MLB Player News

Estevez threw a perfect ninth inning to earn the save in Wednesday's 6-3 win over the Rangers.

Estevez was summoned to protect a three-run lead in the ninth and needed just 12 pitches to retire the top of the Rangers' order. It was a solid rebound after taking the loss on Sunday, and the 32-year-old has now held opponents scoreless in 25 of his 31 appearances this season. He ranks second in the majors with 20 saves and owns a 1.99 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 28:14 K:BB across 31.2 innings.

Halvorsen picked up the save in Wednesday's 3-2 win over the Nationals, striking out two in a perfect ninth inning.

Halvorsen has converted the Rockies' last two save opportunities. He's turned in four consecutive scoreless innings, striking out five while allowing just one hit in that span. Overall, the right-hander has logged five saves while posting a 4.25 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 28:14 K:BB across 29.2 innings this season. The demotion of Zach Agnos last weekend should leave Halvorsen as Colorado's top option for saves, though Tyler Kinley could also be in the mix.

Lauer (3-1) earned the win Wednesday over the Diamondbacks, allowing a run on four hits and a walk over five innings. He struck out eight.

Lauer was excellent Wednesday, blanking Arizona for five innings before ultimately allowing a leadoff triple in the sixth to Corbin Carroll, who came around to score after the Jays turned to the bullpen. The 30-year-old Lauer lowered his ERA to 2.29 through 35.1 innings this season, which is accompanied by a 0.93 WHIP and 36:11 K:BB. The left-hander certainly made a case to remain in Toronto's rotation going forward, even with Max Scherzer (thumb) nearing a return from the IL.

Jansen earned the save in Wednesday's 3-2 win over the Yankees, striking out one in a scoreless ninth inning.

After Paul Goldschmidt reached on an error to start the ninth, Jansen managed to set down the next three Yankees to seal the Angels' one-run victory and deliver his second straight scoreless outing. The veteran Jansen is a perfect 15-for-15 in save chances this season despite posting a mediocre 4.56 ERA with a 1.29 WHIP over 25.2 innings.

Blackburn (0-1) was saddled with the loss Wednesday against Atlanta, giving up three runs (two earned) on four hits and two walks in 3.2 innings. He struck out two.

Blackburn wasn't fully stretched out in his second start of the season, as he was pulled after throwing 73 pitches, but he managed to settle in following Atlanta's three-run first frame. The Mets will likely need the veteran right-hander for at least one more start, with Kodai Senga (hamstring), Sean Manaea (oblique) and Frankie Montas (lat) all still sitting on the injured list. Blackburn's next turn in the Mets' rotation lines up for a rematch versus Atlanta next week, when he'll carry a 6.94 ERA, 1.69 WHIP and 8:4 K:BB through his first 13 innings of the year.

Weissert walked one in a scoreless ninth inning Wednesday to record his third save of the season in a 3-1 win over the Mariners.

All three of the right-hander's saves have come since June 10, but the first two opportunities arose while Aroldis Chapman was getting a rest due to a heavy workload. That wasn't the case Wednesday -- Chapman pitched the eighth inning and faced the top of the Seattle order, while Weissert was called on to retire the 4-5-6 hitters for the M's and got the job done thanks to a double-play grounder from Dominic Canzone. Weissert seems to have earned the trust of manager Alex Cora, and over his last 15.2 innings dating back to May 16, the 30-year-old reliever has a 1.72 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 13:4 K:BB with a win and eight holds in addition to his recent batch of saves.

The Astros recalled Hernandez from Triple-A Sugar Land on Wednesday, Julia Morales of AT&T SportsNet Southwest reports.

All 29 of Hernandez's appearances this season have come in Triple-A, where he owns an impressive 1.74 ERA and 0.97 WHIP alongside a 42:13 K:BB through 31 innings. He'll now be called upon to serve as a middle-relief option for Houston, replacing Jason Alexander in the bullpen.

The Giants optioned Beck to Triple-A Sacramento on Wednesday, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

With Justin Verlander (pectoral) returning from the injured list to start Wednesday's game against Cleveland, Beck will end up as the odd man without a spot on the Giants' pitching staff. The 28-year-old righty turned in a 4.50 ERA and 1.25 WHIP across 12 innings during his time in San Francisco.

The Dodgers optioned Sauer to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Wednesday.

Sauer was credited with a win Tuesday against the Padres, despite allowing three runs over 2.1 relief innings. He will head back to Oklahoma City to accommodate the return of Emmet Sheehan (elbow), who was reinstated from the 60-day injured list to start Wednesday's contest.

The Marlins optioned Tarnok to Triple-A Jacksonville on Wednesday.

Tarnok made a nice impression during his brief time in the majors, picking up a save in his first appearance and a win in his other outing and not allowing a baserunner in either outing. He should receive another opportunity with the Marlins eventually, but for now he's clearing out to make room on the roster for Wednesday's starting pitcher, Adam Mazur, who was recalled from Triple-A. Tarnok could settle back into a starting role as he returns to Jacksonville.