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Jake Diekman RP | ATL
Mets' Jake Diekman: Secures first save
Diekman gave up an unearned run in the 11th inning Thursday, walking one and striking out one, to record his first save of the season in a 6-5 win over the Phillies.
The veteran southpaw couldn't stop the phantom runner from coming home thanks in part to a Pete Alonso error, but Diekman otherwise wiggled out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam to preserve the comeback win. Edwin Diaz had blown his third save of the season in the ninth inning, but the Mets aren't yet showing any inclination to make a switch at closer. Diekman's control issues could keep him out of consideration for saves even if the job does become open, however -- through 14 innings this season he has a 3.21 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 18:13 K:BB.
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Jorge Lopez RP | WAS
Mets' Jorge Lopez: Collects first win
Lopez (1-0) picked up the win in Thursday's extra-innings victory over the Phillies, walking one batter in a scoreless 10th inning.
The 31-year-old right-hander has seen his numbers take a step backward in May, and through seven innings this month he has a 3.86 ERA, 2.00 WHIP and 4:6 K:BB. Lopez got the job done Thursday though, and he's collected one win, two saves and six holds in 22 appearances while giving the Mets some valuable middle-relief depth.
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Aroldis Chapman RP | BOS
Pirates' Aroldis Chapman: Returns to mound
Chapman (finger) struck out two and did not allow a baserunner in a scoreless inning to earn a hold Thursday against the Cubs.
Chapman was removed from Sunday's appearance with a cracked fingernail, but the issue was never expected to require a long-term absence. After beginning the season as the Pirates' primary setup man, Chapman appeared in the seventh inning Thursday while Colin Holderman followed him in the eighth frame.
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Nick Martinez SP | TB
Reds' Nick Martinez: Picks up first win
Martinez (1-2) earned the win over the Dodgers on Thursday, pitching five shutout innings in relief while allowing one hit and striking out four.
Martinez relieved Justin Wilson to open the bottom of the third and proceeded to retire 15 of the 16 batters he faced while generating 12 swings and misses. Martinez has been outstanding in a relief role and carries a 0.87 ERA to go along with a 9:2 K:BB through 10.1 innings in May over four appearances.
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Shawn Dubin RP | ARI
Astros' Shawn Dubin: Earns first save
Dubin picked up his first save in a win over Oakland on Thursday, allowing one run on two hits over three innings while striking out two.
The right-handed reliever surrendered a leadoff single to kick things off in the seventh and advanced the runner on a wild pitch before they would eventually make their way home. However, Dubin cruised through the next two frames and recorded his longest appearance of the campaign in an 8-1 win. On the downside, he's now allowed at least one run in two of his last three appearances as he continues to work in a low-leverage role.
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David Bednar RP | NYY
Pirates' David Bednar: Nails down ninth save
Bednar picked up the save against the Cubs on Thursday, pitching a perfect ninth inning while striking out one.
Bednar entered the game to protect a one-run lead in the bottom of the ninth and needed only eight pitches to retire the side and secure his ninth save of the season. The right-handed reliever has converted each of his last eight save attempts and carries a 2.57 ERA in May to go along with a 6:2 K:BB. Bednar has also recorded at least one strikeout in three straight appearances and in six of seven appearances overall this month.
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Kenley Jansen RP | DET
Red Sox's Kenley Jansen: Surrenders two runs
Jansen (1-1) took the loss Thursday against Tampa Bay, allowing two runs on two hits and one walk with two strikeouts over one inning.
Jansen took over in the top of the ninth with the game tied but fell to his first loss of the campaign. After striking out Josh Lowe to start off the inning, Jansen yielded a walk, two singles and a sacrifice fly to consecutive batters as the Rays took a 7-5 advantage and the eventual win. The outing raised the 36-year-old's ERA from 2.45 to 3.45. In 15.2 innings of work, Jansen owns a 21:10 K:BB and has yet to allow a home run.
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Jason Adam RP | SD
Rays' Jason Adam: Forced to abandon save opportunity
Adam allowed one hit and one walk while striking out one across two-thirds of an inning to earn a hold Thursday against the Red Sox.
Adam entered the game in the ninth inning and was in line to earn the save, but he was forced to exit after the Rays' exceeded their limit for mound visits. He was laboring toward the end of the outing, having allowed each of the last two batters he faced to reach base. Though it wasn't his most dominant appearance, Adam has been excellent this season and has turned in six consecutive scoreless outings. He could be a candidate for save chances moving forward on occasions when Pete Fairbanks is unavailable or used in high-leverage situations earlier in a contest.
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Erasmo Ramirez RP | MIN
Rays' Erasmo Ramirez: Picks up unconventional save
Ramirez recorded the final out in Thursday's win over Boston to earn the save.
Jason Adam began the ninth inning and was in line to earn the save, but he was forced to leave the game after the Rays exceeded the limit for mound visits. Ramirez then entered the contest to record the final out with runners on first and third. He hasn't worked many high-leverage situations this season and isn't likely to see many moving forward given the depth of Tampa Bay's bullpen.