MLB Player News

Duran picked up the save Saturday against the Orioles after he allowed a hit and no walks with no strikeouts in a scoreless ninth inning.

Duran surrendered a one-out single and allowed the tying run to get into scoring position on a stolen base, but he still needed just eight pitches to retire the side. The 25-year-old is 12-for-14 in save chances this year and has yet to allow more than a single run in any of his 29 appearances. He's again been one of the best relievers in the league this season with a 1.41 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 42:14 K:BB over 32 innings.

Smith retired the lone batter he faced in Saturday's 5-2 win over Houston.

Smith entered a non-save situation with two outs in the ninth inning after Joe Barlow gave up a two-run home run to Kyle Tucker. Smith needed the work after not pitching since June 23. Lots of fantasy eyes are on Smith, who emerged as Texas' closer but could lose save opportunities to the recently acquired Aroldis Chapman. Rangers general manager Chris Young told Kennedi Landry of MLB.com that whether Chapman is used as a closer is up to manager Bruce Bochy, but the GM wouldn't rule out that possibility.

Fujinami (4-7) got the extra-inning win over the White Sox on Saturday, firing a scoreless 10th frame during which he recorded two strikeouts and hit a batter.

His plunking of Zach Remillard with two outs aside, it was a momentous 13-pitch outing for Fujinami overall. Not only did he secure his fourth win, he also recorded swinging strikeouts of Yasmani Grandal and Andrew Benintendi, posted a third consecutive scoreless appearance and was trusted in a high-leverage scenario with positive results. The big right-hander continues to find life as a reliever much more welcoming than as a member of the rotation, and he now carries a 2-1 record, 2.38 ERA and one hold over the 11.1 innings covering his last 10 appearances.

Ottavino walked one in a scoreless ninth inning Saturday to record his sixth save of the season in a 4-1 win over the Giants.

David Robertson had worked each of the previous two days and blew a save Friday, so Ottavino got the call in this one and got the job done. It was his first save since May 26, and Ottavino's recent control issues don't suggest he's going to supplant Robertson in the closer role any time soon -- over his last four appearances, he has a 3:6 K:BB while also hitting one batter and firing two wild pitches. On the season, Ottavino has a 4.01 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 35:15 K:BB through 33.2 innings, adding eight holds to his ledger.

Barlow earned a save against the Dodgers on Saturday, allowing one walk and striking out one batter over 1.1 innings.

Barlow blew his previous save opportunity against Cleveland on Tuesday, but he bounced back against the Dodgers. The right-hander entered in the eighth frame with two runners on, two outs and Kansas City up by two runs, and he walked Mookie Betts to load the bases before getting Freddie Freeman to end the inning with a groundout. Barlow followed with a 1-2-3 ninth to notch the save. The veteran now has 10 saves on the campaign after registering a career-high 24 last season.

McGough walked two batters and struck out one in a scoreless and hitless inning to earn the save in Saturday's 3-1 win over the Angels.

This was McGough's first appearance since his three-run meltdown in a blown save versus the Rays. He's allowed multiple baserunners in three straight outings, though he was able to navigate trouble Saturday. The 33-year-old is up to seven saves, 12 holds and four blown saves with a 2.93 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 51:16 K:BB through 43 innings this season.

Johnson (1-4) allowed three runs (two earned) on three hits to take the loss Saturday against the Tigers.

Johnson entered the game in the 10th inning with the score tied at 2-2. However, he served up a single and home run to the first two batters he faced. That snapped a five-appearance scoreless streak for Johnson, during which he maintained an impressive 9:2 K:BB across five frames. Justin Lawrence is seemingly the team's primary closer, though Johnson tallied a save Friday against the Tigers and could continue to see chances moving forward.

Lange (5-2) allowed an unearned run on a hit and a walk while striking out two over two innings to earn the extra-inning win Saturday over the Rockies.

Lange kept the game tied in the ninth inning, then protected a three-run lead in the 10th. This was the fifth time in 35 appearances he's been asked to pitch more than an inning, and the second time he's completed two frames. The right-hander is now at a 3.89 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 44:22 K:BB through 34.2 innings. He's also collected 12 saves, two holds and two blown saves as the Tigers' primary closer.

Logue allowed a hit and a walk while striking out two over 3.1 scoreless innings versus the Rockies on Saturday. He did not factor in the decision in the 4-2 extra-inning win.

Logue was selected from Triple-A Toledo on Thursday, and this was his first big-league appearance of the season. He held his own in a tough assignment in Colorado, pitching well enough to keep the Tigers close in the contest. With Tarik Skubal (elbow) and Eduardo Rodriguez (finger) set to return Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively, the Tigers are unlikely to have a need for another bullpen game before the All-Star break if Reese Olson (knee) is also good to go. As such, Logue may be one of the players sent back to the minors in corresponding moves when Detroit gets pitchers back from the injured list.

Lambert allowed two hits and a walk while striking out two over three scoreless innings in Saturday's extra-inning loss to the Tigers. He did not factor in the decision.

The Rockies utilized a bullpen game Saturday, and Lambert covered the most innings as the opener. Three of his five scoreless outings this season have come in his last five appearances. He's also given up multiple runs in seven of his 15 outings. The right-hander remains a multi-inning option out of the bullpen. He's pitched to a lackluster 6.29 ERA, 1.63 WHIP and 36:15 K:BB through 34.1 innings while posting a 1-1 record this year.