MLB Player News

Happ went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Saturday's 3-2 win over the Blue Jays

Happ launched a 413-foot leadoff home run to give the Cubs the early lead. After going just 1-for-18 to open August, the 30-year-old has gone deep five times while registering a hit in eight consecutive contests. On the season, he is hitting .233 with 22 homers, 69 RBI, 70 runs scored and nine steals across 490 plate appearances.

Lopez earned the save in Saturday's 3-2 win over the Blue Jays, allowing a solo home run and striking out three in the ninth inning.

Primary closer Hector Neris threw 33 pitches in a blown save Friday, so Lopez was summoned to protect a 3-1 lead in the ninth inning Saturday. He allowed a leadoff home run to Addison Barger but responded by striking out the next three batters he faced. On the season, the 31-year-old owns a 2.44 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 42:18 K:B across 48 innings.

Bednar earned the save in Saturday's 7-2 win over the Mariners, striking out two in a perfect inning.

Bednar was called upon with the bases loaded in the ninth frame and retired all three batters he faced on just nine pitches. It was the first time in six August outings the closer didn't yield at least one run, and it was also his first perfect outing since July 12. On the season, the 29-year-old has converted 22 of 27 save chances with a 5.70 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 46:15 K:BB across 42.2 innings.

Birdsong (3-3) allowed a run on three hits and three walks while striking out five over 4.2 innings to take the loss versus the Athletics on Saturday.

Compared to his previous two outings, this was a fairly good performance. Birdsong avoided giving up a home run, but the Giants didn't give him any run support, leaving the rookie with a third straight loss. He's now at a 5.01 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 49:22 K:BB through 41.1 innings over nine starts this season. Birdsong looks to be the Giants' top option for a fifth starter, and he's tentatively projected to make his next start at Seattle.

Steele did not factor into the decision in Saturday's 3-2 win over the Blue Jays, walking one and striking out three across two scoreless innings.

Steele was pulled with a 1-0 lead after the game was delayed twice due to rain. He entered Saturday having logged two consecutive quality starts and looked strong in his only two innings of work, throwing 23 of 36 pitches for strikes and generating five whiffs. On the season, the southpaw owns a 3.10 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 115:32 K:BB across 116 innings and lines up for a favorable matchup with the Marlins next week.

Falter (6-7) earned the win against the Mariners on Saturday, allowing two runs on eight hits and no walks with eight strikeouts across 5.2 innings.

Falter was fantastic Saturday, generating 16 swinging strikes and eclipsing 90 pitches for the second consecutive outing. The southpaw has gone 2-0 while yielding seven earned runs over 17 innings since returning from the injured list July 30. On the year, he owns a 4.02 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 75:31 K:BB across 107.1 innings and lines up to face the Reds at home next week.

Contreras went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Saturday's 2-1 win over the Guardians.

Contreras kept his power up with his fourth homer over the last six games and his sixth long ball through 15 contests in August. The catcher is batting .304 (17-for-56) this month, a slight bit better than his impressive .284 mark for the year. He's up to 17 homers, 71 RBI, 80 runs scored, 32 doubles, five stolen bases and an .825 OPS through 119 games this season.

Williams pitched a perfect inning to earn the save in Saturday's 2-1 win over the Guardians.

Williams failed to log a strikeout for the first time in his seven appearances this season. It was still a tidy save for the right-hander, who got the heart of Cleveland's order out on three straight groundouts. Williams has allowed one run -- on a solo home run versus Atlanta on Aug. 7 -- while earning four saves and posting an 11:1 K:BB over seven innings. All of his saves have been over his last four appearances, including three over the last four days, so it's safe to say Williams is back to being locked in as Milwaukee's closer.

Peralta (8-7) allowed a run on four hits and two walks while striking out three over six innings to earn the win over the Guardians on Saturday.

Peralta gave up a solo home run to Josh Naylor in the fourth inning, but that was the extent of the damage. The only downside to Peralta's performance was that he matched his season low for strikeouts. He's also given up eight homers over his last five starts. The right-hander is at a 4.00 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 162:51 K:BB through 137.1 innings over 25 starts this season. He's projected for a road start in Oakland in his next appearance.

X-rays on Freeman's right middle finger came back negative Saturday, and he's considered day-to-day, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Freeman's finger swelled up after being jammed in the sixth inning, resulting in his removal. The negative X-rays are confirmation Freeman's not dealing with anything serious, and he could even be in the lineup Sunday if the swelling subsides. However, he won't have much time to recover with first pitch scheduled for shortly after 2:00 pm ET on Sunday.