MLB Player News

Bachman was credited with a hold against San Francisco on Sunday despite allowing two runs on two walks while retiring just one batter.

Bachman got the call from the bullpen to begin the ninth inning with the Angels holding a 4-1 lead. The right-hander threw just seven of 18 pitches for strikes and walked two of the three batters he faced to bring the tying run to the plate. After his second walk, Bachman was lifted in favor of Mitch Farris, who gave up a Luis Arraez double to allow both inherited runners to score but was ultimately able to record the save. It was a disappointing outcome for Bachman, who picked up a save in late June and has been part of the high-leverage mix for an unsettled Angels bullpen. He didn't do himself any favors Sunday in gaining additional opportunities to close, and Ryan Zeferjahn and Kirby Yates remain the most likely of the Angels' relievers to see save chances moving forward.

Lee struck out one and gave up a solo home run in one inning of relief Sunday to record his 20th hold of the season in an extra-innings win over the Orioles.

Atlanta's staff had a shutout going until Lee served up a homer to Pete Alonso in the eighth inning, but they didn't lose the lead until Raisel Iglesias blew the save in the ninth. Lee has been tagged for at least one run in four of his last five appearances, but even after that skid he still sports a 2.27 ERA on the season, along with a 0.76 WHIP and 60:8 K:BB over 47.2 innings, and he remains the top left-handed option in manager Walt Weiss' bullpen.

Thornton (heel) struck out two batters and allowed one hit over a scoreless inning of relief in Sunday's 8-7 loss to the Pirates.

Thornton was forced out of his prior appearance in Monday's 8-6 extra-inning loss to Detroit when he was struck on the left foot by a comebacker, with the reliever later getting diagnosed with a heel contusion. He was able to avoid a stint on the injured list, and after a few days of rest and recovery, Thornton stepped in to pitch a scoreless eighth inning in the Cubs' final game in Pittsburgh. Thornton has ascended into a key late-inning role in an injury-plagued Cubs bullpen, but he could fall down the pecking order soon. Daniel Palencia (elbow) is close to beginning a rehab assignment and could be back from the injured list before the middle of August, and Chicago could also add another high-leverage piece or two to its bullpen ahead of next Monday's trade deadline.

Alvarez is slated to work in a bulk-relief role Monday versus the Blue Jays, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports.

Eddy Yean will take the ball first as an opener, but Alvarez will absorb the brunt of the innings for Washington on Monday. Alvarez has struggled in his last three outings (two starts, one bulk relief appearance), yielding 11 runs over 12 innings.

Yean will serve as the opening pitcher for the Nationals in Monday's game versus the Blue Jays, Kyle Williams of TheBanner.com reports.

Yean will draw his first MLB start after tossing 5.1 scoreless innings covering his first three appearances with Washington. He'll likely cover an inning or two before giving way to left-hander Andrew Alvarez, who is in line to work as the Nationals' bulk reliever.

O'Brien was unavailable to pitch in Sunday's 5-3 extra-inning loss to the Reds due to illness, John Denton of Roundtable.io reports.

The illness provides an explanation as to why O'Brien didn't appear in the ninth inning when the game was knotted up. The Cardinals closer should be considered day-to-day. If a save chance arises Monday versus the Cubs and O'Brien remains unavailable, George Soriano or Ryne Stanek could be used.

Farris picked up the save Sunday against the Giants. He allowed no earned runs on a hit and no walks while striking out one over two-thirds of an inning.

Farris entered with two runners on and one out in the ninth inning and surrendered a two-out, two-RBI double to Luis Arraez but was able to punch out Heliot Ramos to secure the victory for the Angels. It marked Farris' first big-league save, as the 25-year-old southpaw has posted a 3.53 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 43:18 K:BB across 43.1 innings this season. Los Angeles' bullpen has been shaky and lacks a true closer, though Ryan Zeferjahn, who pitched the eighth inning Sunday, and Kirby Yates, who was likely unavailable after pitching the previous two days, remain the most likely candidates for saves.

Munoz picked up the save in Sunday's 6-4 win over the Rangers. He struck out three across a perfect inning.

Entering with a two-run cushion, Munoz made quick work of the Rangers in the bottom of the ninth, striking out the side in order to secure his 18th save of the season. The hard-throwing right-hander has been locked in since mid-June, riding a 13-inning scoreless streak with eight saves during the stretch. Overall, Munoz owns a 3.86 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 58:15 K:BB across 37.1 innings this season.

Miles struck out four and gave up three hits and no walks over 3.2 innings of relief during Wednesday's 4-2 loss to the Rays.

After starting in his prior appearance July 17 against the White Sox, Miles received another turn through the Toronto rotation but was deployed out of the bullpen while Braydon Fisher opened the game and recorded the first four outs of the contest. Miles is likely to fill a more traditional relief role moving forward, as Max Scherzer (back/thumb) is slated to return from the 15-day injured list to fill the fifth spot in the rotation Monday in Washington. If Toronto deals away starters like Kevin Gausman or Shane Bieber at the trade deadline, however, Miles could be needed in the rotation once again.

Beeter secured the save Sunday against the Diamondbacks, allowing no runs on one hit and one walk in the ninth inning.

Beeter was shaky Sunday but did help put out a fire started by Matt Krook, who walked three batters in the ninth without recording an out. Beeter remains the favorite for saves in Washington's much-maligned bullpen, but his job security is as low as any closer in the major leagues. Through 31.2 innings, the right-hander has a 3.69 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and a concerning 33:20 K:BB with 10 saves in 15 opportunities.