MLB Player News

Smith fired a scoreless inning while striking out one en route to his fifth save in Sunday's 8-5 win over Milwaukee.

Smith has now converted saves in back-to-back appearances after not seeing a save chance since July 6. That has been a product of the Giants' inability to generate save opportunities for its closer (and the All-Star break), but the 28-year-old's recent usage confirms that he is still the club's primary closing option.

Webb was optioned to Triple-A Memphis on Monday.

Webb was cast off the roster in order to make room for the recently acquired Chasen Shreve after pitching two innings of relief against the Cubs on Sunday. That marked Webb's first big-league appearance with the Cardinals since joining the organization in late June. He will remain at the Triple-A level as depth.

De Los Santos has had a pair of poor starts since being sent back to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on July 20.

De Los Santos failed to get out of the fifth inning on either occasion, allowing a combined 11 runs (nine earned) in 8.2 innings. In a pair of starts at the major-league level, the 22-year-old allowed eight runs in 10.2 innings. The recent slump serves as a reminder that De Los Santos wasn't considered a major prospect despite a hot start to the season at the Triple-A level, as that hot streak was partially due to an unsustainable strand rate and BABIP. Still, it will take more than a pair of bad starts to undo the growth the righty has shown this season, and his outlook remains better than it was when the Phillies acquired him for Freddy Galvis back in December.

Strop retired the Cardinals in order to earn the save Sunday.

Strop earned his third consecutive save since Brandon Morrow (biceps) hit the disabled list most recently. No other pitcher in the Cubs' bullpen has earned one, so it appears he is most likely to see the chances so long as Morrow is unavailable. Strop has been effective this season, posting a 2.51 ERA and 1.09 WHIP to go along with 41 strikeouts across 43 innings. However, he is only 5-for-8 in save chances, but two of those mistakes came in a setup capacity.

Suarez (4-6) got the win against the Brewers on Sunday, giving up four earned runs on eight hits over six innings, striking out four and walking one in San Francisco's 8-5 victory.

Suarez missed a quality start by one earned run after serving up long balls to Ryan Braun and Hernan Perez, but he still pitched well enough to nab his fourth victory of the season. He's been steady if unspectacular this season, as demonstrated by the 4.11 ERA and 1.27 WHIP he'll take into his next start against the Diamondbacks on Saturday.

Boxberger struck out two without allowing a baserunner in the ninth inning to earn his 25th save of the season Sunday against the Padres.

Boxberger bounced back after he blew his fifth save of the season on Thursday night against the Cubs, retiring the Padres in order Sunday. His 25 saves are good enough for third in the National League, and he has shown no signs of relinquishing the closer role. He has an impressive 54 strikeouts in 38.2 innings this season, paired with a 3.49 ERA and 1.19 WHIP.

Iglesias allowed one hit and struck out a pair in a scoreless two-out save Sunday against the Phillies.

The stopper didn't begin the ninth inning, but he was called upon after Wandy Peralta allowed two men to reach base with one out. With the Reds holding a four-run lead, Iglesias conceded a single to load the bases before recording the final two outs via the strikeout for his 21st save of the season. Iglesias has now gone eight appearances without allowing an earned run, lowering his ERA to 2.11 to go along with a 1.00 WHIP.

The Reds outrighted Crockett to Triple-A Louisville on Sunday, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Crockett will stick in the Reds organization after going unclaimed when he was exposed to waivers earlier in the weekend. The 26-year-old should fill a key bullpen role in Louisville, where he has submitted a 4.00 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 23:5 K:BB in 27 innings on the season.

Hudson made his major-league debut in a win over the Cubs on Saturday, firing a scoreless seventh inning in which he struck out two.

The promising prospect looked as sharp as he's been in Triple-A Memphis all season, mowing through the trio of Kyle Schwarber, Ian Happ and the pinch-hitting Victor Caratini on an efficient 13 pitches. Hudson has racked up 13 wins for the Redbirds thus far this season, and although he'll initially work in the bullpen with the big-league club, he could eventually earn a spot start before the end of the season, especially if Michael Wacha (oblique) and Adam Wainwright (elbow) remain sidelined for the foreseeable future.

Gsellman gave up two runs on three hits and one walk while striking out one in one inning in a non-save situation Saturday against the Pirates.

He took the ball in the bottom of the eighth inning with the Pirates leading 3-0 and proceeded to dig an even bigger hole for his team. Gsellman had recorded just two outs (on July 25) since July 23, so it seems like the Mets just wanted to get him some work. The Mets are expected to go forward with Gsellman and Anthony Swarzak getting save chances, but both are pretty flimsy options relative to the rest of the closers in the league.