MLB Player News

Nunez earned the save in Friday's 7-4 win over the Tigers, striking out two with no walks in a hitless and scoreless ninth inning.

While Rico Garcia was getting the initial saves after Ryan Helsley (elbow) was shelved May 1, Garcia was deployed in the sixth inning of this one and recorded the final two outs to preserve a 6-4 lead. Nunez has handled two save opportunities since Garcia was last put in that position, so it appears manager Craig Albernaz is willing to mix and match at the end of games. On the season, Nunez has a 4.94 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 28:8 K:BB across 23.2 innings.

Mears (2-3) was tagged with the loss in relief Friday against the Mariners after allowing two runs on one hit and one walk over one inning.

Mears has been struggling of late and has given up runs in three of his last four outings, posting an alarming 9.64 ERA and 1.93 WHIP over 4.2 innings in that stretch. While a four-game sample isn't big enough to draw any meaningful conclusions, Mears is clearly trending in the wrong direction after he gave up just three earned runs in his first 16 outings (14 innings) this season.

Hudson will serve as the White Sox's opening pitcher for Saturday's game against the Giants, LaMond Pope of the Chicago Tribune reports.

The White Sox haven't officially named a bulk reliever for Saturday's contest, but Erick Fedde had been on turn to start and is the most likely option to cover multiple innings out of the bullpen once Hudson exits the game. Hudson previously served as an opener on April 24 and April 26 versus the Nationals, covering an inning apiece in both of those contests. Expect the lefty to be limited to a one-inning appearance once again Saturday.

Bazardo (3-2) earned the win Friday against the Royals after tossing 1.1 perfect innings, striking out three.

Bazardo entered the game with two outs in the sixth and retired Salvador Perez before striking out the side in the seventh. Bazardo needed just 25 pitches (15 strikes) to record those four outs, continuing an impressive stretch of late. He's gone 1-0 with a 1.93 ERA and 8:3 K:BB across his last five outings (4.2 innings), allowing just one earned run over that span.

Munoz picked up the save Friday against the Royals after pitching a perfect ninth inning. He did not record a strikeout.

Munoz needed 16 pitches (nine strikes) to close out the door on the Royals in the ninth inning, retiring Salvador Perez, Carter Jensen and Jac Caglianone. Even though Munoz didn't record a strikeout in this outing, he also didn't allow any walks or hits. Munoz is 9-for-12 in save chances this season, and while he was charged with a blown save against the White Sox on Tuesday, this was his fifth straight scoreless outing and he's posted a 7:0 K:BB in that stretch.

Morillo allowed one run on one hit and one walk while striking out one over two-thirds of an inning in Friday's 3-2 loss to the Rockies.

Morillo gave up an eighth-inning lead for the second consecutive day against Colorado. He had a 1.83 ERA prior to blowing those leads and had become a reliable late-inning arm for manager Torey Lovullo, who had recently dialed back on the reliever's usage. Morillo appeared in 15 of the team's first 29 games before being deployed just six times in the subsequent 19 contests prior to Thursday.

Moran will serve as the Red Sox's opening pitcher Saturday against the Twins, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.

The Red Sox have taken a liking to using Moran as an opener in front of Brayan Bello this month, and the two will work in tandem again Saturday. Moran has been one of Boston's most effective bullpen arms this season, posting a 2.81 ERA and 1.13 WHIP through 25.2 innings. He'll likely remain on the mound for an inning or two before Bello takes over.

Banda earned the save in Friday's 8-6 win over the Red Sox, striking out one over 1.1 perfect innings.

Banda entered a 7-6 game with two men on and two outs in the eighth inning, and he was able to put out the fire before retiring the side in the ninth. It marked the southpaw's first save chance of the season, and he now owns a 6.23 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 19:8 K:BB across 21.2 innings. The Twins have had 10 pitchers record a save in 2026, so this is a closer situation to be avoided until there appears to be a change in philosophy.

Varland earned the save in Friday's 6-2 win over the Pirates, striking out three without allowing a baserunner over two scoreless innings.

Varland was called on to protect a 3-1 lead with two men on and no outs in the eighth inning and escaped the jam while allowing one inherited runner to score. He then returned for the ninth after the Blue Jays tacked on three more runs and retired the side once again. It marked the second time the 28-year-old has logged two frames in his past four outings, and he's now yielded just two earned runs through 25 appearances this season. Overall, he's 7-for-7 in save chances with a 0.65 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 40:9 K:BB across 27.2 innings.

Tong didn't factor into the decision Friday against the Marlins, allowing one walk with two strikeouts across three hitless and scoreless innings out of the Mets' bullpen.

The 22-year-old was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse earlier Friday and worked the final three innings after Tobias Myers and Sean Manaea covered the first 15 outs. Tong flashed his plus stuff, including a 95.9 mph fastball, and generated five whiffs on 28 pitches. The right-hander could make starts for the Mets or be deployed as a multi-inning reliever.