MLB Player News

Watson earned the save in Saturday's 3-0 win over the Rangers, striking out one in a perfect ninth inning.

With Ben Joyce blowing a save in his appearance Friday, the Angels turned to Watson to secure a three-run lead in the ninth inning Saturday. The 28-year-old retired the heart of the Rangers' order on just seven pitches, notching his first save in an Angels uniform. He's yet to allow an earned run with his new club, posting a strong 8:1 K:BB through 5.1 innings since making his team debut Aug. 9. On the year, Watson has tallied three holds and two saves to go along with a 4.13 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 51:20 K:BB across 61 innings with the Angels and Red Sox.

Scott struck out one in a clean ninth inning to earn the save Saturday against the Pirates.

Back in the closer role for the Dodgers with Edwin Diaz (neck) sidelined, Scott has successfully converted three straight save appearances since Tuesday. Manager Dave Roberts said Saturday that Diaz will handle a low-leverage role once he returns from the injured list, so it sounds like Scott has a real chance to retain the ninth-inning gig for the remainder of the regular season. The hard-throwing left-hander boasts a 2.24 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and 64:11 K:BB over 52.1 innings, collecting 19 saves (21 attempts) and 12 holds.

Mlodzinski is expected to pitch in bulk relief behind opener Lake Bachar during Sunday's game against the Dodgers, Jason Mackey of MLB.com reports.

Bachar will likely be limited to around 1-to-3 innings before giving way to Mlodzinski, who has been essentially serving as the Pirates' fifth starter since the Aug. 3 trade deadline but has yet to be trusted with a full workload. Over his last three outings, Mlodzinski hasn't covered more than three innings and has posted a 14.04 ERA, 3.00 WHIP and 5:5 K:BB across 8.1 total frames.

Bachar will serve as the Pirates' opening pitcher for Sunday's series finale against the Dodgers, Jason Mackey of MLB.com reports.

Bachar tossed one inning and 32 pitches in his most recent appearance in Friday's 5-4 extra-inning loss to Los Angeles, so he'll probably be capped at around two or three frames while he opens the series finale. Carmen Mlodzinski is expected to work in bulk relief behind Bachar.

Webb (6-3) took the loss and blew the save Saturday against the Mariners, allowing three runs on three hits and no walks in two-thirds of an inning.

Summoned to protect a 4-3 lead in the ninth inning, Webb served up a walk-off, two-run homer to Randy Arozarena. While Webb has fared admirably as the Cubs' closer and hadn't experienced much of a hitch in quite some time -- he was last scored upon June 20 versus Toronto prior to Saturday -- it wouldn't be surprising if Daniel Palencia, who just got back from the injured list, sees the club's next save opportunity. Through 57.2 innings, Webbs sports a 2.65 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 64:20 K:BB with eight holds plus nine saves (14 attempts)

Faucher worked a perfect ninth inning Saturday without striking out a batter to record his second save of the season in a 4-2 win over the Nationals.

Pete Fairbanks tossed 25 pitches Friday and likely wasn't available, so closing duties fell to Faucher, and he got the job done. Faucher has a pristine 0.00 ERA in August, producing a 0.78 WHIP and 11:1 K:BB over 7.2 innings, but he had zero wins, saves or holds on the month coming into Saturday.

Ashby gave up two hits in a scoreless ninth inning Saturday to record his second save of the season in a 4-1 win over Atlanta. He didn't strike out a batter.

With Trevor Megill having pitched Thursday and Friday, Ashby got the call in a save situation Saturday and wrapped things up on 21 pitches (15 strikes). Both of his saves have come while Abner Uribe (forearm) has been on the IL, and with the right-hander seemingly on track to return next week, Ashby's window to handle closing duties when Megill is unavailable could be about to close. Ashby's been providing fantasy value even without the saves, posting a 0.00 ERA through 11.1 innings in August with a 1.06 WHIP, 18:5 K:BB, one win and three holds.

Varland gave up a hit and struck out two in a scoreless ninth inning Saturday to record his 29th save of the season in a 4-3 win over the Yankees.

New York did all its scoring in the seventh and eighth innings, but Varland snuffed out the rally on 21 pitches (12 strikes). The right-hander has converted five straight save chances, and over 20.1 innings since the beginning of July he's produced a 1.77 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 18:5 K:BB.

Manager Dave Roberts said Saturday that Diaz (neck) will move into a lower-leverage role once he returns from the injured list, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

Diaz has given up 18 earned runs in just 13.2 innings with the Dodgers this season, so the team will plan to give him what Roberts termed as a "softer landing" once he's healthy with the goal of eventually having him reclaim the closer's role. The 32-year-old righty landed on the injured list Tuesday due to neck inflammation, but he threw a bullpen session Saturday and is expected to return around the time he's eligible to be activated Sept. 2. Tanner Scott should operate as the Dodgers' primary ninth-inning option until Diaz is healthy and the team is confident he's ready for higher-leverage work.

The Nationals claimed Waldron off waivers from the Blue Jays on Saturday.

Waldron has put up a 7.54 ERA and 1.62 WHIP over 37 innings in the majors this season between San Diego and Toronto, but the Nationals will pick him up anyway to add a multi-inning arm to their bullpen. Connelly Early (elbow) was transferred to the 60-day IL to create room for Waldron on the 40-man roster.