MLB Player News

Jansen worked a perfect ninth inning Wednesday without walking or striking out a batter to record his 18th save of the season in a 4-2 win over the Rangers.

The veteran closer fired eight of 11 pitches for strikes while shutting down the bottom of the Texas batting order. Jansen has converted nine straight save chances dating back to May 20, posting a 2.65 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 18:5 K:BB in 17 innings over that stretch, and he continues to climb the career saves list -- with 15 more in 2023, he would tie John Franco for fifth all-time.

Chafin (2-2) was charged with a blown save and the loss Wednesday. The left-hander allowed two runs on three hits and a walk over two-thirds of an inning against the Mets.

Chafin got the first two outs and nearly had the third, but catcher Carson Kelly couldn't hang on to Francisco Alvarez's foul tip. Given a second life, Alvarez drilled a game-tying home run to right-center field, and Chafin blew his third save in 11 chances. Two batters later, the Diamondbacks were down a run. Chafin had been the primary closer to the start the season, but he hadn't been used in a close-out situation since May 29, as Scott McGough emerged in that role. This was the third time in the last week the bullpen failed the Diamondbacks late in a game.

Hader earned a save against the Angels on Wednesday, walking one batter and striking out one batter over a scoreless inning.

Hader got the call in the ninth inning and saw the tying run come to the plate following a one-out walk. However, he retired the final two hitters he faced to nail down his second save in as many days. Hader has recorded 11 consecutive scoreless outings, during which he's allowed just five hits over 10 frames. He's been a little wild with nine walks during that span but has also registered 16 punchouts and collected seven saves.

Williams (4-2) was charged with the loss and a blown save against the Cubs on Wednesday, allowing three runs (two earned) on three hits and no walks while striking out one batter over one inning.

Williams was called upon in the ninth frame to protect a two-run Milwaukee lead, but he was unable to come through for just the second time this season. The right-hander gave up a two-out, two run double that tied the game, then saw the eventual winning run cross the plate on an error by third baseman Brian Anderson. The outing snapped a nine-contest, nine-inning scoreless streak for Williams, during which he had racked up eight saves. Despite Wednesday's outcome, Williams ranks among the league's top closers with a 1.99 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 41:17 K:BB and 18 saves over 31.2 innings.

Hudson allowed a hit and two walks while striking out two over a scoreless inning to earn the save in Wednesday's 6-4 win over the Pirates.

Evan Phillips had pitched three straight days, so the save chance went to Hudson, who nearly made a mess of it. He loaded the bases with no outs, only to retire Henry Davis, Carlos Santana and Jack Suwinski in order to end the threat. Hudson has covered three innings and posted a 5:3 K:BB without allowing a run since returning from a torn ACL. The right-hander figures to be part of the Dodgers' high-leverage mix in the second half of the season.

Bautista picked up the save in Wednesday's 6-3 win over the Yankees. He allowed a walk while striking out two over 1.1 scoreless innings.

Bautista retired Giancarlo Stanton in the eighth inning before working around a one-out walk in the ninth, striking out a pair to earn his 23rd save. The 28-year-old Bautista has allowed just one run in his last 15 appearances, lowering his ERA to a sparkling 1.13 with a 0.95 WHIP and 81:18 K:BB on the season.

Robertson struck out one in a perfect inning to earn the save in Wednesday's 2-1 win over the Diamondbacks.

Robertson picked up his second save in as many days with a clean inning. He's kept runs off the board in 10 of his last 11 appearances while going 3-for-4 in save chances in that span. The 38-year-old is at a 1.88 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 45:11 K:BB, 13 saves and six holds through 38.1 innings overall.

Pressly didn't allow a baserunner and struck out two across a scoreless ninth inning to earn the save Wednesday against the Rockies.

Pressly was tasked with protecting a two-run lead and needed only nine pitches to do so. He has now turned in nine consecutive scoreless appearances, racking up 11 strikeouts with three walks across 10 innings in that span. Pressly has 19 saves on the campaign, three of which have come in July.

Doval struck out one in a perfect inning to earn the save in Wednesday's 2-0 win over the Mariners.

Doval gave up four runs over one inning in a non-save situation his last time out, so it was positive to see him back in form Wednesday. He's 25-for-27 in save chances this season, and his steady pitching earned him a spot on the National League's All-Star roster. He's pitched to a 2.70 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 55:17 K:BB over 40 innings, though six of the 12 runs he's allowed this year have come over his last 10 appearances.

Rucker (2-1) tossed two scoreless innings of relief to earn the win Wednesday against the Brewers. He didn't allow a hit and walked three.

Rucker wasn't his sharpest, as he needed 35 pitches to cover two frames and issued the three free passes, though he still managed his first win since April 11 when the Cubs scored three times in the top of the ninth to earn a 4-3 victory. The righty was sent to Triple-A Iowa at the end of May due to some struggles, but he's been good since returning in early June, allowing just one run across 11.1 innings.