MLB Player News

Walker picked up the save over the Padres on Saturday, allowing one hit over a scoreless ninth inning.

Walker took the mound with a three-run lead in the bottom of the ninth and surrendered a leadoff double to Fernando Tatis on the first pitch before retiring the next three batters in order to end the game and secure his sixth save of the campaign. The right-handed reliever has converted each of his six save opportunities this season and still hasn't allowed an earned run since July 27 against Colorado. Since the start of August, he's gone 2-0 with six saves while posting a 29:3 K:BB over 16 innings.

Junis came away with a no-decision in Saturday's 4-0 loss to the Mets, allowing one hit and one walk over five scoreless innings. He struck out five.

The veteran right-hander was locked in a pitchers' duel with Jose Quintana, but the Reds bullpen fell apart as soon as Junis exited the game. His 73 pitches and five innings both represented high marks this season, and Junis has been exceptional in his swingman role lately, posting a 1.23 ERA, 0.50 WHIP and 17:1 K:BB in 22 innings over his last nine appearances (two starts) since Aug. 7. Junis will look for his first win since July 28 in his next trip to the mound, which lines up to come on the road next week in St. Louis.

Bivens will start Sunday's game against the Padres, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Bivens will be making his second MLB start, with each of his last 13 appearances with San Francisco coming out of the bullpen after he tossed five innings and allowed one run in a no-decision during his start against the Dodgers on June 30. Despite being deployed in relief lately, Bivens should be relatively stretched out after he tossed four innings and 54 pitches in his most recent appearance in Wednesday's 6-4 loss to the Diamondbacks. Landen Roupp and Tristan Beck are candidates to piggyback or work multiple innings behind Bivens if the right-hander isn't able to offer the Giants as much length in a starting role as expected.

Chapman (5-5) took the loss and blew the save against the Nationals in Game 2 of Saturday's doubleheader, allowing four runs on four hits and one walk while striking out two batters over two-thirds of an inning.

Chapman entered in the ninth frame after Pittsburgh scored twice to take a two-run lead in the bottom of the eighth. The veteran fireballer retired two of the first three batters he faced but then allowed back-to-back singles followed by back-to-back doubles as Washington plated four runs. Before Saturday, Chapman had converted both of his save opportunities since David Bednar was moved out of the closer role, but Saturday's blow-up may allow Dennis Santana -- who picked up a save Monday and has fired 12 straight scoreless outings -- to get additional ninth-inning looks.

Kittredge (4-4) allowed a hit and a run while striking out one over one scoreless inning to earn the win Saturday over the Mariners.

Kittredge kept the game scoreless in the top of the eighth inning, and the Cardinals broke through in their half of the frame with a two-run home run by Pedro Pages. Kittredge extended his scoreless streak to nine innings, a span in which he's allowed four hits and two walks while striking out seven over nine innings. The setup man has a 2.98 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 56:18 K:BB with one save and 32 holds over 60.1 innings this season.

Helsley allowed a hit and struck out three over a scoreless inning to earn the save in Saturday's 2-0 win over the Mariners.

Helsley was able to make Pedro Pages' two-run home run in the eighth inning stand as the winning hit. Helsley blew his last save chance Tuesday versus the Brewers, but that was by allowing the initial runner to score in the 11th inning. He has not given up an earned run since Aug. 6, going 8-for-9 in save opportunities while yielding just eight hits and three walks with 16 strikeouts over 12 innings since that date. For the year, Helsley has a 2.23 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 71:23 K:BB with 43 saves in 47 attempts over 60.2 innings.

Ortiz (6-5) took the loss in Game 1 of Saturday's doubleheader against Washington, allowing four runs (three earned) on six hits and two walks while striking out two batters over 5.2 innings.

Ortiz was originally scheduled to start Friday, but his outing was pushed back a day due to a weather-related postponement. The right-hander wasn't at his sharpest against Washington, as only 58 of his 100 pitches were strikes and he departed with two outs in the sixth inning trailing 4-0. Ortiz fell one out shy of recording his third straight quality start, however. He'll look to bounce back in his next start, which is tentatively slated to be at home against Kansas City.

Finnegan notched a save in each game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Pirates, allowing one run on three hits and a walk in Game 1 and pitching a perfect frame with two strikeouts in Game 2.

Finnegan struggled a bit in the matinee, allowing four of the first five batters he faced to reach base to allow a run to cross the plate and load the bases with one out. He was able to escape the jam, however, by getting Bryan De La Cruz to ground into a game-ending double play. Finnegan tossed 23 pitches in that outing, but that didn't stop Nationals manager Dave Martinez from going to him again with the team up by two runs in the ninth inning of the nightcap. This time Finnegan got the job done with ease, retiring the side in order on 19 pitches. With the pair of saves, Finnegan is up to 36 on the season, third most in the majors.

Williams earned a save against the Rockies on Saturday, striking out all three batters he faced in the ninth inning.

Williams dominated the Rockies on Saturday, making it the fourth time this season he's recorded all three outs in the ninth via strikeout. Williams has already racked up nine saves in 10 opportunities since making his season debut July 28. The 29-year-old has been particularly impressive of late, as he hasn't given up a hit in any of his last six appearances and carries a 1.84 ERA for the year.

Manager Dave Roberts said Saturday that Graterol (hamstring) is expected to be activated off the 15-day injured list in the next couple of days, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Graterol threw one scoreless inning in his last rehab outing with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Friday. He's been on the injured list since Aug. 7 due to a Grade 1 hamstring strain, but he appears to be ready to return to the Dodgers' bullpen. Graterol began the season on the injured list with right shoulder inflammation, and his lone appearance with the big club came Aug. 6 against the Phillies, when he gave up two runs on one hit and one walk over one-third of an inning.