MLB Player News

Lugo struck out four batters in two perfect innings Monday, earning the save over Arizona.

Lugo came in after seven dominant innings from Jacob deGrom and made quick work of the Diamondbacks for his first save of September. The 29-year-old lowered his ERA to 2.79 and hasn't allowed a run over his last 13 innings. With Edwin Diaz's struggles, Lugo should be in line for most of the save chances down the stretch.

Kelly (10-14) allowed three runs on seven hits and two walks over six frames Monday, striking out five batters and taking the loss against the Mets.

Kelly allowed a pair of solo homers to Mets slugger Pete Alonso with an Amed Rosario RBI single sandwiched in between. It was his second straight quality start after he failed to make it out of the sixth inning in his previous four outings. The 6-foot-2 rookie will carry a 4.68 ERA into Saturday's home outing against the Reds.

DeGrom (9-8) allowed a run on three hits and a walk over seven innings Monday, striking out 11 batters and earning the win over Arizona.

Aside from a solo shot by Wilmer Flores, deGrom had the Diamondbacks completely dominated Monday. He lowered his ERA to 2.70 and bounced back after allowing four runs in each of his last two starts. The 31-year-old also owns a stellar 231:43 K:BB as he chases down a second straight NL Cy Young award. DeGrom will face the Dodgers at home Saturday.

Ray (finger) threw a successful bullpen session Monday, Jody Jackson of FOX Sports Arizona reports.

Ray threw 28 pitches and incorporated his entire arsenal, noting afterwards that everything went well while adding that the blister on his left middle finger is more like a callus now. Assuming he checks out OK in the coming days, look for the southpaw to take the mound on normal rest Wednesday against the Mets.

Webb is slated to make his next scheduled start Wednesday against the Pirates.

After word surfaced over the weekend that Johnny Cueto (elbow) would return from the 60-day injured list to start Tuesday, Webb looked at risk of having his next start skipped, if not bumped from the rotation entirely. Instead, the Giants will merely push the rookie back a day in the pitching schedule after he was roughed up for eight runs (seven earned) in 2.2 innings in start in St. Louis last week. Webb delivered three mostly promising starts before the blowup, so he'll get a chance to redeem himself in a home matchup versus a 62-81 Pirates squad.

Ray played catch Sunday and reported no issues with the blister on his left middle finger, Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports.

Ray joined teammates on the flight to New York ahead of the team's series against the Mets and plans to throw his usual between-starts bullpen session Monday. Unless the Diamondbacks indicate that Ray experienced a setback during the side session, expect him to take the hill on normal rest Wednesday and face no restrictions with his pitch count.

Walker (elbow, shoulder) will meet the team in New York and visit with a physician, Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports.

The Diamondbacks kick off a four-game set against the Mets on Monday, but Walker is there only for a meeting with Dr. David Altchek, who performed his Tommy John elbow surgery in 2018. Manager Torey Lovullo was not sure if Walker is there for his elbow or the shoulder injury, which Walker sustained in the final stages of his recovery from elbow surgery. He had been scheduled to throw off a mound Friday, but that was scaled back to a flat ground session due to fatigue in the shoulder.

Maeda will be used in high-leverage relief situations in the postseason, J.P. Hoornstra of the Orange County Register reports.

Since being moved to the bullpen in early September, Maeda has been used as a long reliever, making two appearances of four innings apiece. However, manager Dave Roberts indicated Sunday that this is not the role Maeda will take in the playoffs; rather, the 31-year-old will be used in the same important high-leverage situations in which he has thrived the past two postseasons. In 17 playoff relief appearances between 2017 and 2018, Maeda pitched 17.1 innings and compiled a 2.08 ERA and 1.10 WHIP.

Martinez pitched a perfect ninth inning with one strikeout to record a save during a 2-0 victory against the Pirates on Sunday.

The 27-year-old's ERA still sits north of 3.00, but he's been rather stellar lately, converting eight straight save opportunities and posting a 1.50 ERA in his last 12 appearances. He's given up just one hit over his last 5.1 frames. Martinez is 4-2 with 19 saves, a 3.07 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 45 strikeouts in 41 innings this season.

Flaherty (10-7) struck out 10 and tossed eight shutout innings while allowing five hits and a walk to earn a victory against the Pirates on Sunday.

After throwing 112 pitches, he didn't quite have enough in the tank to throw the complete game, but Flaherty tossed eight sensational frames in the victory. He's been one of the hottest starting pitchers in the league lately, as he has thrown 18 straight scoreless innings and is 6-1 with a 0.50 ERA in his last eight outings. Overall, Flaherty, who will look to extend that hot streak at home against the Brewers on Saturday, owns a 2.99 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 196 strikeouts in 168.1 innings this season.