MLB Player News
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Steven Cruz RP | KC
Royals' Steven Cruz: Reevaluation looming
Cruz (shoulder) is set to be reevaluated Monday to determine if he can begin a throwing program, per MLB.com.
Cruz landed on the injured list Aug. 3 and received an injection the following day for a right shoulder injury labeled as tendonitis. Before hitting the shelf, the right-hander had climbed the ranks in the Royals bullpen, opening the year with 13 scoreless outings before leveling off to a 3.61 ERA and 1.18 WHIP across 43 appearances (42.1 innings).
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Andres Munoz RP | SEA
Mariners' Andres Munoz: Earns 27th save
Munoz picked up the save in Saturday's 7-4 win over the Rays. He allowed a hit and a walk while striking out two over a scoreless inning.
The flamethrower gave up a leadoff single to Junior Caminero and issued a two-out walk to Ha-Seong Kim, but he ultimately struck out Tristan Peters to seal Seattle's win Saturday. Munoz has been dominant all season, posting a 1.37 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 11.54 K/9 and 27 saves over 46 innings.
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Jhoan Duran RP | PHI
Phillies' Jhoan Duran: Notches save No. 19
Duran earned a save against the Rangers on Saturday, striking out one batter in a perfect inning of work.
Duran entered in the ninth frame with the task of protecting a one-run lead. Texas couldn't get anything going against him, as the right-hander retired the side in order on 16 pitches. Duran has converted a save in each of his first three appearances since joining the Phillies via trade July 30, and he's yet to give up a run or a hit across three frames spanning three innings. Including his time earlier this season with Minnesota, Duran has recorded 19 saves in 21 chances while posting a superb 1.89 ERA and 55:18 K:BB across 52.2 frames.
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Joe Boyle SP | TB
Rays' Joe Boyle: Burned by gopher ball
Boyle (1-2) took the loss Saturday, allowing six runs on four hits and five walks over 3.1 innings in a 7-4 loss against the Mariners. He struck out five.
The right-hander struggled with control Saturday and was hurt even more by the long ball, serving up three total homers to Julio Rodriguez and Cal Raleigh. Boyle has made four starts and four relief appearances this season, posting a 3.82 ERA and 1.08 WHIP with a 31:16 K:BB over 30.2 innings.
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Robert Suarez RP | ATL
Padres' Robert Suarez: Takes blown save Saturday
Suarez allowed one run on two hits and one walk while striking out two over one inning, taking a blown save in Saturday's 5-4 extra-inning win over the Red Sox.
Suarez's stretch of shaky pitching continued, and it resulted in his second blown save in his last six appearances. He's allowed at least one baserunner in each of those outings. Suarez has still converted 32 of 37 save chances while pitching to a 3.28 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 51:14 K:BB through 49.1 innings. He's functioned as the Padres' closer even since the team acquired Mason Miller at the trade deadline, but any prolonged stretch of ineffective pitching could see Suarez slip into a committee role or get taken out of the closing conversation altogether in a worst-case scenario.
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Raisel Iglesias RP | ATL
Braves' Raisel Iglesias: Nabs 16th save
Iglesias earned a save in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Marlins, striking out one batter in a perfect inning.
Iglesias was asked to protect a two-run lead in the ninth inning of the nightcap. He needed just 11 pitches to do so, with the vast majority of those coming on a nine-pitch battle with Otto Lopez that ended in a game-finishing strikeout. Iglesias has looked like his old self of late, converting five consecutive save opportunities across his past seven outings and racking up a 7:0 K:BB while tossing seven scoreless innings during that span.
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Hurston Waldrep SP | ATL
Braves' Hurston Waldrep: Shines in second victory
Waldrep (2-0) earned the win over Miami in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader, allowing one run on four hits and one walk while striking out six batters over six innings.
Waldrep was called up for the contest for what could just be a spot start. The rookie right-hander at least gave Atlanta something to think about in terms of leaving him in the rotation, as he not only earned the victory, he also notched his first career quality start while racking up 12 whiffs and six punchouts over six frames. Through two major-league outings, Waldrep has surrendered just two runs over 11.2 innings while posting a 10:3 K:BB. Atlanta's pitching staff has been hit hard by injuries this season, and among current starters, none were part of the Opening Day rotation. With some shifting, that could leave room for Waldrep to be given a chance to remain a big-league starter, though it's worth noting that Chris Sale (ribs) is beginning a minor-league rehab stint next week and could be activated off the IL not long thereafter.
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Braxton Ashcraft P | PIT
Pirates' Braxton Ashcraft: Strikes out five in no-decision
Ashcraft did not factor into the decision in Saturday's 2-1 loss to the Reds, allowing one run on three hits and one walk with five strikeouts over 3.1 innings.
Ashcraft opened with three scoreless frames before allowing a run and recording just one out in the fourth. The 25-year-old generated eight whiffs on 56 pitches in what was his longest outing of the season. He owns a 3.19 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 33:13 K:BB across 36.2 innings and tentatively lines up for a tough road matchup with the Cubs next weekend.
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Gus Varland RP | WAS
Gus Varland: Heads to open market
The White Sox released Varland (undisclosed) on Saturday.
The White Sox designated Varland for assignment Thursday, and he'll now hit the open market after clearing waivers. A 28-year-old righty who has spent parts of the last three seasons at the Triple-A level, Varland hasn't pitched since June 28 due to an undisclosed injury. He has a 4.82 ERA and 1.74 WHIP in 46.2 career innings in the majors.
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Trevor Megill RP | MIL
Brewers' Trevor Megill: Notches 28th save
Megill earned the save in Saturday's 7-4 win over the Mets, allowing one walk and striking out two in a scoreless ninth inning.
Megill was called upon to protect a three-run lead in the ninth inning and struck out the last two batters he faced to secure his second save in as many days. The 31-year-old has now converted 10 straight save chances dating back to July 4, allowing just one earned run over 12 appearances during that stretch. For the year, he's tied for third in the majors with 28 saves to go along with a 2.20 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 49:15 K:BB across 41 innings.