MLB Player News

Scott earned the save with a scoreless ninth inning during Game 1 of Saturday's doubleheader against the Cubs. He struck out one and allowed two hits and no walks.

Bryan De La Cruz's two-run homer in the top of the ninth gave Miami a 3-2 lead, and Scott closed out the bottom of the frame to finish off the comeback despite giving up singles to the first two batters he faced. The Marlins closer has struggled with his command early in the season, as Saturday's outing was just his third time in nine appearances without issuing a walk. Scott is 3-for-4 in save opportunities and has a 3.72 ERA, 1.86 WHIP and 9:12 K:BB across 9.2 innings.

Alzolay (1-2) was charged with the loss and a blown save in Game 1 of Saturday's doubleheader against Miami. He allowed two runs on two hits and a walk while striking out one over 1.1 innings.

The Cubs closer entered with two outs in the eighth inning and walked a batter before he stranded the bases loaded, but a single and two-run homer in the ninth put Miami ahead 3-2. It's the second straight outing with a blown save for Alzolay, who is now 3-for-7 in save chances on the season. He's given up five runs with a 9:4 K:BB across 10 innings. Hector Neris picked up the save in Game 2 and could see more chances in the ninth inning if Alzolay's struggles persist.

Jansen struck out the side in a perfect ninth inning Saturday to record his fifth save of the season in a 4-2 win over the Pirates.

The veteran right-hander fired nine of 14 pitches for strikes in his most impressive performance so far this season, although he did benefit from a third-strike clock violation by Michael Taylor. It's only the third time in eight appearances that Jansen hasn't issued a walk, and while his 2.35 ERA looks good, it comes with a 1.57 WHIP and 12:8 K:BB over 7.2 innings.

Alvarado retired the only batter he faced to record his fourth save of the season in Saturday's win over the White Sox.

With a 9-0 lead entering the top of the ninth inning, the Phillies were looking like they'd be able to give Alvarado the night off. However, manager Rob Thomson was forced to turn to the hard-throwing lefty after Ricardo Pinto allowed five runs and loaded the bases with two out to put the tying run at the plate. Alvarado promptly disposed of Andrew Benintendi on one pitch in inducing a game-ending groundout. The southpaw has notched each of the Phillies' last two saves and leads the club with four on the season. While Alvarado is Thompson's top option for saves, Jeff Hoffman could still see some chances on days the skipper elects to use the lefty earlier in games.

Finnegan (1-2) picked up the win Saturday, working a scoreless 10th inning in a 5-4 victory over the Astros.

The right-hander needed only seven pitches (five strikes) to get through the top of the 10th, and he got a little help from his defense as Lane Thomas sprinted to catch a foul ball off Alex Bregman's bat and then threw out Jose Altuve trying to tag up and score. Finnegan carries a 2.89 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 8:5 K:BB through 9.1 innings, and he remains tied with Ryan Helsley for the NL lead in saves with seven.

Garrett struck out the side in a perfect ninth inning Saturday to record his first career save in a 6-4 win over the Dodgers.

Edwin Diaz needed 20 pitches to get the final two outs of the eighth inning, and rather than extend his closer, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza elected to see whether Garrett could handle a high-leverage spot. The 31-year-old right-hander was more than up to the task, firing nine of 13 pitches for strikes as he carved up the bottom of the Dodgers' order. Top setup men Brooks Raley and Adam Ottavino had both pitched the day before and were presumably being rested, but Garrett earned his opportunity. Through his first 10.2 innings this season, he's delivered a 0.75 ERA, 0.57 WHIP and dazzling 21:3 K:BB. Diaz is still the undisputed closer for the Mets, but Garrett figures to see more late-inning work after this successful audition.

Diaz walked two and struck out two in a scoreless two-thirds of an inning Saturday, recording his first hold of the season in a 6-4 win over the Dodgers.

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza called on his closer to protect a two-run lead with one on and one out in the eighth inning, but Diaz walked the bases loaded before escaping the jam, needing 20 pitches (nine strikes) to do it. As a result, Reed Garrett came on in the ninth and struck out the side to secure the save. Diaz has yet to have an appearance of longer than one inning this season, so it's not clear if Mendoza would have allowed the right-hander to try and get more than three outs had the eighth gone smoothly. Either way, Diaz remains the team's clear closer and sports a 1.17 ERA, 0.78 WHIP and 12:4 K:BB through his first 7.2 innings this season.

Clase tossed a scoreless ninth inning with two strikeouts against the Athletics on Saturday to pick up his sixth save of the season.

Asking Clase to preserve a three-run lead against the A's is about as easy as a save opportunity gets, but his fantasy managers will take it. Clase did give up a leadoff double to Ryan Noda in this one, but he quickly rebounded with a couple punchouts sandwiched around a groundout. The 26-year-old closer has been credited with two blown saves this season, but he's been charged with just one earned run and has a 9:0 K:BB over 10 frames.

Fairbanks was unavailable to pitch Saturday versus the Yankees due to stomach issues, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Fairbanks wasn't even at the ballpark, as he was told to remain at the team hotel with his illness. It explains why Garrett Cleavinger was called upon for the save chance in the 10th inning Saturday (which he converted). Fairbanks has had a rocky start to the season with a 9.00 ERA and eight walks over seven innings, but he's been tagged with only one blown save. Once he feels well enough to pitch, Fairbanks still looks like the best bet to receive the Rays' next save opportunity.

White was recalled from Triple-A Round Rock on Friday.

The 24-year-old took the roster spot of Jack Leiter, who was sent down after making his MLB debut Thursday. White hasn't pitched well in three starts for Round Rock this season with a 7.30 ERA across 12.1 innings, but he will be available in relief for the time being. White got his feet wet in the big leagues last summer with a couple appearances out of the Texas bullpen.