MLB Player News

Finnegan pitched a scoreless ninth inning to pick up his 31st save of the season Sunday against the Phillies, allowing one hit with zero strikeouts.

Finnegan allowed a leadoff single to Edmundo Sosa, but he quickly put an end to the scare, inducing a double play and a groundout to secure his 31st save of the season, good for third in MLB. The 32-year-old has been shaky since the All-Star break, logging an unsightly 8.38 ERA, 2.07 WHIP and 6:5 K:BB in 9.2 innings. Despite the rough patch, Finnegan has converted all six save chances during that span and is now 31-for-35 in save opportunities this season.

Kopech threw a scoreless inning to earn a save against the Cardinals on Sunday.

Kopech threw seven of 12 pitches for strikes and finished the game on a double-play ball after a runner reached base on an error. He's now turned in 9.1 consecutive scoreless innings to begin his Dodgers career and earned two saves during the weekend series against St. Louis. With Daniel Hudson (8.64 ERA over his last nine appearances) and Evan Phillips (no saves since July 23) seemingly falling out of favor, the Dodgers may use Kopech in the ninth inning more often. Kopech owns a 3.91 ERA with a 72:25 K:BB through 53 innings this season.

Koenig threw a perfect inning to earn a save against Cleveland on Sunday.

Koenig needed just 12 pitches (seven strikes) to finish off the 2-0 win. It was his first career MLB save, and he dropped his season ERA to 2.09. Koenig owns a 12:4 K:BB and a 3.86 ERA since returning from the injured list July 21. Both Devin Williams and Joel Payamps pitched in three of the four previous games and did not appear in Sunday's win.

Faucher pitched a scoreless ninth inning to earn his third save of the season Sunday against the Mets. He allowed two hits and zero walks while striking out two batters.

Called upon to protect a one-run lead in the ninth, Faucher stumbled by allowing back-to-back singles to start the inning. He recovered nicely, however, striking out Jeff McNeil and inducing a Francisco Lindor flyout before striking out Mark Vientos to end the game. The 28-year-old Faucher has pitched well since taking over the Marlins' closer role following the Tanner Scott trade on July 30. Faucher owns a 3.38 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 10:4 K:BB in eight innings since the trade, converting three of four save opportunities.

Vodnik walked one in a scoreless and hitless inning to earn the save in Sunday's 3-2 win over the Padres.

Vodnik put together two scoreless outings at home versus the Padres during this series after blowing a save Tuesday in Arizona. That blown save was Vodnik's first since he took over the primary closer role for the Rockies. He's allowed five runs over 8.1 innings in August, but they've been limited to two poor appearances out of nine. For the season, Vodnik has a 4.04 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 57:31 K:BB while converting nine saves, adding six holds and taking three blown saves through 64.2 innings.

Blalock allowed one run on six hits and three walks while striking out two over 5.2 innings in a no-decision versus the Padres on Sunday.

Blalock came an out short of a quality start for the second outing in a row, and he was also pulled before the Rockies gained the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning. While he walked three, it was still another positive performance for the 23-year-old in his Coors Field debut. Blalock has a 2.92 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 6:4 K:BB over 12.1 innings across three appearances (two starts) between Colorado and Milwaukee this year. Despite his decent pitching, Blalock may be sent back to Triple-A Albuquerque if Ryan Feltner (shoulder) is able to return from the injured list this week without requiring a rehab assignment, though Tanner Gordon has been less inspiring as a fill-in starter for Colorado's injury-plagued rotation.

Giants manager Bob Melvin said Sunday that Rodriguez (elbow) will be shut down from throwing for at least a couple weeks, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

The right-hander landed on the injured list Thursday due to elbow inflammation, and that diagnosis was confirmed after undergoing an MRI. Rodriguez has yet to be ruled out for the season, but he'll likely need to avoid any setbacks in his recovery to have a chance of rejoining the Giants in late September.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Sunday that Graterol (hamstring) will throw a bullpen session soon, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

The right-hander landed on the shelf with a Grade 1 hamstring strain in early August, and he's making a relatively quick return to mound work. Graterol suffered the injury during his season debut after he missed the first four months of the campaign due to a shoulder injury.

The Reds recalled Legumina from Triple-A Louisville on Sunday.

Legumina has had a couple stints in the majors this season and has rejoined the Reds for Sunday's series finale versus Kansas City. The right-hander gave up two runs over two innings during his lone appearance for Cincinnati and has a 3.27 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 52:17 K:BB over 52.1 innings at Triple-A.

Brasier pitched 1.1 perfect innings out of the bullpen in Saturday's loss to the Cardinals.

Brasier took over for starter Bobby Miller with a runner on third base and two outs in the fifth inning and retired Nolan Arenado to end the threat. Brasier then returned to the mound in the sixth and needed just five pitches to set the side down in order. This was the righty reliever's first major-league game action since April 27. He appears to be past the calf injury that necessitated a stay on the 60-day IL.