MLB Player News

Helsley picked up the save Saturday against the Rangers. He allowed no hits or walks while striking out two over a perfect inning.

Helsley was rock solid Saturday, tossing a clean ninth inning to seal a victory for the Cardinals. The hard-throwing right-hander has converted nine consecutive save opportunities, delivering a scoreless frame in eight of them. On the year, the 30-year-old has a 3.00 ERA and 1.43 WHIP across 21 innings.

The Nationals recalled Salazar from Triple-A Rochester on Saturday, Spencer Nusbaum of The Washington Post reports.

Salazar had a hard time finding his footing in the majors to begin the season, posting a 9.77 ERA and 2.23 WHIP in 15.2 innings. Since returning to Triple-A on May 7, he's given up just two runs in 10.1 frames while striking out eight batters and walking seven. His turnaround will buy him another chance in the Nationals' bullpen, though he likely won't see many high-leverage opportunities. Jorge Lopez was DFA'd in a corresponding move.

Pomeranz opened Saturday's 2-0 win over the Reds and tossed a scoreless inning with a strikeout.

Pomeranz only needed nine pitches to work through the opening frame, and the lefty set up bulk pitcher Ben Brown, who followed with six scoreless innings of his own. Pomeranz has now made 15 appearances for the Cubs this season covering 13.2 innings and has yet to allow any earned runs. That's made the veteran a valuable reliever working in front of Daniel Palencia, who has emerged as Chicago's top closing option in recent weeks.

Palencia tossed a scoreless ninth inning with a strikeout to secure the save in Saturday's 2-0 win over the Reds.

Palencia now has five saves on the season, and all of them have come in the past 10 days. The righty is pitching well with a sparkling 1.74 ERA and 0.77 WHIP, and he's emerged as Chicago's top closer for the time being due to Ryan Pressly struggling earlier in the year and Porter Hodge (oblique) being on the injured list. Hodge's return could complicate things at the back end of Chicago's bullpen, though it seems like Palencia has done enough to hold onto the job, at least if he continues to perform at a high level.

Hall took a no-decision as the Brewers' opening pitcher for Friday's 6-2 win over the Phillies, tossing three scoreless, no-hit innings and giving up one walk while striking out four.

Since being reinstated from the 60-day injured list Monday, Hall has made two appearances, giving up one earned run over 5.1 innings. Though he was being built up a starter during his minor-league rehab assignment, Hall looks like he could fill a hybrid role that includes occasional opener assignments as well as more traditional relief appearances. Hall ended up working in tandem Friday with Quinn Priester, who covered the final six innings en route to notching his second win of the season.

Manager Craig Counsell said Saturday that Hodge's (oblique) recovery has been slowed down by a hip impingement, Vinnie Duber of AllCHGO.com reports.

The Cubs skipper noted that the oblique strain that put Hodge on the IL in the first place has been fully resolved, though the reliever's newest injury makes it unclear when he might be ready to return. The team will try to have him throw off a mound again during the week, and he'll require a few rehab outings before being activated.

Zastryzny will be available out of the bullpen Saturday versus Philadelphia, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

The Brewers initially planned to use Zastryzny as an opener Saturday, but they'll now run with Chad Patrick as their starter. Zastryzny has yet to allow a run in five innings since returning to Milwaukee.

The Marlins reinstated Cronin (hip) from the injured list Saturday and optioned him to Triple-A Jacksonville.

A hip strain has kept Cronin on the injured list all season, and although he's given up just two earned runs in eight innings during his rehab assignment, the Marlins are going to keep him in the minors now that he's fully healthy. Miami doesn't have a particularly deep bullpen, however, so Cronin could definitely work his way back into the majors if he continues to perform well in Jacksonville.

The Cardinals optioned Graceffo to Triple-A Memphis on Saturday.

Graceffo has struggled mightily in the big leagues this season, accumulating a 7.47 ERA and 1.40 WHIP through 15.2 innings with St. Louis. He'll now attempt to get back on track in Triple-A, and Roddery Munoz will come up to fill the vacancy in the Cardinals' bullpen.

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.