MLB Player News

Hernandez (arm/leg) has struck out four batters and allowed no hits and one walk over two scoreless innings in a pair of relief appearances for Triple-A Columbus since being reinstated from the 60-day injured list Tuesday.

The 29-year-old righty signed a minor-league deal with Cleveland back in November but didn't participate in spring training while he recovered from injuries sustained during a Jan. 11 car accident. Hernandez was cleared to begin a rehab assignment July 7 and was given the green light to rejoin the Guardians' top affiliate earlier this month. He's looked good through his first two outings with Columbus and could get a look in the big-league bullpen later this season if he continues to find success at Triple-A.

Lynch (4-2) earned the win in Saturday's 3-2 win over the Tigers. He allowed a hit without issuing a walk or recording a strikeout over one-plus innings.

Lynch entered in the eighth inning and worked a scoreless frame before Nick Loftin crushed a go-ahead solo homer in the top of the ninth to put the southpaw in position for the win. Lynch gave up a leadoff single to Riley Greene in the bottom of the ninth before giving way to Alex Lange, who secured the save. Across eight July appearances spanning 9.1 innings, Lynch has yet to surrender an earned run and has posted a 2-0 record. Overall, the 29-year-old has put together a quality campaign in a high-leverage role, producing a 2.08 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 34:12 K:BB across 43.1 innings.

Wesneski (elbow) struck out seven and allowed one unearned run on two hits and two walks across 4.1 innings in a rehab start Friday with Triple-A Sugar Land.

Wesneski has been on the shelf all season while completing his recovery from May 2025 Tommy John surgery, but he's closing in on his 2026 big-league debut. He's made five starts during his rehab assignment, with the right-hander having compiled a 2.25 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 21:4 K:BB in 20 innings across stops with Sugar Land, Double-A Corpus Christi and the rookie-level Florida Complex League. After building up to 80 pitches and generating 12 whiffs in Friday's outing, Wesneski should be fully stretched out for a starting role and could be a candidate to move into the big-league rotation, which has an opening after Spencer Arrighetti (foot) was moved to the injured list Saturday. The Astros will need to add a new starter to the mix Wednesday in Anaheim, though it's unclear if Wesneski would be activated from the 60-day injured list to pitch on four days' rest, after he received at least five days of rest between each of his rehab appearances.

Barnett (1-1) took the loss against Minnesota on Saturday, allowing two runs on four hits and one walk while striking out two batters over 3.1 innings.

Initial reports suggested Barnett would start Saturday's contest, but that role ultimately went to Brady Basso, who covered the first two frames. Barnett still ended up logging the longest outing among A's pitchers, tossing 54 pitches (35 strikes) across his 3.1 innings. The right-hander got through his first three frames unscathed, but he surrendered two runs in the sixth, which accounted for all of the scoring in the game. It remains to be seen how Barnett will be deployed moving forward, but he could be needed to make a few starts (or bulk-relief appearances) with J.T. Ginn (finger blister) currently on the 15-day IL.

Gomez earned a save against the Athletics on Saturday, striking out one batter in a perfect inning of work.

Four Minnesota pitchers combined to hold the A's scoreless over eight frames, and Gomez was given the ball to begin the ninth. The right-hander didn't take long to close things out and needed just eight pitches (six strikes) to retire the side in order. Gomez entered the campaign with just one career regular-season save on his ledger, but he's emerged as the Twins' primary closer this season. He's a perfect 13-for-13 on save opportunities, and since recording his first save April 18, Gomez has posted a standout 2.04 ERA along with a 34:16 K:BB over 35.1 innings spanning 37 appearances.

Rojas pitched four scoreless innings in a no-decision against the Athletics on Saturday, allowing one hit and issuing one walk while striking out five batters.

Rojas made his fourth start of the season as an emergency replacement for Mike Paredes, who was a late scratch due to an oblique injury. Though there was no expectation that Rojas would go very deep after having thrown fewer than 50 pitches in each of his three outings since being recalled from Triple-A on July 9, the left-hander ended up hurling 56 pitches Saturday and lasted four frames, tying his longest big-league start of the campaign. Rojas didn't go long enough to qualify for the victory, but he certainly played a big part in Minnesota's win, limiting the A's to just two baserunners (on a single and a walk) and zero runs. Rojas has plenty of experience as a starter in the minors, and he's a candidate to move into the rotation if Paredes and/or Joe Ryan (arm) needs to miss time.

Megill recorded a save against the Rockies on Saturday, allowing one hit and striking out one batter over one-third of an inning.

It didn't look like Megill would be needed, as Milwaukee entered the ninth inning with an 8-2 advantage. However, Lance McCullers got into trouble, allowing two walks and a single while also being hurt by an error to allow two runs to cross the plate. Megill was summoned with two outs and yielded a single to allow another run to score, but he was able to close the floodgates by striking out Cole Carrigg. That gave Megill his sixth save in his eighth outing of July. The right-hander is locked in as the Brewers' closer with 17 saves in 19 chances on the season.

Stewart struck out two in a perfect inning to earn the save in Saturday's 4-3 win over the Mets.

The Dodgers turned to Alex Vesia, Edgardo Henriquez and Tanner Scott in the seventh and eighth innings. That left the save chance to Stewart, who converted it cleanly for the third save of his big-league career. The reliever has played his part well in a middle-relief role, pitching to a 2.03 ERA, 0.75 WHIP and 14:5 K:BB over 13.1 innings this season. He's also added four holds. Stewart reached the 200-inning mark in his career with this outing. While he's been effective when called upon, his path to high-leverage work will get narrower when Edwin Diaz (elbow) comes off the injured list Wednesday.

Hader earned a save against the White Sox on Saturday by striking out both batters he faced in the ninth inning.

Houston entered the bottom of the ninth with a 4-0 lead and Bennett Sousa on the mound. However, Sousa gave up a run on a pair of one-out singles and an error, at which point Hader was summoned from the bullpen. The veteran closer made sure that Chicago didn't come any closer by striking out both batters he faced on a combined 10 pitches. Hader continues to roll as one of the league's top closers -- after missing the first two months of the season due to a bicep injury, he's 12-for-12 in save chances while posting a 1.35 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and 33:8 K:BB over 20 innings spanning 22 appearances.

Beeter worked a perfect ninth inning Saturday to record his ninth save of the season in a 5-3 win over the Diamondbacks. He didn't strike out a batter.

The right-hander needed just nine pitches (six strikes) to take care of the middle of Arizona's order. Beeter had been tagged for at least one run in three straight appearances prior to Saturday, and while he's the best closing option the Nationals have at the moment, his 3.82 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 33:19 K:BB over 30.2 innings on the season are far from elite ratios.