MLB Player News

Chargois secured his fifth hold in a win over the Angels on Sunday, firing a perfect sixth inning.

Chargois mowed through his frame on just six pitches, posting his sixth straight scoreless effort and coaxing his ERA under 2.00 in the process. The 30-year-old did not log a majors appearance last season and looks like a completely different pitcher than in his last big-league tenure with the Dodgers in 2019 (6.33 ERA across 14 appearances).

Montero secured his fourth hold in a win over the Angels on Sunday, allowing an earned run on two hits and a walk over one inning.

Montero needed 24 pitches to get through his one frame, creating some trouble for himself by allowing the first two hitters he faced to reach safely. The right-hander is still seeing save opportunities -- he's 3-for-3 in such scenarios across his last 10 appearances -- but he's also garnered three holds in that sample.

Diekman, who fired a scoreless seventh inning during which he recorded a strikeout in a loss to the Rockies on Sunday, has a 2.35 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, one save and one hold across the 7.2 innings covering his last seven appearances.

The left-hander has been much more hittable overall this season than during a career-best 2020, but he set a near-impossible bar with an 0.42 ERA and 0.94 WHIP a year ago. Diekman's current strong stretch of pitching has his 2021 figures in those categories at a solid 3.20 and 1.22, respectively, and he's also benefited fantasy managers by successfully converting six of eight save chances after only logging one such opportunity across 21 appearances last season.

Fairbanks fired a scoreless ninth inning in a win over the Rangers on Sunday, allowing two hits and recording two strikeouts.

Fairbanks has now generated scoreless efforts in his last eight appearances, a span of 7.1 innings during which he's also posted an 11:4 K:BB and secured three holds. The hard-throwing right-hander is once again missing plenty of bats with his high-90s fastball, as he sports an 11.6 K/9, 90.0 percent LOB rate and 14.6 percent swinging-strike rate across 14 frames.

Doval was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento on Monday, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Doval's latest stint in the big-league bullpen lasted just two days. He didn't get into a game, so his ERA remains at 7.59 on the season. He could return throughout the year when the Giants need an extra arm.

Kowar's contract was selected as expected ahead of his big-league debut Monday against the Angels.

Heading into this season, Kowar was a real prospect but not an elite one, as he'd produced a 3.50 ERA and a modest 22.8 percent strikeout rate in 35 minor-league starts. He burst out of the gate this season for Triple-A Omaha, however, striking out 33.9 percent of opposing batters en route to a 0.85 ERA through six starts, thanks in part to an improvement in his previously fringy curveball. If he pitches well enough in his debut start to earn a permanent place in the Royals' rotation, he'd line up for a two-start week this week, as he'd likely pitch during the weekend series in Oakland. Jakob Junis was optioned to clear a spot for him on the active roster.

Luetge struck out two batters but allowed two runs on one hit and one walk over 1.1 innings Sunday and was charged with the blown save against Boston.

The left-hander wasn't used in a traditional save situation, coming in with two outs and New York clinging to a two-run lead in the top of the sixth inning. Luetge struck out Rafael Devers to end that frame, but he served up a two-run homer to Marwin Gonzalez in the seventh to allow Boston to tie the game. Despite a rough start to the campaign, Luetge has been mostly solid in his first MLB action since 2015, posting a 3.03 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 30:4 K:BB across 29.2 innings.

Castano was recalled by the Marlins on Monday but will not start Monday's game against the Red Sox, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

The Marlins previously looked set to have a start available Tuesday against the Rockies, but they pushed Pablo Lopez back from Monday to Tuesday in order to give him an extra day to rest. Zach Thompson will start Monday, but it's possible Castano follows him out of the bullpen. Castano hasn't shown much through four big-league starts this year, striking out just 12.8 percent of opposing batters en route to a 5.19 ERA and 1.56 WHIP.

Szapucki struck out a season-high seven batters and allowed three runs (one earned) on two hits and one walk over five innings in his most recent start Friday for Triple-A Syracuse.

Szapucki was making his second start for Syracuse since being returned from the minors after he had served as the Mets' 27th man for the team's May 27 doubleheader with the Rockies. The Mets ultimately didn't need him to provide length out of the bullpen, but the 24-year-old lefty may not have to wait much longer before making his big-league debut. Due to doubleheaders June 19 (in Washington) and June 21 (versus Atlanta), the Mets will soon need to add sixth and seventh starters to the mix on a temporary basis, and Szapucki would appear to be a strong candidate to fill one of the openings.

Rodriguez (wrist) tossed two scoreless innings for Double-A Frisco on Saturday in his return from the 7-day injured list. He scattered three hits and a walk and struck out one over the 36-pitch start.

Rodriguez ended up missing the minimum amount of time due to what was apparently a minor right wrist injury. Through five outings with Frisco this season, the 23-year-old Rodriguez owns a 3.55 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 18:7 K:BB in 12.2 innings.