MLB Player News

The Pirates outrighted Heller to Triple-A Indianapolis on Thursday.

Heller passed through waivers unclaimed after being designated for assignment and will remain in the organization. The reliever yielded 12 runs (11 earned) over just two innings during his brief time with the Pirates this season.

Sborz (shoulder) headed to Triple-A Round Rock on Wednesday to begin throwing live batting practice, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

If all goes well in live BP sessions, Sborz will embark on a rehab assignment shortly after. This is Sborz's second stint on the injured list this season due to a right rotator cuff strain.

Robertson allowed one hit, hit a batter and struck out three over a scoreless eighth inning Thursday, earning a hold in a 3-1 win over the Dodgers.

Robertson put the first two batters he faced aboard, setting up a rematch with the top of the Dodgers' lineup after he had struck out Mookie Betts, Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman on Wednesday to preserve a Texas lead. Robertson proceeded to do the same exact thing Thursday. The veteran reliever has 14 holds this season to go with a 3.19 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 36.2 percent strikeout rate, his highest mark since 2017.

Banks earned a save against Seattle on Thursday, striking out two batters in a perfect 10th inning.

Michael Kopech got the opportunity to notch a save in the ninth, but he blew the chance by serving up a game-tying solo shot to Julio Rodriguez. Chicago was able to push across a run in the top of the 10th, and Banks was handed the ball with a chance to earn a save in the bottom of that frame. The left-hander looked good doing so, fanning the first two batters he faced before ending the game by inducing a flyout. It was Banks' second save this season, and he has a 4.73 ERA though 32.1 innings. He isn't likely to see consistent save chances despite Kopech's struggles in the closer role.

Kopech (2-6) blew a save but earned the win over the Mariners on Thursday, allowing one run on one hit while striking out two batters over one inning.

Kopech was summoned in the ninth inning to try to protect a one-run Chicago lead but served up a one-out, game-tying solo shot to Julio Rodriguez. To his credit, Kopech bounced back to retire the next two batters and send the game to extra frames, and he was credited with a win as a result of the White Sox pushing across a run in the 10th. Kopech hasn't been very effective in a closing role for Chicago -- he hasn't notched a save since May 15 and is just 5-for-9 in save opportunities this season. He has a 4.91 ERA and 1.50 WHIP over 29.1 innings, though his 13.2 K/9 is characteristic of what most teams look for from a closer.

Munoz (back) picked up the loss Thursday as the Mariners fell to the White Sox, allowing an unearned run in the 10th inning.

Munoz allowed a walk and a hit before a fielder's choice brought home the automatic runner. The good news was that Munoz didn't allow much in the way of hard contact and generated three swings and misses among his 17 pitches, 11 of which were strikes.

Scott (5-5) took the loss and blew a save against the Mets on Thursday, allowing two runs on one hit and one walk while striking out one batter over one-third of an inning.

Scott was 8-for-9 in save chances coming into Thursday and hadn't blown a save since mid-April. In fact, he had rattled off 19 straight outings without allowing an earned run, racking up five wins and seven saves during that stretch. However, the southpaw couldn't protect a one-run, ninth-inning lead versus New York, issuing a leadoff walk to Francisco Lindor before serving up a walk-off two-run blast to J.D. Martinez two batters later. Despite the implosion Thursday, Scott has pitched well enough this season to not currently be in danger of losing his closing role, but that success could also make him a prime candidate to be dealt by the rebuilding Marlins.

Roycroft (1-0) allowed a hit but didn't given up a run over two-thirds of an inning Thursday, earning the win over the Pirates.

Roycroft gave up four runs over six innings during his first stint on the Cardinals' roster, but he's been much better the second time around. He's on a 5.1-inning scoreless streak over his last five appearances, allowing just three hits with a 6:0 K:BB in that span. The 26-year-old right-hander has posted a 3.18 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 12:4 K:BB through 11.1 innings overall while serving in a low-leverage role. Roycroft has been steady, but he's at risk of losing his place in the majors soon, as Giovanny Gallegos (shoulder) and Riley O'Brien (forearm) are on rehab assignments while Nick Robertson (elbow) has resumed mound work within the last week.

Kittredge allowed a hit in a scoreless inning to earn the save in Thursday's 4-3 win over the Pirates.

The Cardinals' bullpen delivered 4.2 scoreless innings, with Kittredge closing it out since Ryan Helsley had pitched each of the two previous days. The save was Kittredge's first of the year to go with 18 holds and three blown saves over 33 appearances. He's hit a rough patch since May 25, allowing eight runs (seven earned) over his last 9.2 innings, but he remains firmly in the high-leverage mix for the Cardinals. Kittredge has a 3.60 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 31:8 K:BB through 30 innings.

McArthur (3-3) allowed a hit and struck out one in a scoreless inning to earn the win over the Yankees on Thursday.

McArthur rebounded from his previous outing, which saw him take the loss versus the Mariners on Sunday after allowing three runs (two earned) in two-thirds of an inning. He's kept runs off the board in four of his five outings in June, but he has just one save this month. For the year, he's at a 5.08 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 25:5 K:BB over 28.1 innings while converting 12 of his 16 save opportunities as the Royals' primary closer.