MLB Player News

Williams recorded his 15th save of the season in the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader against Atlanta, giving up a hit and striking out one in a scoreless ninth inning.

The Airbender needed 18 pitches (12 strikes) to protect a 3-2 lead, giving up a two-out single to Mauricio Dubon before fanning Austin Riley to end the matinee. Williams has had a bumpy first season with the Mets, and even though he's produced a 2.70 ERA and 20:6 K:BB over 16.2 innings since the beginning of June, his 1.56 WHIP and 3.2 BB/9 contributed to blowing two of his nine save chances during that span.

Manaea didn't factor into the decision in the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader against Atlanta, allowing two earned runs on five hits and two walks over six innings. He struck out four.

The veteran lefty tossed 59 of 89 pitches for strikes en route to his second straight quality start and fourth of the season, but the Mets didn't push the winning run across the plate until the seventh inning. Manaea continues to put together a remarkable turnaround on his season -- he sat with a 6.26 ERA on May 17 and had been demoted to the bullpen, but since the beginning of June he's delivered a 3.75 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 50:15 K:BB over 57.2 innings while reclaiming a spot in the rotation. Manaea is set to make his next trip to the mound on the road next week in Cleveland.

Iglesias recorded his 22nd save of the season in the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Mets, working a perfect ninth inning without striking out a batter.

Chris Sale blanked New York for six innings before handing things off to his bullpen, and Iglesias wrapped up the combined shutout on just eight pitches, all strikes. It was a strong rebound for the veteran closer after he blew his last save chance Sunday, but Iglesias will probably be happy to see the calendar flip to August -- over 11 appearances in July, he's been charged with at least one run five times, stumbling to a 5.06 ERA in 10.2 innings despite a respectable 1.13 WHIP and 13:2 K:BB.

Sale (12-6) picked up the win in the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Mets, allowing just two hits over six scoreless innings in a 1-0 victory. He struck out nine without walking a batter.

After Atlanta lost 3-2 in the matinee, its ace took the mound for the nightcap and all but ensured the team would come away with a split. Sale fired 63 of 94 pitches for strikes in his 13th quality start of the season, and he hasn't given up more than three runs in an outing since April 6. The veteran southpaw will take a 2.08 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 143:26 K:BB through 117 innings into his next start, which lines up to come at home early next week against the Marlins.

Baldwin went 4-for-8 with a double and a run scored across both games of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Mets.

He got the start at DH in the matinee before handling catching duties in the nightcap, rattling off two hits in each contest. Baldwin extended his hitting streak to eight games in the process, a stretch in which he's batting .387 (12-for-31) with a double, two homers, five runs and five RBI.

Olson went 2-for-8 with a home run and three RBI across both games of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Mets.

The star first baseman generated all of Atlanta's offense on the day, launching a two-run shot off Sean Manaea in a 3-2 win for New York during the matinee before driving in the only run of the nightcap on a sixth-inning single. Olson is up to 28 homers on the season, including three in 13 games since the All-Star break -- a stretch in which he's produced a .240/.356/.460 slash line with two doubles, eight RBI and nine runs.

Milner (abdomen) began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday, tossing a scoreless inning.

Milner has been sidelined a little more than a month following an emergency appendectomy. It's unclear whether the Cubs have additional rehab appearances planned for the lefty, but his reinstatement from the 15-day injured list should come soon.

Franco (forearm) has been shut down from throwing for a minimum of two weeks, MLB.com reports.

Franco was called up to the roster for Tuesday's doubleheader and pitched 3.2 innings before departing with discomfort in his right forearm. The report indicates the source of the problem is a flexor mass strain, and not his elbow as originally reported.

Santillan (oblique) will undergo additional imaging Friday, MLB.com reports.

The purpose of the imaging is to determine how Santillan is healing, and the Reds hope to speed up his rehab based on the results of testing. He's been throwing off flat ground at 40 percent intensity.

Williamson (shoulder/finger) will begin a rehab assignment Saturday at Double-A Chattanooga, MLB.com reports.

Williamson landed on the injured list in April due to a shoulder issue before suffering a finger injury late in June. The left-hander has been facing hitters and is ready for live games. He's expected to throw two innings and 45 pitches.