MLB Player News

Hodge walked one and struck out one in a scoreless and hitless inning to earn the save in Sunday's 2-1 win over the Yankees.

Hodge continues to thrive in a high-leverage role. He's on a 14-inning scoreless streak, posting a 20:6 K:BB with just five hits allowed in that span. The 23-year-old right-hander has pitched to an excellent 1.70 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 46:16 K:BB while collecting four saves and nine holds over 37 innings this season. He has functioned as the Cubs' primary closer since Aug. 20. Hodge won't face much competition for the closing job while Jorge Lopez (groin) is on the injured list.

The Dodgers selected Ramirez's contract from Triple-A Oklahoma City on Sunday.

The 35-year-old was designated for assignment by Los Angeles in late July, but he's back on the 28-man active roster and 40-man roster Sunday. Ramirez posted a 2.66 ERA in 32 outings with the Yankees last season, but he's surrendered eight earned runs over 11.1 big-league frames in 2024.

The Reds placed Moll on the 15-day injured list Sunday due to a left shoulder impingement.

The left-hander presumably suffered the injury during Saturday's appearance against the Mets, during which he surrendered three runs on a hit, a walk and a hit-by-pitch without recording an out. Moll will be eligible to return during the final week of the season, but he may have already thrown his final pitch of 2024.

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

The right-hander was sent to Triple-A in late August but will rejoin the big club Sunday as Sam Moll (shoulder) heads to the injured list. Legumina has allowed seven earned runs over three appearances in the majors this season but has a 2.93 ERA over 61.1 innings for Louisville.

The Rockies reinstated Vodnik (biceps) from the 15-day injured list Sunday.

Vodnik made his lone rehab appearance with Double-A Hartford on Friday, when he struck out two batters over one inning. He will rejoin the Colorado bullpen for Sunday's series finale against the Brewers, though it's unclear if Vodnik will immediately reclaim the closer's role or if he'll instead get eased into higher-leverage situations. Across 55 major-league appearances this season, Vodnik has recorded nine saves and six holds with a 4.04 ERA and 1.48 WHIP across 64.2 innings.

McCaughan came away with a no-decision in Saturday's 9-5 win over the Phillies, giving up three runs (two earned) on six hits over 4.2 innings. He struck out four without walking a batter.

The 28-year-old righty was mostly effective, but he left the mound after 73 pitches (52 strikes) one out short of qualifying for his first MLB win. McCaughan appears likely to plug a hole in Miami's injury-plagued rotation for the rest of September, but if he continues to be capped at around 75 pitches, wins will be hard to come by even if his performance continues to improve. Over 13.2 big-league innings since the beginning of August, he's posted a 3.95 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 11:1 K:BB. McCaughan is scheduled to make his next start on the road next week against the Nationals.

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.