MLB Player News
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Pete Fairbanks RP | MIA
Rays' Pete Fairbanks: Records save No. 20
Fairbanks earned a save against the Athletics on Monday, allowing one hit and striking out one batter over one scoreless inning.
Fairbanks had a relatively easy path to a save, as he entered with a three-run lead in the ninth frame. The right-hander gave up a leadoff double but then settled in and retired the next three batters. Fairbanks has now reached 20 saves in each of his past three campaigns, and he has an excellent shot at exceeding his career-best mark of 25 regular-season saves, which he recorded in 2023.
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Bennett Sousa RP | HOU
Astros' Bennett Sousa: Earns fourth save
Sousa picked up the save in Monday's 7-6 win over the Red Sox. He allowed no hits or walks while striking out the lone batter he faced.
Sousa needed just four pitches to secure his fourth save of the season Monday, taking over for Enyel De Los Santos with one out left in the ninth inning and striking out Roman Anthony to end the game. The left-handed reliever isn't expected to handle closing duties on a regular basis but stepped in with Josh Hader temporarily unavailable due to left shoulder discomfort.
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Kenley Jansen RP | DET
Angels' Kenley Jansen: Notches save against former team
Jansen earned a save against the Dodgers on Monday, striking out two batters in a perfect ninth inning.
Jansen spent his first 12 big-league campaigns with the Dodgers, but that didn't give them any sort of advantage over him Monday. Rather, Jansen blew past the three hitters he faced with ease, needing just nine pitches (eight strikes) to retire the side in order and notch a pair of punchouts. The reigning AL Reliever of the Month has been downright dominant since mid-June; he hasn't given up any earned runs over his past 19 appearances spanning 19.1 innings while picking up eight saves and posting a 22:4 K:BB over that span. Jansen's 2.66 season ERA is on pace for his lowest mark since he registered a 2.22 ERA over 69 regular-season appearances in his final campaign with the Dodgers in 2021.
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Victor Mederos RP | LAA
Angels' Victor Mederos: Promotion on tap
Mederos will be recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake to start Tuesday's game against the Dodgers, Erica Weston of Bally Sports West reports.
Mederos will be stepping in for Tyler Anderson, who was scratched from his scheduled start due to a back injury. The right-hander last appeared in the big leagues July 7 against the Rangers in a relief role but has been operating as a starter down at Triple-A, surrendering two or fewer runs in each of his last five outings while posting a 1.73 ERA. He tossed four shutout innings in his most recent outing with Salt Lake on Friday, so Mederos will be pitching on three days' rest Tuesday and could be in line for something less than a typical starter's workload in his first career MLB start.
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Tyler Alexander RP | TEX
White Sox's Tyler Alexander: Works 4.1 scoreless frames
Alexander allowed two hits and one walk while striking out five across 4.1 scoreless innings against the White Sox on Monday. He did not factor into the decision.
Alexander followed Elvis Peguero into the game and was especially effective as a bulk reliever. He generated 15 called strikes on 65 total pitches, allowing him to work from ahead in the count in most at-bats. Alexander has flipped between a starting workload and a more traditional relief role but has maintained an impressive 2.59 ERA acorss 17 appearances and 41.2 innings since joining the White Sox on June 8.
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Will Vest RP | DET
Tigers' Will Vest: Picks up save Monday
Vest tossed a scoreless inning of relief with a strikeout to earn the save in Monday's 2-1 win over the White Sox.
Though Kyle Finnegan has seemingly taken over closing duties from Vest since joining the Tigers at the trade deadline, it was Vest working the ninth inning Monday with Finnegan taking the eighth. It was the first save for Vest since July 20 and his 17th this season in 22 chances. Both pitchers figure to see high-leverage work moving forward, and while Finnegan is the top reliever to target in Detroit's bullpen at the moment, Vest still has some fantasy value in his current role.
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Kyle Finnegan RP | DET
Tigers' Kyle Finnegan: Earns win Monday
Finnegan (2-4) tossed a scoreless inning of relief with a strikeout to earn the win in Monday's 2-1 victory over the White Sox.
Finnegan has earned three saves with the Tigers since coming over before the trade deadline, but he was used in the eighth inning Monday and managed to pick up his first win with his new team while Will Vest got the save. Finnegan still looks like Detroit's top closing option at the moment, though manager A.J. Hinch is known for mixing and matching with his bullpen, so Vest figures to remain in the mix for saves, giving both players fantasy value moving forward.
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Josh Hader RP | HOU
Astros' Josh Hader: Nursing shoulder issue
Astros manager Joe Espada said that Hader wasn't available to pitch in Monday's 7-6 victory over the Red Sox due to left shoulder discomfort, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Espada didn't specify whether Hader will require a stint on the injured list due to the shoulder issue, as the Astros will sent the closer in for further tests before deciding his next steps. While Hader was unavailable Monday, the Astros sent right-hander Enyel De Los Santos to the mound to begin the ninth inning, and he retired two of three hitters before being pulled in favor of lefty Bennett Sousa, who struck out the left-handed-hitting Roman Anthony to secure the save.
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Carlos Estevez RP | KC
Royals' Carlos Estevez: Collects 30th save
Estevez earned the save in Monday's 7-4 win against the Nationals, allowing one walk and no hits over a scoreless inning.
The 32-year-old reached the 30-save mark for the second time in his nine-year career, working around a two-out walk. Estevez has now converted five consecutive save opportunities since his last blown save July 18, pitching to a 3.00 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 7:4 K:BB in nine innings over that span. Across 51.1 total frames, the Royals closer sports a 2.81 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 42:19 K:BB while going 30-for-36 in save opportunities.
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Chris Martin RP | TEX
Rangers' Chris Martin: Tosses bullpen session
Martin (calf) threw a bullpen session Sunday, MLB.com reports.
This was the second bullpen session of the weekend for Martin, who is expected to face batters Tuesday. If all goes well against hitters, the right-hander is expected to begin a brief rehab assignment.