MLB Player News
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Roddery Munoz RP | HOU
Cardinals' Roddery Munoz: Up from Triple-A
The Cardinals recalled Munoz from Triple-A Memphis on Saturday.
Munoz has given up four earned runs in 4.2 innings with the Cardinals this season, and he also owns a 5.06 ERA through 21.1 frames in the minors. Despite his performance, he'll rejoin the big club to give St. Louis' bullpen another fresh arm, replacing Gordon Graceffo.
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Rob Zastryzny RP | MIL
Brewers' Rob Zastryzny: Working as opener Saturday
Zastryzny will serve as the Brewers' opening pitcher for Saturday's game against the Phillies, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.
Zastryzny struck out two batters in a scoreless inning when the Brewers used him as an opener May 19 against Baltimore, and he'll now aim for similar success while facing off against the top of Philadelphia's order. Chad Patrick is expected to follow Zastryzny as a bulk reliever.
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Brad Lord P | WAS
Nationals' Brad Lord: Collects first career hold
Lord recorded his first hold of the season in Friday's win over the Diamondbacks, giving up a hit and two walks while striking out three over two scoreless innings.
Entering the game in the seventh inning with the Nationals ahead 8-6, Lord threw 32 pitches (19 strikes) while providing a bridge to closer Kyle Finnegan. Lord's bounced between the rotation and a long-relief role this season, but Washington manager Dave Martinez appears to be willing to experiment with Lord as a high-leverage option in a Nats bullpen that needs all the late-inning help it can get. The rookie right-hander has earned the audition with a 1.00 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 11:4 K:BB over his last six appearances and nine innings, an impressive turnaround after he got tagged for multiple earned runs in seven straight trips to the mound.
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Janson Junk RP | MIA
Marlins' Janson Junk: Bails out bullpen Friday
Junk gave up three hits and struck out five over four scoreless relief innings in Friday's loss to the Giants.
After Cal Quantrill provided the Marlins with five good innings, Junk finished up the 2-0 loss and gave the rest of the bullpen a much-needed night off. The 29-year-old righty has made two appearances for Miami since being called up May 24, allowing just one run over nine innings with a 9:1 K:BB. While the team doesn't have an opening in its rotation right now and should get Eury Perez (elbow) back in early June, Junk is making a case for an audition as a starter at some point down the road.
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Robert Suarez RP | ATL
Padres' Robert Suarez: Secures league-leading 18th save
Suarez struck out three over 1.1 perfect innings Friday to record his 18th save of the season in a 3-2 win over the Pirates.
The right-hander breezed through Pittsburgh's 5-6-7-8 hitters as he moved back into the MLB lead in saves, one ahead of Seattle's Andres Munoz. Suarez has been tagged for earned runs only once in his last 13 appearances, and through 24.1 innings on the season he's produced a 2.22 ERA, 0.82 WHIP and 28:6 K:BB while converting 18 of his 20 save chances.
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Kirby Yates RP | LAA
Dodgers' Kirby Yates: Throws off mound Friday
Yates (hamstring) threw off a bullpen mound Friday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
For the first time since landing on the injured list May 18 due to a right hamstring strain, Yates was able to throw off a mound. Per Ardaya, the veteran reliever said Friday that he hasn't felt any discomfort in the hamstring since a few days after initially getting hurt and indicated that he is optimistic he isn't going to miss much more time. Yates is eligible to be activated Monday, and he could be back with the Dodgers around that date if he comes out of Friday's session with any setbacks.
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Alex Vesia RP | LAD
Dodgers' Alex Vesia: Secures second save
Vesia allowed a hit in a scoreless inning to earn the save in Friday's 8-5 win over the Yankees.
Vesia got the save chance after Tanner Scott defused a two-on, two-out situation in the eighth inning. Both pitchers struggled in their last outings Wednesday versus the Guardians, and it's at least intriguing that Vesia was called upon to handle the top of the Yankees' order, which he did successfully after pitching around Trent Grisham's leadoff single. Vesia has allowed four runs in May, all via home runs, over 10.1 innings. He's at two saves, 10 holds, a 3.24 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 35:9 K:BB through 25 innings. With Scott blowing three saves over his last five appearances, Vesia looks to be the early candidate to take over the ninth inning should manager Dave Roberts officially make a change at closer. Even if that happens, it could lead to a committee scenario, especially once Kirby Yates (hamstring) and Michael Kopech (shoulder) are ready to return.
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Kyle Finnegan RP | DET
Nationals' Kyle Finnegan: Gives up run in 16th save
Finnegan allowed one run, hit one batter and didn't surrender a hit or a walk over one inning to earn the save in Friday's 9-7 win over the Diamondbacks.
Finnegan plunked Corbin Carroll, who stole second and then finished his trip around the bases on consecutive groundouts. Finnegan appears to be recovered from the shoulder fatigue that kept him out of game action for a week. He's allowed three runs (one earned) over his last three innings. For the season, the Nationals' closer has a 2.61 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 18:8 K:BB while converting 16 of 19 save opportunities over 20.2 innings.
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Camilo Doval RP | NYY
Giants' Camilo Doval: Picks up four-out save
Doval recorded his sixth save during Friday's 2-0 win over the Marlins after pitching 1.1 innings, allowing no runs or hits. He walked one and struck out two.
In his first chance back in the closer role for the Giants, Doval was asked to get the team out of a jam in the eighth and then record all three outs in the ninth, and he delivered to pick up his sixth save. There haven't been many more dominant pitchers than the 27-year-old lately, as he turned in his 20th straight scoreless outing to bring his season-long ERA down to 1.07. He's allowed just four hits over that stretch.
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Kyle Harrison SP | MIL
Giants' Kyle Harrison: Works five scoreless in win
Harrison (1-1) got the win after throwing five innings of shutout ball in Friday's 2-0 win over the Marlins. He allowed one hit, walked three and struck out five.
In his second start of the season since transitioning from the bullpen, Harrison had a longer leash and took advantage of it, working five shutout innings on just 80 pitches. In his two starts (nine innings), he's allowed just two runs with nine strikeouts. With Justin Verlander (pectoral) on the way back from the injured list, the 23-year-old Harrison might not get the chance to start again in the immediate future, but he's made a strong case to be the team's choice to make spot starts should injuries strike the Giants' rotation again.