-
Carlos Estevez RP | KC
Rockies' Carlos Estevez: Rebounds nicely from nightmare outing
Estevez (3-0) picked up the win Saturday against the Diamondbacks after hurling a perfect eighth inning.
Outside of a disastrous seven-run outing against the Nationals on Thursday, the young right-hander has been a fairly reliable member of the Rockies' bullpen. Estevez has an unsightly 8.71 ERA, but Saturday marked the ninth time in 12 appearances on the season that he didn't allow a run and the fifth time he didn't allow a baserunner. With performances like these, he'll continue to get looks toward the end of games, although he's a long way from picking up any saves with Greg Holland, Adam Ottavino and Jake McGee in tow.
-
Fernando Rodney RP | ARI
Diamondbacks' Fernando Rodney: Squanders second consecutive save opportunity Saturday
Rodney (1-2) blew the save and took the loss Saturday against the Rockies, giving up three runs on two hits and two walks in an inning of work. He also struck out a pair.
This marks the second consecutive ninth-inning lead that the veteran reliever has squandered. It wasn't as ugly as Wednesday's debacle, but it was close. Rodney seemed to be close to limiting the damage to just two runs, but he proceeded to fire two wild pitches in a single at-bat to hand the game to Colorado. It didn't seem possible, but Saturday's outing raised Rodney's ERA to 12.60, and although he has a lot of experience as the closer, an ERA like that doesn't bode well for his chances to stay in the ninth-inning role for much longer.
-
Josh Fields RP | MIL
Dodgers' Josh Fields: Sent back to minors
Fields was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Saturday.
Fields was brought up to fill the bullpen vacancy of the injured Grant Dayton, but was sent back down upon the latter's return. Nonetheless, it was a solid stint for the right-hander, as he allowed just one earned run over five relief appearances and racked up six strikeouts. Look for Fields to be in line for a future callup in the event of another bullpen opening.
-
Shelby Miller RP | CHC
Diamondbacks' Shelby Miller: Decides on Tommy John surgery
Miller (elbow) will undergo Tommy John surgery to repair the torn UCL in his right arm, Tommy Stokke of FanRag Sports reports.
Miller made his decision after meeting with multiple doctors, though his transfer to the 60-day DL effectively foreshadowed an end to his 2017 season. The 26-year-old was trying to improve upon his dismal 2016 showing, when he posted a 6.15 ERA and a 1.67 WHIP over 20 games in his debut season with Arizona. Instead, he'll undergo the dreaded procedure, which will keep him out 12-18 months, meaning he'll be in line for a return late next season, if that. The D-Backs, meanwhile, will have to move on with Zack Godley or another replacement in the rotation.
-
Mark Melancon RP | ARI
Giants' Mark Melancon: Picks up fifth save Friday
Melancon tossed a clean inning on the way to his fifth save of the season in a 4-3 win over the Padres on Friday.
After his implosion on Opening Day, Melancon has fired eight scoreless innings with an 8:1 K:BB, settling in nicely at a 2.08 ERA. With the Giants starting to compete a little harder after a slow start, the veteran closer could be in line for a string of save opportunities coming up in the near future.
-
Kenley Jansen RP | DET
Dodgers' Kenley Jansen: Notches sixth save Friday
Jansen struck out the side in a perfect inning against the Phillies, earning his sixth save of the season.
The dominant closer is in midseason form already, converting all six of his save opportunities -- with only three requiring more than three outs -- while posting a 1.93 ERA and a sparkling 15.4 K/9. Jansen continues to prove that he is one of the elite ninth-inning options in all of baseball.
-
Josh Edgin RP | WAS
Mets' Josh Edgin: Records first save Friday
Edgin got Bryce Harper to ground into a double play with the bases loaded in the ninth inning to notch his first save of the season in Friday's 7-5 win over the Nationals.
After Jeurys Familia ran into trouble to begin the ninth, Edgin came on to face the most dangerous left-handed hitter in the game and needed only three pitches to induce a comebacker and start a 1-2-3 double play, earning his second career save. Familia has looked shaky since returning from his suspension, but Edgin isn't likely to feature prominently in the saves mix going forward even if Familia continues to struggle.
-
Victor Arano RP | WAS
Phillies' Victor Arano: Likely sidelined another month
Joe Jordan, the Phillies' director of player development, said the team hopes to have Arano (elbow) back in action in June, Jay Floyd of the Shore Sports Network reports.
Arano is working his way back from a sprained ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. He is expected to head to Double-A Reading when healthy.
-
Matt Moore RP | BOS
Giants' Matt Moore: Strikes out eight in strong outing Thursday
Moore bounced back in a big way Thursday, holding the Dodgers to one run on two hits over seven strong innings. He walked three and struck out eight in an extra-inning loss.
While he didn't notch the win -- thanks to another anemic performance by the Giants' offense -- the veteran lefty returned to form after getting hit hard in his previous two starts (both against the Rockies). Moore's only two positive outings have come in the pitcher-friendly confines of AT&T Park, resulting in a dramatic home and road split (3.05 ERA at home and 8.68 ERA on the road). Despite his Jekyll and Hyde results early on, the 27-year-old will always tantalize fantasy owners with his ability to generate strikeouts and his favorable home park. Those in shallower formats may want to consider benching him on the road in tough matchups. That being said, it would be tough to sit him in his next start against the same Dodgers he shut down Thursday, regardless of league size. Even though next Tuesday's start comes on the road, Dodger Stadium is considered more of a pitcher's park than one that favors hitters.
-
Arodys Vizcaino RP | KC
Braves' Arodys Vizcaino: Picks up fourth hold Thursday
Vizcaino walked one and struck out one in a scoreless eighth inning Thursday to notch his fourth hold of the season in a win over the Mets.
It was Vizcaino's first action since being tagged for three runs without recording an out Sunday. The 26-year-old now has a strong 12:3 K:BB through 10 innings on the year, offering hope that his 4.50 ERA and 1.30 WHIP will come down as the season progresses. If Jim Johnson (5.19 ERA) continues to struggle, Vizcaino could yet find himself in the saves picture once again for the Braves.