MLB Player News

Kimbrel pitched a perfect inning with zero strikeouts to earn the save in Tuesday's 6-3 win over the Giants.

Kimbrel has strung together a 7.1-inning scoreless streak, though this was just his second save in that span and his first since Aug. 17. The 34-year-old has been deployed in more non-save situations of late, with Evan Phillips and Chris Martin among the relievers who have seen higher-leverage work. Kimbrel now has a 3.88 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 62:21 K:BB with 22 saves in 26 chances through 48.2 innings this year.

Martinez (4-3) struck out two in a perfect inning and earned the win Tuesday over the Diamondbacks.

Martinez pitched the ninth inning with the Padres down by a run, and he became the winning pitcher when Jorge Alfaro delivered a walkoff two-run single. Martinez had struggled with two runs allowed in each of his last two appearances, so it was encouraging to see him get back on track. He's at a 3.30 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 84:36 K:BB with eight saves and three holds this year through 25 relief appearances, though he's also made 10 starts.

Sewald struck out two in a perfect inning to earn the save in Tuesday's 3-0 win over the White Sox.

Sewald bounced back from taking a blown save Sunday by pitching his third perfect outing in his last six trips to the mound. The right-hander got through the inning on 16 pitches (11 strikes) against the bottom of the White Sox's order. He's now 18-for-22 in save chances with a 2.41 ERA, 0.71 WHIP and 64:15 K:BB through 56 innings this season.

Rogers (3-7) allowed four runs (three earned) on two hits and a walk to blow the save and take a loss Tuesday versus the Rockies.

Rogers was called upon to protect a 7-6 lead in the bottom of the 10th frame, but he failed to hold the lead. He surrendered an RBI double to Yonathan Daza to open the frame before Randal Grichuk launched a walk-off three-run homer with one out in the inning. The left-hander suffered his eighth blown save of the season and third since joining the Brewers on Aug. 1. Rogers is 30-for-38 on save opportunities this year and now owns a 4.77 ERA and 1.17 WHIP with 68 punchouts over 54.2 frames in 56 appearances.

Hearn (6-7) earned the win in Tuesday's 4-3 victory over the Astros. He allowed zero runs on two hits and zero walks while striking out two over two innings.

Hearn entered a tied ballgame in the fifth and threw two scoreless innings before the Rangers would score a run in the top of the seventh to put him in line for the win, his sixth on the season. Hearn now has a 2.84 ERA in 19 innings since being called up from Triple-A on Aug. 2 to fill a multi-inning relief role, a major improvement over the 5.50 ERA he had in 70.1 innings up to that point in the majors this season.

Leclerc picked up the save in a scoreless inning Tuesday against the Astros. He allowed one walk and did not allow a hit.

Leclerc allowed a walk to Jose Altuve but otherwise had little trouble setting down the Astros to notch his third save of the season. The Rangers appear to have a true closer-by-committee situation as Leclerc is now the fifth reliever to record at least three saves on the season. Leclerc owns a 3.03 ERA and 1.06 WHIP through 38.2 innings.

Otto did not factor into the decision Tuesday, allowing three runs on five hits and one walk over four innings against Houston. He struck out five.

Otto never really found his groove Tuesday, as he failed to record a clean inning and allowed runs to score in each of the second, third and fourth innings before being pulled from the game. The start was his first of fewer than five innings since July 12, a stretch in which he only recorded two wins despite a respectable 4.04 ERA. Otto will try to get back on track in his next start, which figures to be at Miami next week.

Rodriguez was unavailable for Tuesday's loss to the Pirates due to neck stiffness, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

It's unclear when the neck issue first surfaced, but the left-hander last pitched Saturday versus Washington and delivered a scoreless frame. The Mets are likely to consider a stint on the injured list for Rodriguez ahead of Wednesday's doubleheader.

Underwood will start Game 1 of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Mets, Chris Halicke of DKPittsburghSports.com reports.

Underwood hasn't made a start since he covered four frames in his big-league debut in 2018, but he'll open Game 1 of Wednesday's twin bill. The right-hander has recorded more than six outs only twice this season and is unlikely to pitch deeper than an inning or two before giving way to the bullpen.

Helsley picked up the save Tuesday against Washington. He allowed one hit and one walk while striking out one over a scoreless inning.

Helsley found himself in a mini jam Tuesday, as he allowed a leadoff double and later walked a batter, but he came out unscathed to record his 14th save. The 28-year-old has converted the last two save opportunities for St. Louis after Giovanny Gallegos recorded a couple recently. Helsley figures to be the favorite for save opportunities down the stretch given his stellar 0.98 ERA and 0.70 WHIP on the season.