MLB Player News

Kopech threw a scoreless inning to earn a save against the Cardinals on Sunday.

Kopech threw seven of 12 pitches for strikes and finished the game on a double-play ball after a runner reached base on an error. He's now turned in 9.1 consecutive scoreless innings to begin his Dodgers career and earned two saves during the weekend series against St. Louis. With Daniel Hudson (8.64 ERA over his last nine appearances) and Evan Phillips (no saves since July 23) seemingly falling out of favor, the Dodgers may use Kopech in the ninth inning more often. Kopech owns a 3.91 ERA with a 72:25 K:BB through 53 innings this season.

Koenig threw a perfect inning to earn a save against Cleveland on Sunday.

Koenig needed just 12 pitches (seven strikes) to finish off the 2-0 win. It was his first career MLB save, and he dropped his season ERA to 2.09. Koenig owns a 12:4 K:BB and a 3.86 ERA since returning from the injured list July 21. Both Devin Williams and Joel Payamps pitched in three of the four previous games and did not appear in Sunday's win.

Faucher pitched a scoreless ninth inning to earn his third save of the season Sunday against the Mets. He allowed two hits and zero walks while striking out two batters.

Called upon to protect a one-run lead in the ninth, Faucher stumbled by allowing back-to-back singles to start the inning. He recovered nicely, however, striking out Jeff McNeil and inducing a Francisco Lindor flyout before striking out Mark Vientos to end the game. The 28-year-old Faucher has pitched well since taking over the Marlins' closer role following the Tanner Scott trade on July 30. Faucher owns a 3.38 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 10:4 K:BB in eight innings since the trade, converting three of four save opportunities.

Vodnik walked one in a scoreless and hitless inning to earn the save in Sunday's 3-2 win over the Padres.

Vodnik put together two scoreless outings at home versus the Padres during this series after blowing a save Tuesday in Arizona. That blown save was Vodnik's first since he took over the primary closer role for the Rockies. He's allowed five runs over 8.1 innings in August, but they've been limited to two poor appearances out of nine. For the season, Vodnik has a 4.04 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 57:31 K:BB while converting nine saves, adding six holds and taking three blown saves through 64.2 innings.

Blalock allowed one run on six hits and three walks while striking out two over 5.2 innings in a no-decision versus the Padres on Sunday.

Blalock came an out short of a quality start for the second outing in a row, and he was also pulled before the Rockies gained the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning. While he walked three, it was still another positive performance for the 23-year-old in his Coors Field debut. Blalock has a 2.92 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 6:4 K:BB over 12.1 innings across three appearances (two starts) between Colorado and Milwaukee this year. Despite his decent pitching, Blalock may be sent back to Triple-A Albuquerque if Ryan Feltner (shoulder) is able to return from the injured list this week without requiring a rehab assignment, though Tanner Gordon has been less inspiring as a fill-in starter for Colorado's injury-plagued rotation.

Latz (forearm) is set to begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Frisco on Sunday.

Latz has been sidelined since Aug. 2 and began throwing off a mound Thursday. He's been used in relatively short stints out of the bullpen, so his rehab assignment shouldn't be particularly lengthy.

Yates allowed a run on one hit and struck out two over one inning, taking a blown save in Sunday's 6-5 win over the Twins.

The Rangers had a five-run rally in the seventh inning to sneak ahead, but Yates couldn't protect the one-run lead in the ninth. He allowed a solo home run to Carlos Santana, which gave Yates his first blown save in 22 opportunities this year. The closer has still pitched incredibly well with a 1.36 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 66:22 K:BB over 46.1 innings this year, but he's allowed three runs (two earned) over eight innings in August.

Green allowed a hit over a scoreless inning to earn the save in Sunday's 1-0 win over the Cubs.

Green has given up a run in three of his last five outings, but he's picked up four saves and one loss in that span. The veteran right-hander continues to handle the closing duties fairly well for the Blue Jays while Jordan Romano (elbow) works back from arthroscopic surgery. Green is up to 13 saves this year while adding seven holds, a 3-3 record, 1.82 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 33:11 K:BB across 39.2 innings.

Francis (6-3) allowed three hits and struck out seven without walking a batter over seven shutout innings to earn the win over the Cubs on Sunday.

Joey Loperfido's second-inning home run was all the support Francis needed in this outing. Over his last three outings, Francis has allowed just three runs while posting a 22:1 K:BB across 19 innings. It's relatively newfound success for the 28-year-old, as he did little of note in the first half of the campaign. Francis is at a 4.38 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 58:16 K:BB across 63.2 innings over 21 appearances (seven starts) this season. He's projected for a favorable home start versus the Angels in his next appearance.

Fairbanks is expected to be placed on the injured list due to a lat strain, Tricia Whitaker of Bally Sports Sun reports.

Fairbanks was hit hard in his last outing Friday and blew a save chance, as he served up three hits and two earned runs. Additional reporting from Steve Carney of StPeteNine.com indicates that Fairbanks will undergo an MRI on his right side Monday, after which he will likely be placed on the injured list. The Rays will likely mix and match the closer role in Fairbanks' absence, though Colin Poche and Manuel Rodriguez have most recently worked in high-leverage roles in the bullpen.