MLB Player News

Megill secured the save against the Twins on Saturday, throwing a clean ninth inning with no strikeouts.

Megill nearly retired the side on a minimal workload, needing a mere four pitches to record the game's final three outs. The hard-throwing right-hander has cemented himself as Milwaukee's closer, last blowing a save June 5 in Colorado. Through 44.1 innings, Megill sports a 2.64 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and 51:11 K:BB with 21 saves in 23 attempts.

Chaparro went 2-for-2 with a double, three RBI and two runs scored during Saturday's 8-2 win over the Reds.

Chaparro pinch hit for Jose Tena in the sixth inning, and the former answered the call by smacking a two-run double to left field before coming home to score in the same frame. Chaparro added an RBI single and a run in the eighth, and it was the third time this season that he's recorded at least three RBI in a game, all of which have come since the All-Star break.

Gasser took a no-decision against the Twins on Saturday, allowing three runs on seven hits and two walks in 4.2 innings. He struck out three.

Minnesota did its damage in the second inning, plating each of its three runs on the evening to leave Gasser with a poor showing overall. The southpaw is beginning to lose his control a bit of late, walking multiple batters in back-to-back outings in August after issuing a lone free pass across his four July appearances. Gasser has a 4.57 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 61:18 K:BB over 67 innings, and he lines up for a difficult matchup versus the Dodgers his next time out.

Harper went 1-for-5 with a solo home run during Saturday's 7-5 extra-innings loss to Toronto.

Harper and Trea Turner ended Max Scherzer's shutout bid in the sixth, with the Phillies smacking back-to-back solo homers off the veteran right-hander. It was Harper's fifth long ball since the All-Star break and brought him up to 25 home runs on the year. He has an .869 OPS with six steals and 71 RBI across 499 plate appearances this season.

Turner went 2-for-5 with a solo home run and an additional run scored during the Phillies' 7-5 extra-innings loss to the Blue Jays on Saturday.

Max Scherzer kept the Phillies off the board through five innings, but Turner changed the momentum in the sixth with a solo long ball off the veteran right-hander. It was the 17th home run of the season for Turner, seven of which have come since the All-Star break. The veteran shortstop has a .703 OPS with 17 steals (in 20 attempts), 47 RBI and 38 extra-base hits over 510 plate appearances this season.

Ortiz is getting an MRI on his neck after being removed early from Saturday's game against Minnesota, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinelreports.

Ortiz felt tightness in his neck during his first at-bat, leading to his removal later in the game. The 28-year-old will receive an MRI to assess the extent of the damage. Manager Pat Murphy said the injury is located in his lower neck, closer to his scapula.

Holmes (4-5) took the loss against the Royals on Saturday, allowing four runs on six hits and two walks in four innings. He struck out one.

Making both his Cubs team debut and return from nearly a two-month absence due to a fractured fibula, Holmes was mostly ineffective and failed to turn in a single clean inning of work. The 33-year-old right-hander managed to throw 70 pitches in what was arguably a season-worst outing, but his workload restrictions are likely to loosen in future starts. Holmes will aim to rebound in his next scheduled appearance against the Cardinals, still holding a strong 2.86 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 46:20 K:BB over 56.2 innings.

Washington optioned Palmquist to Triple-A Rochester on Saturday.

Palmquist will head back to Rochester for the first time since June 29. The southpaw opened Tuesday's game against Philadelphia and lasted just one-third of an inning after giving up one run on two hits. In 16.1 innings this season, the 25-year-old owns a 7.71 ERA, 1.78 WHIP and 15:8 K:BB.

Alvarez did not factor into the decision Saturday against the Reds, allowing one run on three hits and one walk while striking out two across 5.1 innings.

It wasn't a flashy performance by any means from Alvarez, but he managed to keep the Reds off the board through the first five innings. He was pulled in the sixth after yielding an infield single and was tagged for his lone run after Max Kranick gave up a two-run homer to Eugenio Suarez, which also removed Alvarez from the decision. Alvarez has yielded two earned runs or fewer in each of his last three outings and has a 3.76 ERA and 1.40 WHIP over 69.1 innings this season. His next start is lined up for next weekend on the road against the Mets.

Lord will serve as the Nationals' opening pitcher Sunday in a bullpen game against the Reds, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports.

Lord made his return from the 15-day injured list Wednesday and tossed a scoreless inning of relief later that day against the Phillies, but he'll now be called upon to make his second start of the season. Washington has a permanent opening in its rotation after recently designating Zack Littell for assignment, but it's unclear if Lord will be gradually built up for a starting role or if the Nationals will turn to a Triple-A starter such as Luis Perales or Jackson Kent to fill the void. At least for Sunday's contest, expect Lord to be operating with a restricted workload after having not worked longer than three innings in any of his 28 appearances on the season.