MLB Player News

Gallegos allowed a hit in a scoreless inning to earn a save in Sunday's 6-3 win over Atlanta.

Regular closer Ryan Helsley was brought in for a high-leverage situation in the seventh inning and allowed a three-run home run. He also pitched the eighth and picked up the win when the Cardinals rallied ahead. That left the save opportunity to Gallegos, who delivered with his fifth consecutive scoreless appearance. Both Gallegos and Helsley have picked up three saves this month, which suggests manager Oli Marmol has started to lean on a matchup-based approach to his bullpen usage again. Gallegos owns a 3.04 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 57:12 K:BB through 47.1 innings while adding 13 saves, eight holds and six blown saves this year.

Assad is listed as the Cubs' starting pitcher for Monday's game in Toronto, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Assad will get a chance to build on a strong MLB debut last week, when he struck out three over four scoreless frames in the first game of a doubleheader with the Cardinals. The rookie should be able to maintain a spot in the rotation until the Cubs get one of Keegan Thompson (back), Wade Miley (shoulder) and Adbert Alzolay (lat) back from the injured list.

Finnegan struck out one batter in a perfect ninth inning and earned a save over the Reds on Sunday.

Finnegan tossed seven of 10 pitches for strikes as he quickly finished off the 3-2 victory. He's now tossed 7.1 consecutive scoreless frames while converting four straight saves since his last blown chance Aug. 9. Finnegan is sporting a 3.12 ERA and a 53:18 K:BB while converting eight saves in 12 chances this season.

Soto allowed three runs on three hits and a walk while retiring just one batter before getting pulled in the ninth inning of Sunday's 9-8 win over the Rangers.

Soto came on in a non-save situation with the Tigers up 9-5 heading into the ninth. He got the first batter he faced, but then followed that up with a walk and a wild pitch before allowing a double, a home run and a single. That was enough for Detroit manager A.J. Hinch, who turned to Joe Jimenez to close out the game. The lefty Soto has been mostly solid this year with a 2.96 ERA coming into Sunday, but the righty Jimenez has pitched well too and could see more save opportunities moving forward depending on matchups.

Ort was recalled from Triple-A Worcester on Sunday, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

Ort was sent to the minors in mid-August but will rejoin the major-league bullpen as part of a move after Hirokazu Sawamura and Austin Davis were designated for assignment. Ort has posted a 9.00 ERA and 2.07 WHIP in 15 innings over 12 relief appearances in the big leagues this year.

Payamps (calf) retired the only batter he faced on a groundout to earn a hold in Sunday's 4-1 win over the Yankees.

Payamps has pitched twice since suffering a calf bruise in Thursday's game. He's made four scoreless appearances spanning 4.1 innings since he was claimed off waivers from Kansas City. In that stretch, he's given up four hits, struck out three and earned one win. Payamps has a 2.87 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 36:16 K:BB through 47 innings across 33 appearances between the A's and the Royals this year, mainly as a low-leverage option.

Puk struck out two in a perfect inning to earn the save in Sunday's 4-1 win over the Yankees.

Puk gave up two unearned runs in one inning versus the Yankees on Saturday, but he bounced back with a sharp effort Sunday. This was his fourth save of the season, all of which have come since July 22. He's had his ups and downs in August, but the southpaw has a clearer path to saves after Dany Jimenez (shoulder) was shut down for the season on Saturday. Zach Jackson will also be part of the closing committee, though save chances with the 48-81 Athletics could be tough to come by. Puk has a 2.53 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 60:16 K:BB while adding 17 holds, three blown saves and a 3-1 record through 53.1 innings this year.

Martinez (3-3) allowed a run on three hits and two walks while striking out six over 5.1 innings to earn the win over the Yankees on Sunday.

Martinez spent three weeks at Triple-A Las Vegas, but he was brought up Sunday to replace Zach Logue in Oakland's rotation. Against a tough opponent. Martinez turned in an impressive start and picked up his first win since July 5. The right-hander has logged a 5.28 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 25:9 K:BB through 29 innings across six starts this year. The 25-year-old likely earned himself another start with this outing, which is tentatively expected to be a road matchup in Baltimore.

Montero recorded the save Sunday against Baltimore, allowing a run on three hits while striking out two in the ninth inning of a 3-1 victory.

Montero gave up a double to Anthony Santander and an RBI single to Austin Hays to account for Baltimore's first run of the game. After another single and with the winning run at the plate, the 31-year-old punched out Rougned Odor on a 3-2 pitch to end the game. With Ryan Pressly (neck) out, Montero has received the last two save chances for Houston and has nine saves on the year. Pressly will be out until at least Sept. 6, and Montero is likely to get the bulk of the save opportunities in his absence.

Junis (4-4) took the loss Sunday in Minnesota, allowing six runs on nine hits while striking out two in 4.1 innings.

Junis failed to make it through five innings for the fifth time in seven starts since the All-Star break. The 29-year-old held the Twins scoreless through the first two frames but allowed a run-scoring double in the third, a two-run homer in the fourth and three more runs in the fifth. Five of the nine hits he allowed went for extra bases. Since the break, he's compiled a 5.68 ERA and 1.39 WHIP in 31.2 innings. His next start will likely be next weekend against Philadelphia.