MLB Player News

Bednar (3-3) picked up the win Friday, firing two scoreless, no-hit relief innings in a 5-3 victory over the Nationals. He didn't walk or strike out a batter.

The veteran closer did plunk Daylen Lile with a pitch and watched him get to third after a steal and a throwing error by Austin Wells, but Bednar was otherwise flawless and got rewarded when the Yankees broke through with three runs in the top of the ninth inning. Bednar hasn't given up an earned run since May 18, delivering a 0.50 WHIP and 19:3 K:BB over his last 18 innings while converting all six of his save chances and collecting two wins.

The White Sox recalled Schweitzer from Triple-A Charlotte on Saturday.

Schweitzer will join the big-league bullpen as the replacement for Brandon Eisert, who was traded to Pittsburgh on Friday. Schweitzer, 25, has allowed four earned runs in eight frames with the White Sox but owns a 5.08 ERA and 1.43 WHIP across 44.1 innings at Charlotte. He'll likely slot in as a middle reliever.

Quantrill didn't factor into the decision in Friday's 7-3 win over Houston, allowing one earned run on five hits and a walk while striking out one batter across six innings.

The 31-year-old's lone run allowed came courtesy of Yordan Alvarez's homer in the sixth. Quantrill otherwise did a great job keeping the Astros' offense in check while allowing just two batters to reach base between the third and sixth innings. He left the game with a 3-1 lead but was forced to settle for a no-decision after the Rangers' bullpen allowed Houston to tie the game in the seventh, leaving the righty still in search of his first win since June 3. Quantrill now owns a 2.12 ERA and 0.94 WHIP across 17 innings in four starts since joining the rotation.

Hudson will serve as the White Sox's opening pitcher for Saturday's game against the Athletics, Brooke Fletcher of Chicago Sports Network reports.

The left-hander will be making his sixth start of the season but is expected to be capped at 1-to-2 innings before exiting the contest. Right-hander Erick Fedde is likely to work in bulk relief once Hudson leaves the game.

The Red Sox are expected to recall Rivera from Triple-A Worcester ahead of Saturday's game against the Mets, Hector Gomez of Z101Digital.com reports.

Boston has an opening in its rotation for Saturday, and Rivera is likely to cover multiple innings as an opener or bulk reliever. Rivera tossed 3.1 scoreless innings in relief against the Yankees in his MLB debut back on April 22, but he's otherwise pitched exclusively at Triple-A this season while working primarily out of the bullpen. He owns a 3.08 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 46:21 K:BB in 38 innings over 20 appearances with Worcester. Since Rivera tossed 29 pitches in his most recent outing Wednesday, he'll be available on three days' rest Saturday and may not be asked to cover more than 3-to-4 frames.

Varland allowed a run on three hits and struck out one over one inning to earn the save in Friday's 5-3 win over the Padres.

Varland was scored upon for just the second time in his last 11.1 innings, and he also has an 18:3 K:BB during that span. However, he was able to convert the save despite the rough performance. Varland is 19-for-19 in save chances with a 1.10 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 67:13 K:BB through 49 innings this season.

Smith earned the save Friday against the Marlins after tossing a perfect ninth inning.

Smith didn't record a strikeout en route to his MLB-leading 28th save of the season, but he needed just nine pitches (seven strikes) to get the job done in the bottom of the ninth. Smith has yet to allow a hit in five appearances so far in July while posting a 4:1 K:BB across five innings.

Kittredge earned the save in Friday's 5-3 win over the Royals, when he allowed one hit and struck out one batter in a scoreless ninth inning.

Kittredge was called out of the bullpen for the ninth inning to protect the Orioles' two-run lead. He yielded a one-out double to Michael Massey, but Kittredge recovered by getting the next two batters out, capped off by a four-pitch strikeout of Josh Rojas. Kittredge has been tapped for save chances in each of Baltimore's last two games, and he could be ahead of Tyler Wells to be the team's preferred closer in the absence of Ryan Helsley (elbow).

The Blue Jays reinstated Fisher (personal) from the bereavement list ahead of Friday's game against the Padres.

Fisher was away from the team while attending to a personal matter, but he'll be available out of the bullpen for Friday's series opener. The 25-year-old right-hander has a 3.33 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, eight holds, one save and a 46:21 K:BB across 46 innings this season.

The Angels optioned Saucedo to Triple-A Salt Lake following Thursday's game against the Rangers.

The move corresponds with the Angels reinstating Grayson Rodriguez (back) from the 15-day injured list, and the right-hander will start in Friday's game against the Twins. Saucedo has appeared in six major-league games out of the Angels' bullpen this season, though he was tagged with the blown save in his last outing against the Rangers on Tuesday, when he allowed one run on two hits while striking out two across one inning. Saucedo will head back down to Triple-A, where he has a 6.75 ERA, 1.79 WHIP and 32:24 K:BB across 30.2 innings this season.