MLB Player News

Manager Brian Snitker said Vizcaino (shoulder) is scheduled to begin throwing off flat ground next week, David O'Brien of The Athletic Atlanta reports.

Vizcaino hasn't thrown since landing on the disabled list just before the All-Star break, so it will likely take some time for him to get up to speed. There is unlikely to be a timetable for his return at least until the 27-year-old begins throwing off a mound. A.J. Minter should continue as the Braves' closer in his absence.

Holmes was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis on Saturday, Rob Biertempfel of The Athletic Pittsburgh reports.

Holmes was rocked for seven earned runs over 2.2 innings Friday against the Giants. A corresponding move has yet to be announced, but the Pirates will likely bring up a fresh arm after the bullpen was forced to cover 6.1 innings Friday.

Axford fired a scoreless inning while giving up a hit and striking out two in Friday's loss to the Rockies.

Axford was shelled for six runs in his Dodgers debut last Saturday, but he was able to bounce back with a clean outing in a tough pitching environment. Closer Kenley Jansen is expected to miss 4-6 weeks with an irregular heartbeat, but manager Dave Roberts suggested Scott Alexander will head a closing committee, with Kenta Maeda perhaps joining him in the near future. Axford's disappointing 5.33 ERA this year is likely what caused him to be bypassed as an initial replacement. That said, the 35-year-old does have plenty of closing experience (144 career saves), so he shouldn't be completely ruled out of the equation, especially if the aforementioned options struggle early on.

Floro pitched two-thirds of an inning Friday, striking out one without allowing a baserunner in a 5-4 loss to Colorado.

Floro has become one of manager Dave Roberts' more reliable right-handed relievers, posting a 1.93 ERA and 10.3 K/9 in 14 innings since coming over from Cincinnati on July 4. The 27-year-old could see his role elevated further following Kenley Jansen's placement on the disabled list with an irregular heartbeat. Scott Alexander is expected to lead a closing committee, but Floro has certainly made a case to be considered as a late-inning option if he is called upon.

Blach will take the mound for a start versus Pittsburgh on Saturday, Kerry Crowley of the Bay Area News Group reports.

This will mark Blach's 13th start of the year for the Giants, though he's served exclusively out of the bullpen since late May. During those 12 starts, he logged a 4.90 ERA and 1.60 WHIP with a 30:23 K:BB in 60.2 innings. Blach will briefly enter the rotation due to the demotion of Chris Stratton and with Jeff Samardzija (shoulder) and Johnny Cueto (elbow) on the DL. Though Cueto is lost for the year, Samardzija is expected to begin a rehab assignment soon and is optimistic that he'll be back in action later this month.

Iglesias struck out one in a scoreless ninth inning to earn the save Friday against the Diamondbacks, allowing one hit and no walks.

Iglesias pitched in his first save opportunity since July 29 and is now 22-for-25 in save chances on the year. The righty has a 2.52 ERA and 1.04 WHIP to go along with a 52:15 K:BB in 50 innings. Iglesias continues to be a dependable closer even though he plays for the last-place Reds.

Holmes (1-2) gave up seven earned runs in just 2.2 innings in a loss against the Giants on Friday, yielding eight hits while recording just one strikeout and walking four in Pittsburgh's 13-10 defeat.

Holmes didn't fare well in this spot start as he got knocked around from the get-go in what turned into an all-out slugfest against the Giants. The showing ballooned his ERA up to 7.20 and his WHIP to 2.07 at the big-league level this season, so Holmes can't comfortably be streamed even if the Pirates do decide to give him another go in the rotation this season.

Yates got the save against the Phillies on Friday, working around two hits to post a scoreless ninth inning and close out San Diego's 2-0 victory. He struck out two without issuing a walk.

Yates is now 4-for-4 on save opportunities this season following this scoreless effort against Philadelphia and the role seems to be all his with Brad Hand traded to Cleveland. He's sporting a 1.59 ERA and a brilliant 0.93 WHIP in his 45.1 innings of work this season.

Leone (biceps) was credited with the victory in Triple-A Memphis' win over Oklahoma City on Thursday, firing a scoreless inning in which he allowed a hit.

Leone threw 12 pitches overall in what was his fourth rehab appearance, and his previously injured throwing arm seems to be holding up well. Given that he's now worked four innings overall with the Redbirds, Leone could be ready for activation at some point next week, Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com reports.

Ottavino picked up the save against the Dodgers on Friday, working around a hit to fire a scoreless ninth inning and close out Colorado's 5-4 victory. He recorded one strikeout and no walks.

Regular closer Wade Davis had a three-run meltdown on Thursday so the Rockies ended up turning to Ottavino in this contest, and the right-hander responded with a scoreless effort to bag his fifth save of the season. Ottavino has put up much better numbers than Davis this year, as he's sporting a 1.60 ERA and a 0.94 WHIP to go along with 82 strikeouts in 56.1 innings. Davis should still be considered the primary ninth-inning option for Colorado at the moment, but Ottavino only figures to a make an increasingly compelling claim for more of a look in the role if he continues to post the superior stats.