MLB Player News

Bednar picked up the save Tuesday against the Cardinals. He allowed one hit while striking out one over a scoreless inning.

After allowing six runs in his previous 6.1 innings, Bednar blanked the Cardinals in the ninth inning Tuesday, improving to 27-for-30 in save chances this season. Despite some shakiness of late, Bednar still has a pristine 2.08 ERA with a 1.12 WHIP and 61:16 K:BB across 52 innings this season.

Finnegan picked up the save Tuesday against the Yankees, working around a walk in a scoreless inning.

Finnegan's now converted his last 11 save opportunities, though he'd allowed two runs over his previous two appearances (1.1 innings). Still, the 31-year-old right-hander's been solid since reclaiming the closing job in Washington, allowing just two runs over his last 17 appearances (16 innings). Overall, Finnegan's 22-for-29 in save chances with a 2.77 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 54:17 K:BB across 55.1 innings this season.

Romano picked up the save Tuesday against Baltimore. He struck out two in a perfect inning.

After Toronto took a 6-3 lead in the top of the 10th inning, Romano shut the door in the bottom half of the frame, striking out a pair to strand the free runner at second base and earn his 31st save. The right-hander is 3-for-3 in save chances since returning from the IL on Aug 15, allowing just one hit over three scoreless innings. Overall, Romano sports a 2.60 ERA with a 1.16 WHIP and 56:16 K:BB across 45 innings this season.

Munoz notched his eighth save in a win over the White Sox on Tuesday, recording the final out of the game on a strikeout.

Despite its brevity, Munoz's save opportunity was anything but easy considering it involved retiring the dangerous Luis Robert with a man aboard. The right-hander got the job done on just four pitches, putting the prodigious slugger away swinging on a 97-mph sinker to convert his second straight save chance and generate his third consecutive scoreless appearance. Munoz appears to be settling into the primary closer role, although the ninth-inning job in Seattle isn't as centered on one pitcher as it is on other clubs around baseball.

Topa (3-3) got the victory over the White Sox on Tuesday, firing 1.1 perfect innings during which he recorded a strikeout.

Topa breezed through his brief time in the game, impressively firing nine of his 11 pitches for strikes while getting Eloy Jimenez on an inning-ending groundout with two aboard when he first entered in the seventh. The right-hander hasn't allowed a run since July 22, a span of 13.1 innings during which he's recorded two wins overall alongside seven holds.

Iglesias gave up a hit and a walk in a scoreless ninth inning Tuesday to record his 25th save of the season in a 3-2 win over the Mets.

It wasn't the sharpest appearance from the right-hander, but Iglesias got Francisco Alvarez to hit into a double play after he put the first two batters of the inning aboard. The veteran closer hasn't blown a save since June 12, converting 16 straight and posting a 2.16 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 35:5 K:BB over his last 25 innings.

Kimbrel (7-3) earned the win in Tuesday's 4-3 victory over San Francisco. He allowed one hit and struck out one in a scoreless ninth inning.

Kimbrel entered in the ninth inning with Philadelphia trailing 3-2 and managed to escape the frame unscathed. Trea Turner then delivered a walk-off, two-run single in the bottom of the inning to earn Kimbrel his seventh win of the campaign. After a rough first month, the long-time closer has been dominant since May 9, successfully converting 16 of his 18 save opportunities with a 1.54 ERA, 0.73 WHIP and a 55:10 K:BB across 41 innings during that stretch.

Coulombe (biceps) began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Norfolk on Tuesday and struck out two batters over a scoreless inning.

The reliever is eligible to return from the 15-day injured list Thursday and would appear to be in line to rejoin the Orioles at that time or shortly thereafter. Coulombe has been terrific out of the Orioles bullpen this season, holding a 2.77 ERA and 48:9 K:BB over 39 innings.

Texas manager Bruce Bochy said Smith's recent bout of ineffectiveness was due to lack of command of his fastball, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reports. "It's kind of been a one-plane pitch instead of working the four different quadrants of the strike zone," the manager said. "We need to get back and locate that fastball. Command, as I've said many times, is more important than velocity."

Smith has blown two saves and sports a 15.19 ERA over his last seven outings. He agreed with the manager that location is the reason for the recent struggles. Bochy did not give a clear answer when discussing the closing role, but the manager had Aroldis Chapman attempt to close Monday's game, which eventually went to extra innings where Smith blew the save. There was a stretch earlier this month when it looked like the back end of the bullpen was set with Josh Sborz, Chapman and Smith, in that order. However, recent events mean fantasy managers should understand that Smith is not guaranteed to close every game. The Rangers are off Wednesday, and the manager hopes the bullpen can reset.

Sewald allowed two hits and a walk while striking out one in a scoreless inning to earn the save in Tuesday's 6-3 win over the Rangers.

Sewald again flirted with danger, allowing multiple baserunners for the fourth time in nine outings since he joined the Diamondbacks. He's only paid for it once in a blown save versus the Twins on Aug. 6 -- he's kept runs off the board in his other eight appearances. Sewald is at a 3.00 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 70:19 K:BB with 27 saves in 31 chances over 51 innings this year. He'll need to cut back on the traffic on the basepaths to continue to turn in strong results as the Arizona closer.