MLB Player News

Wilson did not factor into the decision Sunday against the Brewers, allowing four hits while striking out four over 4.1 scoreless innings.

After being claimed by the Cubs on June 24, Wilson made his team debut by entering in the third inning after opener Ryan Rolison tossed two innings of one-run ball. The right-hander pounded the zone, throwing 46 of his 61 pitches for strikes while keeping Milwaukee off the scoreboard. It was Wilson's second major-league appearance of the season after previously tossing two scoreless innings in relief for the Phillies. He has spent most of the year at Triple-A, where he owns a 6.29 ERA and 58:21 K:BB across 54.1 innings. With Chicago's pitching staff dealing with multiple injuries, Wilson could continue to see opportunities as either a rotation piece or a multi-inning reliever.

Keller (forearm) has progressed to playing catch, MLB.com reports.

The next step in Keller's recovery will entail throwing a bullpen session. The right-hander is working his way back from right forearm tightness, and he should have a chance to rejoin Philadelphia's high-leverage mix at some point in early July.

Gordon (hip) struck out four batters while allowing one hit and no walks over four scoreless innings in a rehab start Wednesday with Triple-A Albuquerque.

Gordon breezed through the rehab start, his first game action since landing on the 15-day injured list June 5 due to a right hip impingement. He retired 12 of the 13 batters he faced, needing just 38 pitches (30 strikes) to cover four innings. Gordon will likely need to push his pitch count into the 60-to-75 range before potentially re-entering the Colorado rotation, so he'll presumably require one or two more minor-league rehab starts prior to being activated.

Lange earned the save Sunday against the White Sox, retiring the side in order in the ninth inning of a 5-4 win.

Lange was called upon to protect a one-run lead and needed just 10 pitches to retire Chicago in order, locking down his seventh save of the season. It was an encouraging bounce-back after he was tagged for five runs while recording just one out in his previous appearance. Despite the uneven results recently, Lange appears to have a firm grip on Kansas City's primary closer role. He now owns a 4.95 ERA, 1.49 WHIP and 37:21 K:BB across 36.1 innings.

Avila did not factor into the decision Sunday, allowing four runs on six hits and three walks while striking out four over four innings against the White Sox.

Avila ran into trouble immediately, walking the first batter he faced before serving up a two-run homer to Miguel Vargas. He was tagged again in the second inning, allowing three consecutive hits that led to two more runs. Command continues to be the biggest concern for the right-hander, as he has now issued at least three walks in five of his six starts since joining the rotation. During that stretch, Avila owns a 5.68 ERA and 23:18 K:BB. His next start is set to come Sunday at home against the Phillies.

Smith earned the save Sunday against the Mariners, allowing one unearned run on two hits while striking out one in the ninth inning.

After Cleveland erupted for five runs in the eighth inning, Smith was called on to protect a two-run lead. He allowed back-to-back singles before a throwing error by Victor Robles allowed a run to score. The right-hander stranded runners on second and third to preserve his 26th save of the season. Following a brief rough patch over his last few appearances, Smith has begun to steady himself and lower his ratios. He owns a 3.05 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and a 57:10 K:BB across 38.1 innings.

Jansen (1-4) allowed four runs (three earned) on two hits and a walk across 1.1 innings of relief to take the loss in Sunday's extra-inning contest against the Astros. He struck out one.

Jansen got through the top of the ninth inning of a 3-3 game without any problems, but things came unraveled in the 10th. The veteran started the frame by allowing a walk, a single and a three-run home run. The rough outing pushed Jansen's ERA from 4.26 up to 5.31. It's been a poor campaign overall with four blown saves and now four losses as well. He's become increasingly hard to trust in fantasy leagues.

Alexander will operate as the Rangers' opening pitcher Monday in Cleveland, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Alexander is set to become the first pitcher since 1969 to record saves in back-to-back games and then start the following contest. He'll likely handle no more than an inning or two before turning the game over to the bullpen. The Rangers haven't indicated whether a pitcher will work in bulk relief behind Alexander, but Winston Santos is the freshest arm in the bullpen and had worked at least four innings in each of his last six outings at Double-A Frisco before being recalled Wednesday.

Webb (3-2) worked around a hit and a walk to toss a scoreless inning of relief and earn the win in Sunday's 4-3, extra-inning victory over the Brewers. He struck out three.

Webb got into some trouble in the bottom of the ninth inning in a 1-1 game by putting two runners on base, but his ability to generate strikeouts helped bail him out. The righty reliever then earned the win when the Cubs scored three times in the top of the 10th. Webb now has a 3.47 ERA and 45 strikeouts across 36.1 innings this season, and he's presumably Chicago's top option for saves at the moment with Daniel Palencia (elbow) on the injured list.

Duran secured the save Sunday against the Mets, allowing no runs on no hits and one walk in a scoreless ninth inning.

The Mets brought the possible winning run to the plate in a one-run game, but Duran got Luis Torrens to fly out and seal the win for Philadelphia. The hard-throwing right-hander has now submitted seven scoreless outings in a row and 26 for the season among 30 appearances. Through 28.2 innings, Duran sports a 1.57 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 44:6 K:BB while converting all but one of his 22 save opportunities.