MLB Player News

Avila will start Thursday's game against the Giants at Petco Park.

Avila flopped while stepping into the rotation for a struggling Rich Hill last weekend in Milwaukee, lasting 4.1 innings while giving up five earned runs on five hits and two walks in a losing effort. Despite the poor showing, Avila won't lose hold of his starting role, as the Padres will have room for both the 26-year-old right-hander and Hill in the rotation after Yu Darvish (elbow) was moved to the injured list earlier this week.

Snead (1-2) took the loss against the Mariners on Wednesday, allowing two earned runs on three hits and a walk over one-third of an inning. He struck out one.

Snead was tasked with preserving a 4-3 lead when he entered in the seventh inning, but he put the first three men he faced on base and ultimately allowed a two-run single to J.P. Crawford that gave the Mariners a one-run advantage they wouldn't relinquish. The southpaw's stumble snapped a 10-appearance streak without allowing an earned run and shot Snead's 1.86 ERA and 1.14 WHIP to 3.60 and 1.50, respectively.

Stephan (6-4) struck out the side in a perfect inning to earn the extra-inning win over the Twins on Wednesday.

Stephan had a fairly stable performance through August, allowing just two runs while posting a 17:2 K:BB over 13 innings. He collected eight holds and one blown save during the month. The setup man has a 2.78 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 63:18 K:BB, two saves and 24 holds over 58.1 innings this year. He continues to frequently fill the eighth-inning role ahead of closer Emmanuel Clase.

Topa (4-4) secured the win over the Athletics on Wednesday, allowing an earned run on two hits over one inning. He did not issue any walks or record a strikeout.

Topa got a true backdoor victory to even his season mark, as he actually failed to protect the 3-3 tie he was tasked with preserving by allowing doubles to Aledmys Diaz and Esteury Ruiz during his one inning. However, Topa was able to escape the frame without further damage when Ruiz was thrown out at home on a Ryan Noda flyout, and he then became the pitcher of record when the Mariners took the lead for good with a two-run rally in the home half of the frame. The stumble actually snapped what had been a 26-appearance stretch for Topa without allowing an earned run that dated back to June 27.

Clase picked up the save Wednesday against the Twins, striking out one over a perfect inning.

Clase needed just 11 pitches to get through the back end of the Twins' lineup and record his league-leading 36th save of the season. He threw strikes on eight of those pitches and has now converted each of his last five save opportunities. Despite blowing two saves this month, Clase has still maintained a 2.92 ERA in August to go along with a 14:2 K:BB.

Estevez picked up the save Wednesday against Philadelphia, striking out two over a perfect inning.

Estevez got Alec Bohm to go down on strikes to open the bottom of the ninth before needing 17 pitches to retire Brandon Marsh in the following at-bat. The right-hander then made short work of Josh Rojas to close out the game and nail down his 29th save of the season. Estevez has now converted each of his last three save opportunities and has not issued a walk over his last eight appearances (spanning 8.2 innings). He's also recorded two strikeouts in five of his last seven outings.

Munoz struck out one in a perfect ninth inning Wednesday to record his 11th save of the season in a 5-4 win over the A's.

The right-hander needed 14 pitches (nine strikes) to knife through the bottom of the Oakland lineup, topping out at 99.6 mph with his fastball. Munoz's first month as Seattle's main closer wraps up with a 1.93 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 20:7 K:BB through 14 innings, but just as he would occasionally sub in for Paul Sewald, Matt Brash could still get the call every now and then in the ninth no matter how well Munoz is pitching.

Neal came away with a no-decision Wednesday in Oakland's 5-4 loss to Seattle, giving up three runs on three hits and two walks over five innings. He struck out six.

The right-hander made only one real mistake, but Teoscar Hernandez blasted it into the left-field bullpen for a three-run homer in the third inning. Neal has given the A's five innings and over 80 pitches in each of his first two turns in the rotation, but he's also served up three homers and issued five walks during those 10 frames. The 34-year-old should get at least one more start, which lines up to come at home early next week against the Blue Jays, but he could be the most likely candidate to get bumped to the bullpen when Mason Miller (elbow) rejoins the staff in September.

Pressly gave up a hit and struck out one in a scoreless ninth inning Wednesday to record his 29th save of the season in a 7-4 win over the Red Sox.

It didn't look like the right-hander would be needed as Houston raced out to a 7-0 lead through four innings, but Pressly was ready when he got the call. The 34-year-old hadn't pitched in four days after blowing his last save chance, but with the Astros in a three-way dogfight for the AL West title, he may not be afforded too many more chances to rest down the stretch. In 17.2 innings since the All-Star break, Pressly's stumbled to a 5.09 ERA and 1.30 WHIP despite a 21:2 K:BB.

Diaz walked one and struck out one in a scoreless ninth inning Wednesday to record his 35th save of the season in a 4-1 win over the Giants.

He needed 20 pitches (12 strikes) to get the job done after walking Patrick Bailey to begin the frame, but Diaz got a little defensive help from Elly De La Cruz to avoid any further trouble. Diaz's 35 saves ties him for the NL lead with Camilo Doval, but the Reds' closer is showing signs of wearing down -- through 10.1 innings in August, he has a 10:8 K:BB to go along with his 2.61 ERA and 1.26 WHIP.