MLB Player News

Chafin saved Saturday's 3-1 win over the Angels, allowing two hits and a walk in one inning.

Chafin held on to record his third save of September, though the outing was from spotless. After surrendering a leadoff single to Shohei Ohtani, the lefty got two outs but subsequently permitted two more baserunners. Chafin was able to record the final out via a line drive that second baseman Josh Harrison snowconed. The outing lowered the 31-year-old's season ERA to 3.80, though his closer role could be in jeopardy if he continues to put runners on base.

The Tigers placed Soto on the 10-day injured list Sunday with a fractured left ring finger, and he won't return this season, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.

Soto is eligible to return for the final few days of the season, but he'll instead be shut down while dealing with the fracture in the tip of his left ring finger, per Chris McCosky of The Detroit News. The lefty allowed three runs without recording an out when he suffered the injury Friday, so his ERA will end up at 3.39 over 63.2 innings. He also went 18-for-19 in save chances with a 76:40 K:BB this season.

Barlow pitched a perfect inning against the White Sox on Saturday, striking out two to earn the save.

The right-hander threw 10 of 14 pitches for strikes and fanned two of the three batters he faced. Barlow has been dominant of late, holding opponents to no runs and just three hits over his past seven outings. Since Sept. 8 he has collected four saves in four chances, strengthening his claim for the team's closer role beyond the remainder of the current campaign.

Pressly allowed one hit and struck out one over a scoreless ninth inning in Saturday's 6-4 extra-inning loss to the Diamondbacks.

Pressly has appeared in the first two games of the series, each time pitching the ninth in a non-save situation, and has thrown a combined 34 pitches. If a save situation arises Sunday, manager Dusty Baker could hold Pressly back from a third consecutive day of usage. If that is the case, Kendall Graveman is the most likely reliever to be used as a closer.

Howard did not factor in the decision against the White Sox on Saturday, hurling three scoreless innings and allowing one hit and three walks while striking out three.

Despite a touch of wildness -- Howard walked a batter in each of his three frames -- this was one of the right-hander's better outings of the campaign, as it was one of three occasions during which he has tossed three innings without allowing a run. It was certainly a positive rebound after Howard allowed six runs over 1.1 frames in his previous start. The 25-year-old continues to be kept on a short leash, having completed four full frames only once this season, which severely limits his fantasy value. Howard is tentatively projected to next take the mound in Baltimore on Friday.

Gallegos fired a perfect ninth inning while striking one to earn the save in the win over the Padres on Saturday.

Gallegos entered the ninth inning with a one-run lead. He retired the side in order to pick up his ninth save of the season, a big performance where the Cardinals created even more room from the Padres in a multi-team race for the second wild-card spot. It was a solid outing after he blew a save in his previous appearance against the Mets. The 29-year-old has a 3.31 ERA and 0.86 WHIP with 86 strikeouts in 73.1 innings this season.

Garcia allowed a hit in a scoreless inning to earn a hold in Saturday's 2-0 win over Atlanta.

Garcia hit a rough patch recently, allowing four runs (two earned) in his last four innings, but he was able to get back on track Saturday in a close game. The southpaw has been an effective and versatile reliever with a 2.40 ERA, 0.93 WHIP and 65:18 K:BB across 63.2 innings this season. He's added a 6-3 record, one save and eight holds, although his ability to work multiple innings has mostly kept him out of the closer conversation.

Shaw allowed a run on two hits and struck out one in one inning during Saturday's 11-3 win over the Yankees.

The right-hander has given up six runs across 10.1 innings with a 7:4 K:BB in nine appearances in September. Entering the month, he had a 3.30 ERA, but it's ticked up to 3.58 after this recent run of inconsistency in which he's allowed runs in four of nine appearances. On the season, Shaw has posted a 1.41 WHIP and 69:36 K:BB with a 6-7 record, two saves, 18 holds and five blown saves through 72 appearances, but he's unlikely to serve as much more than a setup man to closer Emmanuel Clase.

Baumann (1-1) allowed five runs on six hits and a walk with two strikeouts in two innings, taking the loss versus Boston on Saturday.

The right-hander has found little joy in a long-relief role, as he's allowed 12 runs (11 earned) in his first 8.2 big-league innings across three appearances. Baumann had trouble in the fifth and sixth innings Saturday, with Boston shortstop Xander Bogaerts driving in four of the five runs against him with an RBI single and a three-run home run. Baumann has mostly stuck to a regular pitching routine after working as a starter with Triple-A Norfolk and Double-A Bowie this year. He's typically pitched on the same day as Zac Lowther, which tentatively lines up Baumann to pitch versus Texas next week if he's not called upon during the three-game series versus Philadelphia.

Pagan (4-2) allowed three earned runs on two hits and a walk across one inning, taking the loss to the Cardinals on Saturday.

Pagan entered the eighth inning with a 2-0 lead. The lead quickly evaporated when he surrendered a double, a walk and a home run. The Cardinals took over with a 3-2 lead and never looked back. It was the fifth long ball Pagan allowed in his last seven innings. He has a 4.50 ERA and 1.15 WHIP with 67 punchouts over 60 innings this season.