MLB Player News
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Carlos Estevez RP | KC
Angels' Carlos Estevez: Collects 11th save
Estevez struck out one in a perfect inning to earn the save in Friday's 8-6 win over the Giants.
The Giants rallied late, but Estevez shut the door with a 17-pitch ninth inning. He's up to 11 saves this season, five of which have come over his last seven appearances. The closer has added a 3.86 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, 20:3 K:BB and three blown saves through 21 innings. The Angels don't often have leads to protect, but Estevez should continue to close as long as he's with the team -- though as a pending free agent, he will be a trade target over the next six weeks.
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Jose Urena SP | LAA
Rangers' Jose Urena: Works as long reliever Friday
Urena allowed two hits and a walk while striking out two over 3.1 scoreless innings of relief in Friday's 3-2 loss to the Mariners.
Starter Andrew Heaney struggled over 4.2 innings, but Urena's strong performance spared the Rangers' bullpen. Prior to Friday, Urena had worked as a starter, covering 31.2 innings with a 2.84 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 21:8 K:BB over his previous six appearances. Urena's at a 3.23 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 39:18 K:BB through 55.2 innings overall. The Rangers have a short-term dilemma on their hands, as Urena has been at least as good as Heaney, though both pitchers could be out of the rotation once Max Scherzer (back/arm) is able to return.
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Andres Munoz RP | SEA
Mariners' Andres Munoz: Deployed in eighth inning
Munoz walked one and struck out three in a scoreless and hitless eighth inning to earn a hold in Friday's 3-2 win over the Rangers.
Munoz has been dealing with a back issue for most of June so far, but he's still seen high-leverage work when available. The right-hander was deployed in the eighth inning Friday against the top of the Rangers' lineup, while Ryne Stanek got the call in the ninth and earned the save. Munoz has picked up three holds and a loss over his last four outings, but it seems this is less about his injury and more about a matchups-based approach to the late innings by manager Scott Servais. Munoz has a 1.55 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 41:10 K:BB with 12 saves and six holds through 29 innings this season.
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Ryne Stanek RP | STL
Mariners' Ryne Stanek: Secures sixth save
Stanek allowed a hit in a scoreless inning to earn the save in Friday's 3-2 win over the Rangers.
This was the second outing in a row in which Stanek got a save, as manager Scott Servais deployed Andres Munoz against the top of the Rangers' lineup in the eighth inning. Stanek has kept runs off the board in eight of his last nine outings, though the exception was a three-run meltdown versus the Royals on June 7. He's pitched to a 4.05 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 28:10 K:BB with six saves, 10 holds and two blown saves over 26.2 innings. Stanek's numbers aren't dominant, but he's done well enough to remain in the high-leverage mix. Munoz is still the primary closer, but Servais may be leaning toward a committee approach in the late innings during a busy stretch in which the Mariners play 22 games in 23 days.
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Will Smith RP | KC
Royals' Will Smith: Takes third loss
Smith (0-3) allowed an unearned run on two hits and struck out one in one-third of an inning to take the loss Friday versus the Dodgers.
Smith gave up a run for the first time since May 22, though it was deemed unearned since Mookie Betts advanced to second base on an error before Freddie Freeman brought him home with an RBI single. After a rough start to the year cost him his high-leverage role, Smith has allowed just three runs (two earned) over his last 14.2 innings, though he has a mediocre 10:3 K:BB in that span. The veteran southpaw is at a 5.40 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 17:8 K:BB with one save, five holds and one blown save through 21.2 innings overall.
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Alex Faedo SP | TB
Tigers' Alex Faedo: Another bullpen on tap
Faedo (hip) is scheduled to throw another bullpen session Tuesday, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.
Faedo said he felt "really good" Thursday after completing his first bullpen session since being placed on the injured list June 5. With another bullpen coming Sunday, Faedo seems likely to begin a rehab stint in the near future and could be back with the Tigers by the end of June.
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Bryan Mata RP | BOS
Red Sox's Bryan Mata: Resuming rehab assignment
Mata (hamstring) will resume his rehab assignment at Double-A Portland on Friday or Saturday, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.
Mata remains without a clear return timeline, but he appears to be trending in the right direction since being pulled off his rehab assignment in May due to shoulder/lat soreness. The 25-year-old righty has been on the IL all season, and because he is out of minor-league options, he would either need to join the big-league roster or be designated for assignment upon activation.
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Jordan Romano RP | LAA
Blue Jays' Jordan Romano: Playing catch Friday
Romano (elbow) threw from 90 feet Friday, Kaitlyn McGrath of The Athletic reports.
Romano resumed his throwing program Monday and has already been stretched out to 90 feet. The 31-year-old has been brought along slowly since being placed on the 15-day IL with elbow inflammation and it's unclear if he'll require a rehab assignment at this point. Yimi Garcia has earned three saves since Romano went down and should continue to operate as Toronto's closer in Romano's absence.
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Bowden Francis RP | TOR
Blue Jays' Bowden Francis: Likely to pitch Saturday
Francis is a candidate to start or serve in a bulk relief role Saturday against the Guardians, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
The Blue Jays are declining to name a starter at this point, but Francis is likely to be their primary pitcher, whether it's as a traditional starter or a bulk reliever. Francis went four scoreless innings in a start his last time out but holds a 7.36 ERA over seven appearances (three starts) this season.
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Jordan Leasure P | CHW
White Sox's Jordan Leasure: Optioned to Triple-A
The White Sox optioned Leasure to Triple-A Charlotte on Friday.
Leasure earned a high-leverage role with a 2.52 ERA through his first 26 outings this season, but he'll head to the minors after giving up six runs in his past four outings. The right-hander is a decent bet to rejoin Chicago later in the summer, especially if the club offloads any bullpen pieces ahead of the trade deadline.