Skip to Main Content

MLB Player News

  • Carlos Vargas RP | SEA

    Mariners' Carlos Vargas: Back from paternity leave

    The Mariners reinstated Vargas (personal) from the paternity list Monday.

    Vargas was unavailable for the Mariners' final three games before the All-Star break while welcoming a new addition to the family, but he will be back in the bullpen for the start of the second half. The 25-year-old has posted a 3.43 ERA and 32:19 K:BB over 44.2 innings this season.

  • Rico Garcia RP | BAL

    Yankees' Rico Garcia: Claimed by Yankees

    The Yankees claimed Garcia off waivers from the Mets on Monday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

    Garcia tossed 4.2 scoreless frames with the Mets after getting called up from Triple-A Syracuse earlier this month, but he was nonetheless removed from their 40-man roster last week. He is out of options, so the reliever will go directly onto the Yankees' active roster as a bullpen arm.

  • Brad Lord P | WAS

    Nationals' Brad Lord: Emerging as bullpen weapon

    Lord has a 2.79 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 35:14 K:BB in 38.2 innings over 29 relief appearances this season.

    The rookie right-hander made six starts earlier in the year with less impressive results, but since shifting to the bullpen Lord has found his groove. He's been even more effective since the beginning of June, delivering a 2.19 ERA, 0.81 WHIP and 18:6 K:BB over his last 24.2 innings while recording six of his seven holds on the season. He doesn't have the strikeout upside typical of high-leverage arms, but Lord could find himself in the closer picture for the Nationals if Kyle Finnegan gets shipped out at the trade deadline.

  • Nationals' Jackson Rutledge: Lit up to close out first half

    Rutledge coughed up four runs on four hits, including two home runs, over just one-third of an inning in Sunday's loss to the Brewers.

    His lone out did come via strikeout, but it was still a rough way for the 26-year-old righty to end the first half. Rutledge boasted an ERA of 2.08 back on May 6 and looked like a potential high-leverage option for the Nationals' bullpen, but since then things have gone completely off the rails for the 2019 first-round pick. On the season, Rutledge carries a 6.92 ERA, 1.61 WHIP and 36:16 K:BB through 40.1 innings, and he's served up an ugly 12 homers.

  • Marlins' Valente Bellozo: Thriving in long relief

    Bellozo carries a 3.55 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 35:15 K:BB through 50.2 innings over 17 appearances (five starts) going into the All-Star break.

    The 25-year-old righty doesn't offer much strikeout upside, limiting his fantasy appeal, but he's been a rock for the Marlins in long relief over the last month. Bellozo hasn't allowed more than one run in an outing since June 13, and over his last 15 innings and seven appearances he sports a 1.80 ERA and 1.13 WHIP. If Miami trades away starting pitching before the deadline, Bellozo could get another crack at holding down a rotation spot.

  • Blue Jays' Yariel Rodriguez: Rolling into break

    Rodriguez gave up a hit and a walk while striking out two in a scoreless inning of relief Sunday in a loss to the A's.

    The right-hander continues to thrive in a high-leverage role. Over 17.2 innings since the beginning of June, Rodriguez has posted a 2.04 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 18:6 K:BB while collecting two wins, three holds and a save. While the Jays could well bolster their bullpen at the trade deadline, Rodriguez seems locked in as part of the late-inning bridge to closer Jeff Hoffman.

  • Giants' Spencer Bivens: Picks up loss Sunday

    Bivens took the loss in Sunday's 5-2 extra-innings defeat to the Dodgers, allowing three runs (two earned) on three hits and one intentional walk while striking out one over one inning.

    Tasked with protecting a tie game in the 11th inning, Bivens retired the first two batters he faced before surrendering three consecutive singles, allowing the Dodgers to take a commanding lead. The right-hander has been charged with five runs (four earned) in his last two outings. He now owns a 3.72 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and a 37:14 K:BB across 46 innings in 31 appearances this season.

  • Pierce Johnson RP | CIN

    Braves' Pierce Johnson: Riding scoreless streak into break

    Johnson has a 2.67 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 36:10 K:BB through 33.2 innings this season with a win, a save and seven holds in 36 appearances.

    The 34-year-old right-hander is tied for second on Atlanta in holds, behind Dylan Lee's nine, and Johnson heads into the All-Star break having not allowed a run since June 7, posting a 0.97 WHIP and 11:3 K:BB in 10.1 innings over that scoreless stretch. If the struggling club decide to be sellers at the trade deadline and move closer Raisel Iglesias, Johnson could move into the ninth-inning mix over the final months of the season.

  • Riley O'Brien RP | STL

    Cardinals' Riley O'Brien: Excelling out of St. Louis bullpen

    O'Brien has permitted just one run and boasts a 20:8 K:BB over 16 innings covering his last 12 appearances.

    O'Brien has had trouble staying healthy and producing at the major-league level, but the stuff has always been there and he seems to finally be finding his footing. The 30-year-old netted his second hold of the season in Sunday's win over Atlanta and could continue to be elevated in the Cardinals' bullpen hierarchy.

  • Tommy Kahnle RP | DET

    Tigers' Tommy Kahnle: Struggles over weekend

    In games against the Mariners on Saturday and Sunday, Kahnle allowed seven earned runs on six hits and two walks without retiring a single batter.

    Kahnle had two of his worst outings of the season on consecutive days, and he saw his ERA climb from 2.84 to 4.50 in the process. This whole month of July has been a struggle for the righty, as he's allowed 12 earned runs on 11 hits and five walks across six appearances (2.1 innings). Meanwhile, Will Vest continues to pitch well as Detroit's closer, sitting with a 2.30 ERA and a team-high 15 saves. At this point, Vest is clearly the reliever to roster in the Tigers' bullpen, particularly given Kahnle's recent poor form.

Around the Web Promoted by Taboola