MLB Player News

Diaz struck out one batter in a perfect inning to earn a save over the Cubs on Monday.

Diaz faced the top of Chicago's order with Cincinnati clinging to a one-run ninth-inning and made things look easy, throwing all nine of his pitches for a strike to retire the side in order. The fireballer finished July having converted all 10 of his save opportunities, allowing just three earned runs over 11.1 innings and posting an 11:1 K:BB. Diaz has emerged as one of the league's elite closers in his second big-league campaign, leading the majors with 32 saves and posting a 12.9 K/9 over 50 appearances.

Rogers (5-4) allowed an unearned run on a hit and a walk over one inning to take the loss in extra innings versus the Diamondbacks. He did not record a strikeout.

The Giants were able to rally from behind to tie the game in the 10th inning, but they didn't have a second comeback in them. Rogers saw his 6.1-inning scoreless streak come to a close. Since he only gave up an unearned run, he didn't do damage to his ERA, which is at 2.65 with a 1.10 WHIP and 44:18 K:BB through 37.1 innings this season. Rogers has added six holds and a save while filling a versatile role that often sees him picking up late-inning work.

Junis allowed a hit and struck out three without walking a batter over three scoreless innings in Monday's 4-3 extra-innings loss to Arizona. He did not factor in the decision.

Junis started for the first time in 28 appearances this season, and he delivered a solid, albeit short, outing. Alex Wood piggybacked Junis and gave up two runs over 2.2 innings. Junis has had mostly mixed results as a multi-inning reliever this season, posting a 4.55 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 69:17 K:BB through 59.1 innings. He's had little middle ground lately, allowing multiple runs in six of his last 12 outings while posting scoreless appearances in the other six games in that span. The right-hander may continue to get looks as an opener on piggyback option, but it's unlikely the Giants would stretch him out as a traditional starter this late in the year.

McGough struck out two without putting a runner on base to earn the save in Monday's 4-3 win over the Giants in 11 innings.

McGough uncorked a wild pitch that moved the initial runner to third base, but that was his only mistake. The save was his ninth of the year and his second in a row, but McGough's chances to close are likely to dry up following Arizona's trade for Paul Sewald. McGough has a 4.30 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 65:20 K:BB with 13 holds and four blown saves over 52.1 innings -- he should be able to maintain a setup role, and his strikeout upside could keep him on the fantasy radar in NL-only formats.

Lopez earned a save over Atlanta on Monday, walking two batters and striking out three over 1.2 scoreless innings.

Lopez was acquired in a trade with the White Sox last week and tossed 1.1 scoreless frames in his Angels debut Saturday. The right-hander was summoned with one out in the eighth inning Monday and got the remaining five outs for Los Angeles to pick up his fifth save of the campaign and his first since May 5, when he was still with Chicago. Lopez's opportunity to close Monday was a consequence of Carlos Estevez tossing 34 pitches the day before. Estevez is likely to get the majority of the save chances for the Angels moving forward, so fantasy managers hunting saves need not rush to the waiver wire to grab Lopez.

Pivetta dropped to 7-6 on the season after allowing three runs on five hits and striking out 10 without walking a batter over 7.1 innings in Monday's 6-2 loss to the Mariners.

Pivetta had spent much of the last month-plus in a bulk-relief role, but he looked pretty good as a starter Monday. Two of the five hits he allowed were home runs to Cal Raleigh, and Pivetta was also on the hook for the first run of the Mariners' eighth-inning rally. He allowed just seven runs (six earned) over 28.1 innings across six appearances in July. For the season, Pivetta has a 4.08 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 110:34 K:BB through 88.1 innings over 26 appearances (nine starts). It's unclear if he's free from working behind an opener, but his next outing should be at home versus the Blue Jays this weekend.

Silseth (3-1) earned the win over Atlanta on Monday, pitching five innings and allowing one run on three hits while striking out four batters. He didn't issue any walks.

Silseth got a turn in the rotation due to Griffin Canning (general soreness) being a late scratch, and the former delivered a strong five frames during which he yielded just one run on a solo shot by Matt Olson. Prior to Monday, Silseth hadn't seen any game action since he held the Yankees to one run and notched a career-high 10 strikeouts over 5.2 innings in a start July 19. Despite the consecutive excellent outings, Silseth will likely return to the bullpen moving forward, as Canning expects to take his next turn in the rotation and the Angels recently added another starter in Lucas Giolito.

Assad tossed 3.2 scoreless innings of relief in Monday's loss to the Reds. He allowed one hit and three walks, while striking out four.

Assad continued his strong recent play, as he's now recorded five straight scoreless outings, a span of 11.1 innings. That's allowed the righty to lower his season ERA to 3.24. The Cubs don't need Assad in the rotation at the moment, so he should remain a valuable long-relief option, which doesn't do him any favors in fantasy leagues.

Kimbrel worked a clean ninth inning to pick up the save in Monday's 4-2 win over the Marlins.

Kimbrel's pitched to a pristine 0.82 ERA over his last 22 innings -- he's allowed just three earned runs since the start of June. Overall, his ERA is down to 3.13 with a 0.96 WHIP and 65:18 K:BB across 46 innings this season while converting 18 of 19 save opportunities.

The Diamondbacks traded Patrick to the Athletics on Monday in exchange for Jace Peterson and cash considerations.

Patrick has spent all season in Double-A and holds a 4.71 ERA and 1.39 WHIP through 91.2 innings across 19 starts. The 24-year-old righty can strike out batters at a decent rate, but his struggles with command have impacted his ability to limit baserunners. Patrick still has a lot of work to do before he'll be able to contribute at the major-league level.