MLB Player News

Finnegan struck out one batter in a perfect ninth inning against the Mariners on Saturday to earn his 14th save of the season.

Finnegan dotted the inside corner to strike out Cal Raleigh before getting both Mitch Garver and Julio Rodriguez to ground out. With that, Finnegan is now up to 14 saves, two behind Emmanuel Clase and Ryan Helsley for the MLB lead. His last save prior to Saturday was May 14, as he went a while without being used and squandered a save chance, but Finnegan has only strengthened his grasp on the closer job in Washington with his performance this season. In turn he's also given the organization leverage in trade talks that will inevitably take place this summer.

Duran threw a perfect ninth inning with one strikeout against the Rangers on Saturday to earn his sixth save of the season.

The Twins grabbed the lead in the bottom of the eighth on an Alex Kirilloff three-run homer, and Duran was there the next half inning to close the door. He retired the side in order on just eight pitches and is now the team leader in saves with six to Griffin Jax's five, even though Duran missed the first month of the season due to an oblique injury. Duran has been used occasionally in the eighth since making his return, but he's still clearly the preferred closing option in Minnesota when manager Rocco Baldelli has the luxury of holding him back for the ninth.

Sands (2-0) earned the win in Saturday's 5-3 win over Texas. He allowed no hits or walks while striking out two over two perfect innings.

It was a nice bounce-back outing from Sands after he allowed five earned runs on five hits and two walks over 2.1 innings over his prior three appearances. He was used in some high-leverage spots while Jhoan Duran was out for a month with a back injury, but Sands may be used earlier in games with Duran healthy.

Romero (2-0) allowed three hits and struck out one over 1.1 scoreless innings to earn the win Saturday over the Cubs.

Romero became the pitcher of record after the Cardinals rallied for the lead in the bottom of the eighth inning. While this was a bit of a shaky performance, Romero was able to post his ninth scoreless appearance over 11 outings in May. The southpaw is at a 1.35 ERA, 0.79 WHIP and 26:4 K:BB while adding 17 holds and one blown save through 26.2 innings. He's the Cardinals' top lefty reliever and continues to feature in a setup role.

Helsley allowed two runs on four hits in one inning but earned the save in Saturday's 7-6 win over the Cubs. He did not walk or strike out a batter.

Helsley had gone 11 innings without allowing a run, and he hadn't given up multiple hits in an appearance since April 27. Luckily for the Cardinals, they gave him a three-run lead to protect, and that was just enough leeway in this one. Helsley is 16-for-17 in save chances this season with a 1.96 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 24:4 K:BB over 23 innings. His lone blown save came in his season debut, and he remains one of the top closers in baseball despite pitching for a mediocre team.

Megill recorded a one-out save in Saturday's 6-3 victory over the Red Sox.

The Brewers were hoping to give Megill the night off, but they were forced to turn to him with two outs in the bottom of the ninth and the tying run in the batter's box. Megill surrendered an RBI single to the first batter he faced to let one inherited runner score, but he quickly rebounded with a strikeout to end it. Having converted each of the Brewers' last eight traditional saves, Megill is the clear closer in Milwaukee.

Suter will serve as the Reds' opening pitcher in Sunday's game versus the Dodgers, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Suter had some extended relief appearances earlier this season, but he pitched an inning Friday and hasn't lasted more than one frame in any of his last seven outings, so he won't work deep into Sunday's contest. The presumption, while not confirmed, is that Nick Martinez will eat most of the innings behind Suter as a bulk reliever.

Miller notched his 10th save of the season Saturday, striking out the side in a 4-1 win over the Astros.

Miller was coming off his worst appearance of the season his last time out against the Rockies, but he had no such trouble in this one. The flamethrower needed 15 pitches to dispose of the Astros in order, topping out at 102.2 mph with his fastball. Miller has struck out multiple batters in 14 of 18 outings this season.

Bednar allowed two hits but hung on for a scoreless inning and a save in Saturday's 4-1 win over Atlanta.

Tasked with protecting a three-run lead, Bednar retired the first two batters of the ninth inning before back-to-back hits put the tying run in Ronald Acuna at the plate. The closer then got Acuna to ground into a fielder's choice to thwart the threat. After blowing three save chances in seven tries to start the season, Bednar has successfully converted each of his last seven opportunities.

McArthur (2-2) allowed an unearned run on one hit over two innings, earning the extra-innings win over the Rays on Saturday.

McArthur gave up a two-out RBI double in the 10th inning that tied the game at 4-4, but the Royals took the lead for good in the 11th. May hasn't been an easy month for McArthur, who has given up eight runs (six earned) over 10 innings while converting four of his six save chances. He's at a 3.80 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 23:3 K:BB over 23.2 innings while adding 11 saves in 14 chances and one hold. McArthur's role as the Royals' primary closer isn't in doubt yet, but it's possible Carlos Hernandez will be a factor in the late innings eventually after recovering from a shoulder injury that kept him out for the first two months of the campaign.