MLB Player News

Jansen pitched a scoreless inning of relief with two strikeouts in Saturday's 3-1 loss to the Guardians.

Jansen was reinstated Friday after landing on the injured list in late May due to right pelvic inflammation, and he looked good in his first game action since returning. The veteran reliever had blown four saves and seen his ERA climb to 4.80 before getting shut down, but it's possible he wasn't quite right mechanically. Now that he's had time to rest and recover, Jansen should slot back in as Detroit's closer, and he can still be an effective pitcher at this stage of his long career when healthy, as he demonstrated last season with a 2.59 ERA and 0.95 WHIP across 59 innings with the Angels.

Lange (0-4) was tagged with the loss Saturday against the Astros after allowing a run on one hit and a walk across 1.2 innings. He struck out one.

The right-hander replaced Matt Strahm in the top of the eighth inning and retired Jake Meyers and Brice Matthews to keep the game tied. However, Lange couldn't do it again in the ninth and allowed the game-winning run on an RBI groundout from Christian Walker. Lange enjoyed a run of nine straight appearances without allowing a run between May 20 and June 9, but he's given up three over his last two outings (2.2 innings) since moving into a higher-leverage role. He owns a 4.13 ERA and 1.44 WHIP this season across 32.2 frames.

King (1-1) earned the win Saturday against the Royals after pitching a perfect eighth inning, striking out one.

King entered the game in the bottom of the eighth inning in a 7-7 tie, but he needed just 17 pitches (10 strikes) to retire Nick Loftin, Lane Thomas and Kameron Misner. King, who's back in a setup role now that Josh Hader has come off the IL, hasn't given up a run in each of his last seven appearances. He owns a 1.05 WHIP and 5:2 K:BB across 6.2 innings over that stretch.

Smith earned the save in Saturday's win over the Tigers after allowing a hit and a walk across 1.1 innings, striking out two.

Smith hasn't blown a save since April 14 and leads the majors in that category with 23. The star closer has a 2.48 ERA and 1.04 WHIP across 32.2 innings and 31 outings this season, and he's been one of the best relievers in the majors with a 12.3 K/9, 2.0 BB/9 and 0.1 HR/9 thus far.

Abreu recorded the save Saturday against the Royals after tossing a scoreless ninth inning, allowing one hit.

Josh Hader earned the save Friday, but since he recently returned from the injured list, it seems the Astros are not comfortable using him on back-to-back days. Abreu had no problem stepping in for the ninth to secure his fifth save of the season. The right-hander might have a 6.56 ERA across 27 appearances and 23.1 innings this season, but he's gone 5-for-5 in save chances and also has five holds. He should remain a reliable late-inning option for the Astros.

Varland (3-2) took the loss Saturday, giving up two runs on two hits in the ninth inning as the Blue Jays fell 3-1 to the Yankees. He struck out one.

Brought in for the top of the ninth inning in a 1-1 tie, Varland couldn't get the game to extras as Cody Bellinger led off the frame with a single before Paul Goldschmidt hooked a game-winning two-run homer to left field. It was the first long ball Varland has served up all year, and one stumble isn't going to cost him his spot as Toronto's closer. On the season, the right-hander sports a 0.96 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 49:10 K:BB through 37.2 innings, and he's a perfect 12-for-12 in converting save chances.

Bednar struck out the side in a perfect ninth inning Saturday to record his 14th save of the season in a 3-1 win over the Blue Jays.

The Yankees closer got Andres Gimenez and Nathan Lukes to flail away at splitters, while he fanned George Springer on a 97.5 mph fastball. Bednar held a 5.14 ERA on May 18, but since then he's reeled off seven straight scoreless appearances, allowing just two hits in 7.2 innings with an 11:3 K:BB over that span to lower his ERA to a more palatable 3.77.

Alvarado struck out two in a perfect inning to earn the save in Saturday's 7-5 win over the Rockies.

Alvarado has earned a save in each of his last two outings, putting himself firmly in the mix in the Athletics' closing committee. He's pitched 5.1 scoreless innings since returning to the big-league roster June 5. He's at a 5.40 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 20:7 K:BB through 15 innings while adding two saves and four holds. Alvarado has momentum in an unsettled bullpen, so he's worth a look for fantasy managers chasing saves.

Jax (1-5) allowed one unearned run on five hits and struck out five without walking a batter over five innings, taking the loss Saturday versus the Angels.

The Angels were able to run up the score against the Rays' bullpen, leaving Jax with an unfortunate loss despite a strong showing. He threw 44 of 63 pitches for strikes and completed five frames for the second start in a row. For the season, Jax has a 3.68 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 41:18 K:BB over 44 innings across 20 appearances (nine starts). The right-hander is still being built up carefully after opening the campaign in the bullpen, which makes it difficult for him to pitch long enough to qualify for wins. His next outing is projected to be at home versus the Nationals.

The White Sox signed Guerra to a minor-league contract Saturday.

Guerra spent the previous two seasons in Japan but signed with Atlanta over the winter. He failed to make the team out of spring training and was roughed up for a 5.68 ERA, 1.78 WHIP and 17:20 K:BB across 25.1 innings with Triple-A Gwinnett before he was cut by Atlanta earlier this week.