MLB Player News

Williams picked up the save after working a clean ninth inning, striking out one, during Thursday's 1-0 win over the Royals.

It's been a roller-coaster season for Williams working through a bad start and a fluctuating role. The injury to Luke Weaver (hamstring) has allowed the 30-year-old to return the closer role where he's most comfortable, and he's done a good job since, closing out all three games he's been asked to. He's now up to nine saves on the year along with 32 strikeouts, a 1.30 WHIP and a 5.68 ERA in 25.1 innings pitched.

Garcia signed a minor-league contract with the Reds on Thursday.

Garcia spent the first few months of the 2025 season with Triple-A Nashville in the Brewers organization but was released in early June. Despite struggling to a 5.45 and 1.73 WHIP across 33 innings with Triple-A Nashville, Garcia will get another opportunity.

Vest tossed a scoreless inning of relief with two strikeouts to earn the save in Thursday's 4-1 win over the Orioles.

Vest recorded his second save in the series against Baltimore and his 12th of the season as he keeps performing at a high level for the Tigers. The veteran righty lowered his ERA to 1.83, and he's struck out 36 batters in 34.1 innings. Vest has also easily set a new career high in saves, as he came into the year with only five saves at the MLB level across four seasons. Tommy Kahnle has been a reliable high-leverage arm out of the Detroit bullpen as well and has eight saves himself, but Vest has established himself as the top closing option due to his dominant work on the mound.

Palencia worked a scoreless eighth inning to earn a hold in Thursday's 3-2 win over the Pirates, with Ryan Pressly working the ninth to secure the save.

For the first time since April 13, Pressly managed to earn a save as Palencia picked up his sixth hold of the season. Palencia had taken on closing duties in Chicago due to Pressly's poor start to the season, though the latter has now rattled off 14 straight appearances without allowing an earned run and has seemingly regained manager Craig Counsell's trust. Palencia could still see some ninth inning work moving forward, though his fantasy stock has taken a hit with Pressly back on the map.

Pressly tossed a scoreless inning of relief to earn the save in Thursday's 3-2 win over the Pirates.

After getting pulled from the closer role earlier in the year due to poor play, Pressly managed to secure his first save since April 13, and he only needed six pitches to shut the door. The veteran has seemingly turned a corner, as he's now strung together 14 straight appearances without allowing an earned run, which has lowered his ERA from 7.62 to 3.81. It's also noteworthy that Daniel Palencia, who had stepped up as the Cubs' primary closer during Pressly's demotion, worked the eighth inning Thursday. It may be too early to say that Pressly is the unquestioned closer in Chicago, though he has certainly regained enough trust to get back into the ninth inning mix, and his fantasy stock is once again on the rise.

Vest tossed a scoreless inning of relief with two strikeouts to earn the save in Thursday's 4-1 win over the Orioles.

Vest recorded his second save in the series against Baltimore and his 12th of the season as he keeps performing at a high level for the Tigers. The veteran righty lowered his ERA to 1.83, and he's struck out 36 batters in 34.1 innings. Vest has also easily set a new career high in saves, as he came into the year with only five saves at the MLB level across four seasons. Tommy Kahnle has been a reliable high-leverage arm out of the Detroit bullpen as well and has eight saves himself, but Vest has established himself as the top closing option due to his dominant work on the mound, even if the pair continue to work in a committee.

Rodriguez (3-1) took a blown save and a loss Thursday against the Rockies, allowing three runs (one earned) on two hits and two walks over two-thirds of an inning. He struck out one.

With Camilo Doval having pitched back-to-back days and Ryan Walker working the eighth inning Thursday, it was Rodriguez who was tasked with protecting a two-run lead in the ninth. It did not go well for the 25-year-old right-hander -- after Rodriguez recorded the first out, the next four Rockies all reached safely before Orlando Arcia knocked in the winning run with a two-out hit. Prior to Thursday, Rodriguez hadn't allowed a run in his last 16.2 innings, giving up just six hits while striking out 27 in that span. He still sports a pristine 0.90 ERA with a 0.73 WHIP and 44:5 K:BB across 30 innings while holding down a high-leverage role in San Francisco.

The Mets plan to recall Max Kranick on Friday, Jorge Castillo of ESPN.com reports.

The Mets are shuffling their pitching staff due to the injury to Kodai Senga (hamstring). Paul Blackburn is the likeliest candidate to take over in the rotation, while Kranick should be used out of the bullpen. He has had success in the majors this season, maintaining a 3.51 ERA and 0.96 WHIP to go along with a 23:3 K:BB across 33.1 frames.

Birdsong allowed three runs on six hits and two walks over six innings in a no-decision Thursday against the Rockies. He struck out six.

It was a solid bounce-back effort from Birdsong, who issued five walks in just 4.1 innings during his last outing versus Atlanta. The 23-year-old right-hander held the Rockies to just a pair of fourth-inning runs while posting his first quality start this season. Overall, Birdsong is 3-1 with a 2.79 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 51:19 K:BB across 48.1 innings this year. He's currently lined up to face the Guardians at home in his next outing.

The Yankees recalled Effross from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Thursday.

It's the corresponding move for Brent Headrick, whose demotion to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre was already announced. Effross holds a 12.71 ERA at SWB in 2025 but has turned in consecutive scoreless appearances.