MLB Player News
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Jose Ferrer RP | SEA
Nationals' Jose Ferrer: Notches first save
Ferrer gave up two hits and struck out one over 1.2 scoreless innings to record his first save of the season in Saturday's 4-2 win over the Giants.
The southpaw notched the Nationals' first save since Kyle Finnegan was dealt at the trade deadline, firing 13 of 19 pitches for strikes. Ferrer didn't have it easy, either. Cole Henry worked the eighth inning but loaded the bases with one out, forcing Ferrer into the game early, and he escaped the jam by allowing only a sacrifice fly. Washington may not generate many save chances over the final weeks of the season, but Ferrer is the favorite to handle them, and over his last 12 appearances he's posted a 2.38 ERRA, 1.15 WHIP and 10:2 K:BB in 11.1 innings.
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Brad Lord P | WAS
Nationals' Brad Lord: Sharp in third win
Lord (3-6) picked up the win Saturday, allowing one run on four hits and two walks over six innings in a 4-2 victory over the Giants. He struck out five.
It was the rookie right-hander's second career quality start, with the other coming back on May 6. Lord has been effective since shifting back into the rotation coming out of the All-Star break, and over his last four outings he's posted a 2.70 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 14:5 K:BB over 20 innings while tossing at least 86 pitches in each of the last two. Now that he's fully stretched out, he could be a useful fantasy arm for the remainder of the season, but he's scheduled for a tough matchup in his next trip to the mound, at home next week against the Phillies.
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Jhoan Duran RP | PHI
Phillies' Jhoan Duran: Notches save No. 19
Duran earned a save against the Rangers on Saturday, striking out one batter in a perfect inning of work.
Duran entered in the ninth frame with the task of protecting a one-run lead. Texas couldn't get anything going against him, as the right-hander retired the side in order on 16 pitches. Duran has converted a save in each of his first three appearances since joining the Phillies via trade July 30, and he's yet to give up a run or a hit across three frames spanning three innings. Including his time earlier this season with Minnesota, Duran has recorded 19 saves in 21 chances while posting a superb 1.89 ERA and 55:18 K:BB across 52.2 frames.
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Robert Suarez RP | ATL
Padres' Robert Suarez: Takes blown save Saturday
Suarez allowed one run on two hits and one walk while striking out two over one inning, taking a blown save in Saturday's 5-4 extra-inning win over the Red Sox.
Suarez's stretch of shaky pitching continued, and it resulted in his second blown save in his last six appearances. He's allowed at least one baserunner in each of those outings. Suarez has still converted 32 of 37 save chances while pitching to a 3.28 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 51:14 K:BB through 49.1 innings. He's functioned as the Padres' closer even since the team acquired Mason Miller at the trade deadline, but any prolonged stretch of ineffective pitching could see Suarez slip into a committee role or get taken out of the closing conversation altogether in a worst-case scenario.
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Raisel Iglesias RP | ATL
Braves' Raisel Iglesias: Nabs 16th save
Iglesias earned a save in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Marlins, striking out one batter in a perfect inning.
Iglesias was asked to protect a two-run lead in the ninth inning of the nightcap. He needed just 11 pitches to do so, with the vast majority of those coming on a nine-pitch battle with Otto Lopez that ended in a game-finishing strikeout. Iglesias has looked like his old self of late, converting five consecutive save opportunities across his past seven outings and racking up a 7:0 K:BB while tossing seven scoreless innings during that span.
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Hurston Waldrep SP | ATL
Braves' Hurston Waldrep: Shines in second victory
Waldrep (2-0) earned the win over Miami in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader, allowing one run on four hits and one walk while striking out six batters over six innings.
Waldrep was called up for the contest for what could just be a spot start. The rookie right-hander at least gave Atlanta something to think about in terms of leaving him in the rotation, as he not only earned the victory, he also notched his first career quality start while racking up 12 whiffs and six punchouts over six frames. Through two major-league outings, Waldrep has surrendered just two runs over 11.2 innings while posting a 10:3 K:BB. Atlanta's pitching staff has been hit hard by injuries this season, and among current starters, none were part of the Opening Day rotation. With some shifting, that could leave room for Waldrep to be given a chance to remain a big-league starter, though it's worth noting that Chris Sale (ribs) is beginning a minor-league rehab stint next week and could be activated off the IL not long thereafter.
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Braxton Ashcraft P | PIT
Pirates' Braxton Ashcraft: Strikes out five in no-decision
Ashcraft did not factor into the decision in Saturday's 2-1 loss to the Reds, allowing one run on three hits and one walk with five strikeouts over 3.1 innings.
Ashcraft opened with three scoreless frames before allowing a run and recording just one out in the fourth. The 25-year-old generated eight whiffs on 56 pitches in what was his longest outing of the season. He owns a 3.19 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 33:13 K:BB across 36.2 innings and tentatively lines up for a tough road matchup with the Cubs next weekend.
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Trevor Megill RP | MIL
Brewers' Trevor Megill: Notches 28th save
Megill earned the save in Saturday's 7-4 win over the Mets, allowing one walk and striking out two in a scoreless ninth inning.
Megill was called upon to protect a three-run lead in the ninth inning and struck out the last two batters he faced to secure his second save in as many days. The 31-year-old has now converted 10 straight save chances dating back to July 4, allowing just one earned run over 12 appearances during that stretch. For the year, he's tied for third in the majors with 28 saves to go along with a 2.20 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 49:15 K:BB across 41 innings.
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Matt Strahm RP | KC
Phillies' Matt Strahm: Settling back into setup role
Strahm picked up a hold in Saturday's 3-2 win over Texas, allowing one run on one hit and no walks in the eighth inning. He struck out one.
After spending a brief time in a committee at closer with Orion Kerkering amid Jordan Romano's struggles, Strahm has fallen back down the pecking order in Philadelphia's bullpen since Jhoan Duran was added to the mix. With Jose Alvarado also set to be reinstated from his 80-game suspension later in August, Strahm will likely soon have even more competition for high-leverage work. Strahm hasn't seen a save opportunity since July 13 in San Diego, though he does sport a 2.13 ERA, 0.87 WHIP and 17:6 K:BB over his last 13 outings (12.2 innings).
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Emilio Pagan RP | CIN
Reds' Emilio Pagan: Notches 25th save
Pagan earned the save in Saturday' 2-1 win over the Pirates, allowing one walk in a scoreless ninth inning. He did not record a strikeout.
Pagan was summoned to protect a one-run lead in the ninth and worked around a leadoff walk to close it out. The 34-year-old has converted eight straight save chances since June 22, holding opponents scoreless in 14 of 18 appearances during that span. For the season, he's 25-for-28 in save opportunities with a 2.92 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 57:17 K:BB across 49.1 innings.