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Tanner Scott RP | LAD
Marlins' Tanner Scott: Converts save Tuesday
Scott allowed a hit and allowed two inherited runners to score in two-thirds of an inning, securing the save in Tuesday's 5-3 win over the Athletics.
Cole Sulser began the ninth inning with a five-run lead, but he recorded only one out. Scott had some trouble cleaning up the mess but ultimately closed it out for his 19th save of the season. The 28-year-old southpaw is now 19-for-24 in save chances this season while logging a 4.26 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 70:35 K:BB through 50.2 innings. He's been charged with three runs in eight innings across eight appearances in August.
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Ryan Helsley RP | BAL
Cardinals' Ryan Helsley: Won't be back Wednesday
Manager Oliver Marmol said after Tuesday's doubleheader split with the Cubs that Helsley (personal) won't be reinstated from the restricted list Wednesday, John Denton of MLB.com reports.
Marmol said earlier Tuesday that Helsley was expected to be back with the Cardinals on Wednesday, but the closer will instead remain with his wife and newborn child for at least another day. The 28-year-old was placed on the paternity list Friday, which has a three-day maximum, and he was transferred to the restricted list Monday. It's unclear if Helsley is expected to return for Thursday's series finale in Chicago.
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Michael Rucker RP | SEA
Cubs' Michael Rucker: Earns another win in relief
Rucker (3-1) tossed two scoreless innings of relief to earn the win in Game 1 of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Cardinals. He didn't allow a hit or a walk, and struck out one.
Rucker now has three victories in his past seven appearances after having no wins across his first 39 games at the MLB level dating back to last season. That shows the volatility of relief pitching, though Rucker has also taken on a more prominent bullpen role for the Cubs with Scott Effross, Mychal Givens and David Robertson all getting traded before the deadline. Rucker should continue to appear in high-leverage spots, though his value will be capped unless he challenges Rowan Wick and Brandon Hughes for save opportunities.
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Alexis Diaz RP | TEX
Reds' Alexis Diaz: Blows save, takes loss
Diaz (4-2) blew the save and took the loss Tuesday in Philadelphia, allowing two runs (one earned) on two hits and a walk while striking out one in one-third of an inning.
Diaz walked the first batter and then gave up a run-scoring double to Bryson Stott to tie the game. After a strikeout, Nick Maton singled home Stott to end it. Tuesday marked the first time Diaz allowed a run in nine outings in August. Since returning from a biceps injury at the beginning of July, he's compiled a 1.00 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 29:7 K:BB in 18 innings.
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Brad Hand RP | ATL
Phillies' Brad Hand: Blows save, wins
Hand (3-1) picked up the victory Tuesday after blowing the save, allowing two unearned runs on two hits while striking out one in the ninth inning of a 7-6 win over Cincinnati.
After Hand retired the first batter of the ninth, Nick Senzel reached after Edmundo Sosa committed a throwing error. Hand then allowed a single and retired a batter before TJ Friedl tripled home both runners to give Cincinnati the lead. It was Hand's first save opportunity since July 8. He's given up just one earned run in his last 11.2 innings but has a concerning 6:7 K:BB in that span. David Robertson and Seranthony Dominguez (triceps) have received the most save chances since the trade deadline, but Hand and Andrew Bellatti have also been given an opportunity.
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Camilo Doval RP | SF
Giants' Camilo Doval: Survives for 18th save
Doval pitched a scoreless ninth inning, allowing two hits and a walk while striking out a batter on his way to a save in Tuesday's 3-1 win over the Tigers.
Doval was called upon to protect a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the ninth inning, but he quickly ran into some trouble. After getting Riley Greene to ground out to open the frame, the closer allowed two consecutive hits before walking Eric Haase to load the bases with one out. Doval was able to get Miguel Cabrera to strike out before inducing a game-ending groundout by Harold Castro, finishing the outing unscathed. The save was his 18th of the season and he has now converted 10 straight opportunities. Doval has now gone 10 straight appearances without allowing an earned run, lowering his ERA from 3.21 to 2.58 over that stretch.
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Brandon Hughes RP | CHC
Cubs' Brandon Hughes: Picks up third save
Hughes earned the save in Game 1 of Tuesday's doubleheader against St. Louis, striking out one in a perfect ninth inning in a 2-0 victory.
Hughes needed just eight pitches to retire the side in order and collect his third save in the last week. The rookie has received the last three ninth-inning save opportunities for the Cubs after Rowan Wick received the bulk of the opportunities after the trade deadline. Hughes has a 2.20 ERA, 0.80 WHIP, and 19:4 K:BB in 16.1 innings since the All-Star break. It appears as if the lefty and Wick will split the closing duties for Chicago for the time being.
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Jose Castillo RP | NYM
Padres' Jose Castillo: Joining big-league club
Castillo was recalled from Triple-A El Paso on Tuesday.
The 26-year-old hasn't pitched in the majors since 2019 due to numerous injuries but will join the Friars on Tuesday with Yu Darvish placed on the paternity list. Castillo has a 2.08 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 45:14 K:BB across 34.2 innings with El Paso this year.
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Javier Assad RP | CHC
Cubs' Javier Assad: Allows no runs in MLB debut
Assad pitched four scoreless innings as the starter in Game 1 of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Cardinals. He allowed four hits and four walks while striking out three.
Assad was making his MLB debut, and while the four walks weren't great, he still pitched reasonably well against a solid St. Louis lineup. The 25-year-old was looking good at Triple-A Iowa before getting called up, recording a 2.95 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 37:7 K:BB across 36.2 innings. Assad might still get sent back down, though the Cubs appear set to give the rookie a longer look, with Keegan Thompson (back), Kyle Hendricks (shoulder), Alec Mills (back) and Wade Miley (shoulder) all out at the moment. Assad is tentatively set to start again Monday against the Blue Jays.
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Jakob Junis RP | TEX
Giants' Jakob Junis: TBD for Sunday's start
Junis (hand) will remain on turn for now, but the Giants will continue to evaluate him ahead of Sunday's scheduled start against the Twins, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Slusser notes that it is a pain tolerance issue in Junis' non-throwing hand, and that he could get skipped or pushed back if there are any concerns at all ahead of Sunday's game. He has been excellent over his last two starts, logging a 2.63 WHIP, 0.66 WHIP and 13 strikeouts in 13.2 innings, with one of those starts coming in Coors Field.