MLB Player News

Ferrer will be called up by the Nationals on Friday, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

Ferrer has struggled with his command this summer at Triple-A Rochester, but the 23-year-old relief prospect owns a 3.04 ERA with 235 strikeouts in 192.2 career minor-league innings. He'll probably slide into a middle-relief role initially but could see higher-leverage opportunities after the Nats shed parts at the Aug. 1 trade deadline.

Gallegos (1-4) allowed five runs on four hits and a walk without recording a strikeout in two-thirds of an inning to take the loss and a blown save Wednesday versus the Astros.

Gallegos yielded home runs to Jose Altuve and Jose Abreu in the disastrous eighth inning. The Cardinals have taken 16 blown saves as a team this year, and Gallegos is responsible for four of them. Three of those squandered leads have come in June, where he's been scored upon multiple times in three of his nine appearances for a total of 11 runs allowed over nine innings. The setup man has a 4.83 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 29:7 K:BB through 31.2 innings while adding eight saves and nine holds, but Gallegos won't come close to challenging Jordan Hicks for closing duties if he can't turn things around.

Arizona optioned Martinez to Triple-A Reno on Thursday.

Martinez did not make an appearance during his two-day stay on the Diamondbacks' major-league roster. The 21-year-old right-hander has posted a 4.18 ERA, 1.71 WHIP and 38:27 K:BB in 28 innings of relief this season at the Triple-A level.

Hernandez (calf) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Saturday, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Hernandez appears on track to return from the 15-day injured list when first eligible next week. Selected away from the Dodgers in the Rule 5 Draft back in December, the 25-year-old left-hander had registered a sharp 2.63 ERA and 28:6 K:BB through 27.1 innings this season with Pittsburgh prior to suffering a minor right calf strain.

Holderman (wrist) is expected to be activated off the injured list Friday, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

If that is indeed the case, it will be just a minimum 15-day IL stint for Holderman to heal from a bout of right wrist inflammation. The 27-year-old has posted a 4.01 ERA and 28:7 K:BB in 24.2 innings this season out of the Pirates' bullpen.

Crowe (shoulder) advanced to throwing live batting practice Thursday, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Crowe is currently working out at the Pirates' spring training complex in Florida and could be cleared to head out on a minor-league rehab assignment within the next week. He's been on the shelf since late April due to right shoulder trouble.

Martinez allowed five runs on four hits and a walk without retiring a batter during Pittsburgh's defeat of San Diego on Wednesday.

Martinez entered in the seventh inning with the game still very much in reach for the Padres, who were down 2-1 at the time. However, things quickly got out of hand for the veteran hurler, as he allowed all six hitters he faced to reach base on four singles, a walk and a hit-by-pitch. Martinez had been one of San Diego's most reliable relievers over the first two months of the campaign, but he's taken a step back in June with a 9.26 ERA and 1.89 WHIP over 11.2 innings across 11 appearances.

Puk recorded the final two outs of Wednesday's 6-2 win over the Red Sox to collect his 12th save of the season.

Dylan Floro made things interesting in the ninth, giving up three straight singles with one out to put the potential tying run in the on-deck circle, but Puk needed only three pitches to squash the Boston rally by getting pinch-hitter Masataka Yoshida (forearm) to ground into a double play. Puk has given up earned runs in only one of 10 appearances since returning from the IL in early June, posting a 2.89 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and 7:1 K:BB through 9.1 innings over that stretch while converting six of seven save chances. The 28-year-old southpaw remains entrenched as Miami's closer.

Williams struck out two in a perfect ninth inning Wednesday to record his 15th save of the season in a 5-2 win over the Mets.

The right-hander continued an impressive stretch that has seen him get scored upon only once in his last 17 appearances, posting a 2.08 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 22:11 K:BB through 17.1 innings since May 10. Williams has converted 15 of 16 save chances so far in his first full season as Milwaukee's closer, and as expected he's cementing himself as one of the league's elite ninth-inning options.

Harvey picked up the save Wednesday against the Mariners, striking out two over one scoreless inning.

Harvey entered the game with a three-run lead in the bottom of the ninth and immediately took care of business, striking out Teoscar Hernandez to open the frame before getting Cal Raleigh to go down swinging to close things out. The right-hander did basically all of his work with his four-seamer and has now converted each of his last three save opportunities. He also has not allowed a run over his last five appearances.