MLB Player News

Helsley picked up the save in Wednesday's 7-4 win over the Rockies, striking out two over a perfect ninth inning.

After blowing his first save opportunity of the season, Helsley has been lights out. He hasn't allowed a run in four straight appearances (4.2 innings) and has at least two strikeouts in each of those games.

Rockies manager Bud Black said Wednesday that Rolison (shoulder) recently completed a bullpen session without incident, Patrick Lyons of TheDNVR.com reports.

Rolison is currently on the 60-day injured list while recovering from the left shoulder surgery he underwent last June. The southpaw will likely begin to face hitters soon, but he's still probably at least a few weeks away from heading out on a minor-league rehab assignment.

Arizona optioned Vargas to Triple-A Reno on Wednesday.

Vargas has loads of upside as a late-inning relief arm, but he's struggled this season with a 5.79 ERA and 7:4 K:BB over 4.2 innings. He'll try to get on track at Reno before getting another look with the big club.

The Diamondbacks reinstated McGough (personal) from the paternity list Wednesday.

McGough missed Tuesday's loss to the Brewers while welcoming a new member of his family, but the 33-year-old will be available for Wednesday's series finale. Arizona optioned Carlos Vargas to Triple-A Reno in a corresponding move.

Alexander (1-0) struck out one and didn't allow a baserunner in two-thirds of an inning to earn the win Tuesday versus the Dodgers.

Starter Alex Wood came one out short of qualifying for the win. Jakob Junis allowed a pair of hits in the sixth inning, and the bases were loaded on catcher's interference, but Alexander got out of the jam unscathed. Over 2.2 innings this season, Alexander has allowed two hits and struck out three without issuing a walk or permitting a run. He remains more of a low-leverage reliever, but the early returns are solid.

Phillips was charged with three runs on three hits over an inning of relief in Tuesday's 5-0 loss to the Giants. He recorded all three of his outs via strikeout.

Over the weekend, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports that Phillips will likely see more save chances than the team's other relievers. However, because Phillips hadn't pitched since April 6, the Dodgers chose to get him some work in the eighth inning of Tuesday's game while Los Angeles was facing a 2-0 deficit. Though he struck out three batters swinging in the appearance, Phillips gave up three extra-base hits in between the punchouts, including back-to-back home runs by David Villar and Brandon Crawford. Though Phillips damaged fantasy managers' ratios Tuesday, he should still have some leeway as the team's preferred option in closing situations after he had allowed just two baserunners through his first three innings of the season while converting both of his save chances.

Tonkin (1-1) picked up the win in Tuesday's victory over the Reds, allowing one hit and striking out three over three scoreless innings of relief.

Kyle Wright lasted only three innings in his 2023 debut, but Tonkin took over in the top of the fourth and shut down Cincy's offense, giving Atlanta a chance to come back from a 4-2 deficit. It's the right-hander's first big-league win since 2016, and he's looked great in his return to the majors in a long-relief role, posting a 2.16 ERA and 7:1 K:BB through 8.1 innings for four appearances.

Diaz (knee) said Wednesday that he's progressing well after surgery and believes he can return from the 60-day injured list in October, Tim Britton of The Athletic reports. "If everything goes well, I think I can be back quicker than eight months... I might throw this year," Diaz said.

Diaz tore the patellar tendon in his right knee back on March 15 while celebrating Team Puerto Rico's victory over Team Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic and later underwent surgery. The hard-throwing closer is presumed to be out for the regular season, and even a chance to help in the postseason should the Mets qualify seems unlikely at this juncture. Still, it's a positive sign that Diaz is making progress from the operation on his knee, and assuming he steers clear of any setbacks in the months to come, he looks like he'll at least be ready to go for the start of spring training next year.

Anderson picked up his first save of the season in Tuesday's 6-5 win over the Reds by retiring the side during a perfect ninth inning. He struck out one.

Anderson came on in the ninth inning with a one-run lead and retired Tyler Stephenson, Wil Myers and Jason Vosler to earn his first save. Although the 32-year-old right-hander delivered an impressive performance, Atlanta is expected to rely on A.J. Minter to handle the bulk of the save opportunities while Raisel Iglesias recuperates from a shoulder injury.

Hader gave up one run on one hit and two walks while striking out two in the ninth inning Tuesday, but he still recorded his fourth save of the season in a 4-2 win over the Mets.

Only 16 of his 31 pitches found the strike zone as Hader made things interesting in the bottom of the ninth, and his line would have been worse had a hit-by-pitch on Mark Canha not been ruled a swing that resulted in the closer's first punchout of the night. Hader's a perfect 4-for-4 on save chances to begin the season with a 1.80 ERA and dominant 10:3 K:BB through five innings.