save in Saturday's 3-2 win over the Reds.

Phillips had not received a save chance since he blew one July 4. His strong showing Saturday extended his scoreless streak to 5.2 innings over his last six appearances. Ryan Brasier and Alex Vesia each picked up a save this month, making the back end of the Dodgers bullpen a tricky one to forecast over the remaining two months. Phillips is still in the closer committee, as is Brusdar Graterol, though the recently re-acquired Joe Kelly could also enter that mix. Phillips has a 2.21 ERA, 0.81 WHIP and 47:9 K:BB through 40.2 innings this season while adding 13 saves and six holds.

McGough earned a save against Seattle on Saturday, striking out the only batter he faced to close out the contest.

Kevin Ginkel -- who had picked up each of Arizona's previous three saves -- was deployed in the eighth inning Saturday and was pulled with one out in the ninth despite retiring all four batters he faced. Arizona then turned to Andrew Chafin to close things out, but he allowed two of three hitters he saw to reach base, giving McGough the opportunity to close things out. The right-hander faced a tough test in Julio Rodriguez but managed to strike him out on the eighth pitch of the at-bat. This was a nice outing for McGough after he had allowed 11 runs over his previous 4.2 frames, but while there remains a closer committee of sorts in Arizona, Ginkel remains the favorite for saves and the best Diamondbacks reliever to roster from a fantasy perspective.

Bradford will start Sunday's game against the Padres, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

The left-hander allowed two runs over five frames in bulk relief Tuesday and will work as a traditional starter for Sunday's series finale in San Diego, with Nathan Eovaldi (elbow) missing a second straight turn through the rotation. Even with Eovaldi's availability up in the air for the near future, it'll likely just be a spot start for Bradford since the Rangers acquired Max Scherzer from the Mets on Saturday.

Pivetta could pitch behind opener Brennan Bernardino in Sunday's game against the Giants, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

Pivetta delivered five scoreless frames of bulk relief Tuesday against Atlanta, lining him up to potentially take the mound for Sunday's series finale in San Francisco. Boston's full pitching plans haven't been confirmed, but the right-hander has been excellent out of the bullpen this season with a 1.98 ERA over 41 innings and is a decent bet to take the mound after Bernardino.

Bernardino will start Sunday's game against the Giants, Ian Browne of MLB.comreports.

Sunday's contest will feature a pair of openers, with Bernardino pitching for the Red Sox and Scott Alexander for the Giants. Bernardino has started four games this season but hasn't recorded more than six outs in any appearance, so he should cover only an inning or two before giving way to Boston's likely bulk reliever, Nick Pivetta.

Alexander will start Sunday's game against the Red Sox, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

The left-hander has opened two games for the Giants this season and will do so for the third time Sunday versus the Red Sox. Alexander has given up just two earned runs across his past 18 outings and has a 3.41 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 16:6 K:BB over 29 innings this season. Ross Stripling has struggled as a traditional starter and could handle the bulk role behind Alexander to close out the series against Boston.