MLB Player News

Ginkel allowed three runs on two hits and two walks over one inning in Wednesday's 8-1 loss to Toronto. He also hit a batter.

Ginkel made his second appearance since being recalled and both have been in low-leverage, mop-up duty. He managed to escape with a win in his first outing Saturday when the Diamondbacks scored five runs in the bottom of ninth to overcome a four-run deficit that Ginkel helped create. On Wednesday, he entered with Arizona trailing by four runs and threw just 13 strikes among his 29 offerings. Ginkel has allowed five runs (four earned) on four hits and three walks while hitting a batter over two innings since his return to the majors.

Clase notched a save against the Giants on Wednesday, allowing one hit and striking out one batter over one scoreless inning.

Clase inherited a two-run ninth-inning lead and worked around a two-out single to retire the side on 14 pitches. Though the veteran closer has allowed at least one baserunner in each of his past five appearances and has a mediocre 4:4 BB:K across 4.2 frames during that span, he's converted three of four save opportunities in that stretch. It certainly hasn't been Clase's smoothest season -- he's currently holding a 3.69 ERA and 1.48 WHIP, each of which is on pace to be a career-worst mark -- but he's managed to go 16-for-19 in save chances to remain comfortably in control of Cleveland's closer role.

Fairbanks struck out one without allowing a baserunner across a scoreless ninth inning Wednesday against the Orioles.

Fairbanks was called upon to protect a four-run lead in a non-save situation and set down the Orioles on only 12 pitches. Wednesday's outing was Fairbanks' 30th of the season, 26 of which have been scoreless. Despite racking up only 26 strikeouts across 29.1 innings for the season, Fairbanks has been effective as the locked-in closer for the Rays, converting 13 of 15 save chances with a 2.15 ERA.

Armstrong will start Thursday against the Royals in what's expected to be a bullpen game for the Rangers, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

The Rangers remain without a No. 5 starter while Nathan Eovaldi (triceps) is on the injured list, so Armstrong will be called upon to fill the gap again after he previously covered the first three innings of last Friday's win over the White Sox. Jacob Latz will be available on four days' rest and could be called upon to fill multiple innings once Armstrong exits the contest. The 34-year-old Armstrong has been enjoying a nice bounce-back campaign, posting a 3.00 ERA and 1.00 WHIP through 30 innings.

Estevez threw a perfect ninth inning to earn the save in Wednesday's 6-3 win over the Rangers.

Estevez was summoned to protect a three-run lead in the ninth and needed just 12 pitches to retire the top of the Rangers' order. It was a solid rebound after taking the loss on Sunday, and the 32-year-old has now held opponents scoreless in 25 of his 31 appearances this season. He ranks second in the majors with 20 saves and owns a 1.99 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 28:14 K:BB across 31.2 innings.

Halvorsen picked up the save in Wednesday's 3-2 win over the Nationals, striking out two in a perfect ninth inning.

Halvorsen has converted the Rockies' last two save opportunities. He's turned in four consecutive scoreless innings, striking out five while allowing just one hit in that span. Overall, the right-hander has logged five saves while posting a 4.25 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 28:14 K:BB across 29.2 innings this season. The demotion of Zach Agnos last weekend should leave Halvorsen as Colorado's top option for saves, though Tyler Kinley could also be in the mix.

Lauer (3-1) earned the win Wednesday over the Diamondbacks, allowing a run on four hits and a walk over five innings. He struck out eight.

Lauer was excellent Wednesday, blanking Arizona for five innings before ultimately allowing a leadoff triple in the sixth to Corbin Carroll, who came around to score after the Jays turned to the bullpen. The 30-year-old Lauer lowered his ERA to 2.29 through 35.1 innings this season, which is accompanied by a 0.93 WHIP and 36:11 K:BB. The left-hander certainly made a case to remain in Toronto's rotation going forward, even with Max Scherzer (thumb) nearing a return from the IL.

Jansen earned the save in Wednesday's 3-2 win over the Yankees, striking out one in a scoreless ninth inning.

After Paul Goldschmidt reached on an error to start the ninth, Jansen managed to set down the next three Yankees to seal the Angels' one-run victory and deliver his second straight scoreless outing. The veteran Jansen is a perfect 15-for-15 in save chances this season despite posting a mediocre 4.56 ERA with a 1.29 WHIP over 25.2 innings.

Blackburn (0-1) was saddled with the loss Wednesday against Atlanta, giving up three runs (two earned) on four hits and two walks in 3.2 innings. He struck out two.

Blackburn wasn't fully stretched out in his second start of the season, as he was pulled after throwing 73 pitches, but he managed to settle in following Atlanta's three-run first frame. The Mets will likely need the veteran right-hander for at least one more start, with Kodai Senga (hamstring), Sean Manaea (oblique) and Frankie Montas (lat) all still sitting on the injured list. Blackburn's next turn in the Mets' rotation lines up for a rematch versus Atlanta next week, when he'll carry a 6.94 ERA, 1.69 WHIP and 8:4 K:BB through his first 13 innings of the year.

Weissert walked one in a scoreless ninth inning Wednesday to record his third save of the season in a 3-1 win over the Mariners.

All three of the right-hander's saves have come since June 10, but the first two opportunities arose while Aroldis Chapman was getting a rest due to a heavy workload. That wasn't the case Wednesday -- Chapman pitched the eighth inning and faced the top of the Seattle order, while Weissert was called on to retire the 4-5-6 hitters for the M's and got the job done thanks to a double-play grounder from Dominic Canzone. Weissert seems to have earned the trust of manager Alex Cora, and over his last 15.2 innings dating back to May 16, the 30-year-old reliever has a 1.72 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 13:4 K:BB with a win and eight holds in addition to his recent batch of saves.