MLB Player News
-
Adrian Morejon RP | SD
Padres' Adrian Morejon: Nails down first career save
Morejon earned a save against the Pirates on Wednesday, striking out one batter in a perfect inning of work.
Robert Suarez has worked as the Padres' closer this season, but he was deployed in the ninth inning with the score tied Wednesday. The contest ended up going to an extra frame, and San Diego took the lead with a three-run top of the 10th. Recently acquired Tanner Scott was asked to preserve the lead in the bottom of the frame, but he walked three straight batters to force in a run before Morejon was called upon to clean up the mess. The southpaw's outing didn't begin well -- his first offering was a wild pitch that allowed another Pirate to cross the plate to make the score 9-8 -- but Morejon rebounded impressively, retiring the next three batters without allowing the tying run to score. As a reward, he earned his first career save in his 90th MLB appearance. Morejon has been a solid bullpen piece for the Padres this season, posting a 2.66 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 52:16 K:BB through 47.1 innings.
-
Ryan Helsley RP | STL
Cardinals' Ryan Helsley: Records 36th save
Helsley allowed a hit and a walk while striking out two over a scoreless inning to earn the save in Wednesday's 5-2 win over the Rays.
Helsley allowed multiple baserunners for the third time in four appearances in August, but he was able to work out of the jam to earn his second save in as many days. Since the start of July, he's given up 11 hits and five walks over 11.2 innings, allowing five runs (four earned) while converting six of eight save chances in that span. The prolonged shakiness has led to his ratios looking less dominant than they did early in the year, but he's still posted a 2.72 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 57:21 K:BB across 49.2 innings while converting 36 of 40 save chances.
-
Justin Martinez RP | ARI
Diamondbacks' Justin Martinez: Snags second save
Martinez earned the save in a 5-3 win over the Guardians in the second game of a doubleheader Wednesday, working around a hit and a walk while striking out two in a scoreless ninth inning.
Martinez found himself in some trouble in the ninth before ultimately striking out Lane Thomas, who represented the go-ahead run, to seal a 5-3 Arizona victory. The 23-year-old Martinez has been entrusted with back-to-back save chances for the Diamondbacks and has delivered five consecutive scoreless appearances, allowing just two hits while striking out 11 in that span (five innings). Overall, the right-hander sports a 1.97 ERA with a 1.21 WHIP and 61:26 K:BB through 50.1 innings this season. Martinez could continue to see work in the closer's role alongside the likes of A.J. Puk and Ryan Thompson, with Paul Sewald working in lower-leverage situations.
-
Jorge Lopez RP | CHC
Cubs' Jorge Lopez: Earns win in relief
Lopez (2-2) tossed two scoreless innings of relief to earn the win Wednesday against the Twins. He allowed two hits and struck out two.
After starter Javier Assad covered only four innings, Lopez swooped in for the win against his former team. The righty struggled with the Twins, Orioles and Marlins last season, and he was released by the Mets earlier this year, but he's seemingly found a home in Chicago. In 14 relief appearances for his new team, Lopez has turned in a sparkling 0.54 ERA and he's struck out 14 batters across 16.2 innings.
-
Brusdar Graterol RP | LAD
Dodgers' Brusdar Graterol: Dealing with Grade 1 strain
Manager Dave Roberts said Wednesday that Graterol is dealing with a Grade 1 strain of his right hamstring, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.
Graterol was initially believed to have suffered a Grade 3 strain during his outing Tuesday, but the Dodgers' skipper corrected his previous statements. The news gives the 25-year-old reliever a significantly greater chance of pitching again for the Dodgers this season, though it remains unclear how far he is from a return.
-
Brusdar Graterol RP | LAD
Dodgers' Brusdar Graterol: Placed on injured list
The Dodgers placed Graterol on the 15-day injured list Wednesday with a Grade 3 right hamstring strain.
Graterol suffered the injury while making his season debut Tuesday, and although he hasn't yet been ruled out for the rest of the season, the timing and severity of his strain leave him with a very slim chance of pitching again in 2024. His spot on the active roster will be given to Michael Grove (ribs), who returned from the IL on Wednesday.
-
Michael Grove RP | LAD
Dodgers' Michael Grove: Back from injured list
The Dodgers reinstated Grove (ribs) from the 15-day injured list Wednesday.
A right intercostal strain forced Grove onto the injured list in mid-June, and he began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City on July 21. In six appearances in the minors, he allowed two earned runs in 5.1 innings while striking out seven batters and walking two. Now fully recovered, he'll take on a middle-relief role with the Dodgers in place of Brusdar Graterol (hamstring), who landed on the injured list in a corresponding move.
-
Bryan Hoeing RP | SD
Padres' Bryan Hoeing: Steps up after rain delay
Hoeing (2-2) earned the win over the Pirates on Tuesday, allowing one hit and issuing one walk while striking out three batters over 3.2 scoreless innings.
A lengthy rain delay resulted in Padres starter Dylan Cease being shut down after only one inning, and Hoeing was asked to step in to cover the bulk of the innings in Cease's place. The righty reliever performed well, giving up just a single and a walk while throwing 27 of 45 pitches for strikes over 3.2 scoreless frames. His performance earned him the victory as Pittsburgh was shut out by a combination of six Padres pitchers. Hoeing had a rough final outing of the first half, but he's bounced back with nine scoreless frames since the All-Star break. He's not used often in high-leverage situations but has been a versatile members of San Diego's pitching staff, making two starts and tossing three or more innings on six occasions overall. He's also had eight appearances of one inning or less and has recorded a 2.34 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 29:10 K:BB overall across 34.2 frames on the campaign.
-
Adbert Alzolay RP | CHC
Cubs' Adbert Alzolay: Will have Tommy John surgery
Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Wednesday that Alzolay will undergo Tommy John surgery on his injured right elbow, Tony Andracki of Marquee Sports Network reports.
Prior reports had suggested that Alzolay would need some type of procedure on his pitching arm, and Counsell revealed that the right-hander would need a full UCL reconstruction. While no timetable for Alzolay's return has been established, there's a good chance he won't be ready to pitch in the majors again until 2026.
-
Keegan Thompson RP | CHC
Cubs' Keegan Thompson: Activated, sent to minors
The Cubs reinstated Thompson (rib) from the 15-day injured list and optioned him to Triple-A Iowa, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Thompson had been on the shelf since late June with a right rib fracture but is back to full health after making four rehab appearances. The Cubs don't have a spot in the bullpen available for Thompson at the moment, but the right-hander should rank near the top of the list for a call-up if the club needs a fresh relief arm at any point.