MLB Player News

Gott gave up two hits and struck out one in a scoreless ninth inning Thursday to record his first save of the season in a win over the Cardinals.

With Adam Ottavino and Brooks Raley both having worked three of the prior four days, manager Buck Showalter had to get creative at the end of a 4-2 game, and Gott received the call in the ninth. The right-hander made things interesting by giving up a couple singles, but he then struck out Paul Goldschmidt to end the night. Drew Smith was needed in the seventh to get out of a jam with two on and nobody out, suggesting he's still viewed as the higher-leverage option, but Gott has earned his place in the late-inning mix with a 12-appearance scoreless streak during which he's posted a 12:3 K:BB through 11.1 innings.

Harvey gave up a hit and struck out one in a scoreless eighth inning Thursday to record his 12th hold of the season in a win over the Red Sox.

Making his second appearance since being activated from the injured list earlier in the week, Harvey handled setup duties while Kyle Finnegan continues to close for the Nationals. With Finnegan having converted eight straight save chances over the last month or so, Harvey may not work back into the ninth-inning mix down the stretch, but his 2.98 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 47:12 K:BB through 42.1 innings on the season still give him fantasy value in deeper formats.

Ginkel was unavailable to pitch Thursday when Justin Martinez picked up the save in a 3-1 win over the Padres.

Ginkel and closer Paul Sewald each were unavailable after pitching four times in the last five days. Ginkel has been scored upon in only one of seven appearances in August, collecting two holds and a win with a 1.17 ERA, 0.65 WHIP and 9:3 K:BB through 7.2 innings.

Sewald was not available to pitch Thursday when Justin Martinez notched the save in a 3-1 win over San Diego.

Neither Sewald nor Kevin Ginkel were available to close things out for the Diamondbacks, so manager Torey Lovullo had Martinez get the final four outs. Sewald and Ginkel had each pitched four times in the prior five days.

Finnegan picked up the save Thursday against Boston, allowing two hits while striking out one over a scoreless inning.

Finnegan found himself in trouble after entering the game with a three-run lead in the ninth, surrendering a single and a double in the first two at-bats. However, the veteran reliever was able to work his way out of the jam, retiring the next three batters in order on just seven pitches to record his 19th save. Finnegan has not allowed a run since July 14 against the Cardinals, converting all eight of his save opportunities since then.

Phillips earned a save over the Brewers on Thursday, walking one batter and striking out two in a scoreless inning.

The two teams went head-to-head in a scoreless duel until Austin Barnes knocked a solo homer in the bottom of the eighth frame. Phillips was then brought in to protect that tenuous lead and retired the first two batters he faced before walking Sal Frelick. Frelick made it to second on a stolen base, but Phillips ended the threat by striking out Willy Adames. Phillips shared ninth-inning duties with Brusdar Graterol earlier in the campaign, but he's since emerged as Los Angeles' no-doubt closer, notching a save in each of his past six appearances and converting 18 of 20 chances on the campaign.

Martinez earned a save against San Diego on Thursday, walking two batters and striking out three over 1.1 scoreless innings.

Closer Paul Sewald had pitched four times in five days coming into Thursday, as had top setup man Kevin Ginkel, so Arizona manager Torey Lovullo opted to go to Martinez -- who was called up from Triple-A Reno earlier in the day -- to protect a two-run lead in the eighth inning. Martinez struck out Ha-Seong Kim looking to end that frame, then returned for the ninth to try to close things out. He got himself into a bit of trouble by walking Fernando Tatis Jr. and Xander Bogaerts but escaped with the save after striking out Jake Cronenworth to end the contest. Though this was certainly an impressive performance by the 22-year-old right-hander, it's unlikely that he'll see many (if any) more save chances this season as long as Sewald and Ginkel are healthy and available.

Arizona recalled Martinez from Triple-A Reno on Thursday.

Martinez has allowed seven earned runs in 3.1 innings (four appearances) this season in the majors, but the Diamondbacks need a fresh bullpen arm leading into their four-game series at San Diego. He'll operate in a low-leverage role.

Arizona optioned Frias to Triple-A Reno on Thursday.

Frias has registered a 5.71 ERA, 1.96 WHIP and 16:13 K:BB in 17.1 innings this season at the major-league level. Justin Martinez will take his place in the Diamondbacks' bullpen ahead of Thursday's series opener against the Padres.

Helsley (forearm) will resume his rehab assignment Friday with Triple-A Memphis, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

This is a quick turnaround, as Helsley was just pulled off his rehab assignment Wednesday due to renewed discomfort in the forearm he strained back in mid-June. Multiple rounds of imaging scans taken this week showed no structural damage, and he might again be on track to reclaim the closer role in St. Louis before the end of August.