MLB Player News
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Carlos Estevez RP | KC
Royals' Carlos Estevez: Blows save, earns win
Estevez (4-2) allowed two runs on two hits over one inning Sunday, earning the win against the Mets but also being charged with a blown save.
Estevez blew a 2-0 lead in the ninth inning but earned his fourth win of the season after Nick Loftin's walk-off single. Estevez had converted eight straight save chances before the weekend series against the Mets, where he was charged with a blown save in each of his two appearances. Despite that, he owns an impressive 2.36 ERA and a 35:15 K:BB across 42 innings while securing 25 saves in 30 chances.
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Mason Miller SP | SD
Athletics' Mason Miller: Secures save Sunday
Miller tossed a scoreless inning to earn a save against Toronto on Sunday. He allowed one hit and struck out one batter.
Miller tossed 13 of 18 pitches for strikes and forced Vladimir Guerrero to ground into a double play to close out the 6-3 win. Miller has converted five straight saves while delivering eight consecutive scoreless frames since his last blown chance June 19. His season ERA fell to 4.04 with a 57:17 K:BB over 35.2 innings. Miller has converted 19 of his 22 save opportunities, including eight of his last nine.
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Vinny Nittoli RP | MIL
Vinny Nittoli: Set to reach free agency
Nittoli is expected to opt out of his minor-league contract with the Brewers this week, Ari Alexander of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Nittoli appeared in nine games in the majors in 2024 between stops with the Athletics and Orioles, but he has yet to surface in the big leagues with Milwaukee after signing with the organization in October. Over 37 relief appearances for Triple-A Nashville this season, Nittoli has accrued a 3.86 ERA, 1.54 WHIP and 37:11 K:BB in 28 innings. The 34-year-old righty shouldn't have much trouble landing another deal in free agency.
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Max Kranick RP | NYM
Mets' Max Kranick: Could need Tommy John surgery
Kranick is scheduled to meet with Dr. Keith Meister to receive a second opinion on his right elbow injury, and Tommy John surgery could be a possibility for the right-hander, Abbey Mastracco of the New York Daily News reports.
Kranick was placed on the 15-day injured list June 19 due to right flexor strain, and after being re-examined Thursday following a three-week rest period, the 27-year-old seemingly hasn't made enough progress in his recovery to start throwing. He'll receive feedback from Dr. Meister before a determination is made on his treatment plan, but Kranick could be at risk of requiring the second Tommy John surgery of his career, after he previously underwent the procedure in June 2022. Another Tommy John surgery would knock Kranick out for the remainder of the season and would likely sideline him for the entire 2026 campaign.
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Jose Butto SP | SF
Mets' Jose Butto: Set to begin rehab assignment
Butto (illness) is scheduled to make a rehab appearance in the rookie-level Florida Complex League on Tuesday, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.
New York placed Butto on the 15-day injured list July 4 after he came down with an illness, but the right-hander shouldn't be in line for an extended stay on the shelf. He may need just one or two rehab appearances before being cleared to return from the IL, possibly in advance of the Mets' first game out of the All-Star break Friday versus the Reds.
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Matt Strahm RP | KC
Phillies' Matt Strahm: Secures save Sunday
Strahm walked two in a scoreless inning to earn the save in Sunday's 2-1 win over the Padres.
Strahm threw just seven of 16 pitches for strikes, but he was able to avoid giving up a run to preserve a thin lead. He's on a six-inning scoreless streak, during which he has picked up two saves and one hold while adding a 7:4 K:BB. Strahm is at a 3.29 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 44:12 K:BB with six saves, 10 holds and four blown saves over 38.1 innings this season. The Phillies' closer role is a committee at this point, but Strahm has been more reliable than Jordan Romano or Orion Kerkering in recent weeks.
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Joey Cantillo SP | CLE
Guardians' Joey Cantillo: Logs longest outing, K's up six
Cantillo did not factor in the decision, allowing four runs on seven hits over 5.1 innings while striking out six in the 6-5 win over the White Sox.
Making his third start of the season, Cantillo looked sharp early but ran into trouble in the middle innings. He gave up a solo homer to Austin Slater in the fourth and exited after surrendering another solo shot to Andrew Benintendi in the sixth. The outing marked his longest of the year, and the 25-year-old has shown he can sustain his swing-and-miss stuff over multiple frames, racking up 18 strikeouts across 12.2 innings in his trio of starts.
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David Bednar RP | NYY
Pirates' David Bednar: Extends streak with 13th save
Bednar earned the save Sunday against the Twins, allowing one hit and striking out two in a scoreless ninth inning to preserve the 2-1 victory.
Called on to protect a one-run lead, Bednar calmly closed the door with a pair of strikeouts to make it 18 consecutive appearances without an earned run, a dominant stretch during which the 30-year-old has collected 23 strikeouts and allowed just 12 baserunners. After a rough 2024 and start to 2025, the right-hander has been extremely reliable for Pittsburgh when called upon, converting all 13 save attempts and closing in on two months without an earned run. Rightfully so, Bednar has remained locked in as Pittsburgh's main ninth-inning option and will look to continue shutting things down post All-Star break.
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Tanner Scott RP | LAD
Dodgers' Tanner Scott: Falters again Sunday
Scott allowed two runs on two hits and a walk over one inning, taking a blown save in Sunday's 5-2 extra-innings win over the Giants.
Offense was at a premium in the first nine innings, but Scott allowed a game-tying, two-run home run to pinch hitter Luis Matos in the ninth. This was Scott's second blown save in three outings, and he's been tagged for five runs over five innings to begin July. He's now 19-for-26 in save chances while adding seven holds over 45 appearances this season. Scott's ERA is up to 4.09 with a 1.14 WHIP, but his impressive control (49:8 K:BB) should keep him firmly in the high-leverage mix as long as can bounce back following the All-Star break.
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Emilio Pagan RP | CIN
Reds' Emilio Pagan: Locks down 20th save
Pagan picked up the save Sunday, striking out one in a perfect ninth inning to close out the 4-2 win over the Rockies.
Pagan made quick work of Colorado in the final frame, needing only 14 pitches to retire the side in order and lock down his 20th save of the season. The veteran right-hander has now converted 20 of 23 save chances and has been especially effective lately, allowing only two earned runs over his last 15 appearances. Pagan continues to provide stability for Cincinnati while keeping his role as the team's preferred closer firmly intact.