MLB Player News

Heasley (2-7) gave up three earned runs on four hits and two walks while striking out seven over five innings to earn the win in a 15-7 victory over the Padres on Sunday.

Heasley gave up a pair of home runs to Manny Machado but did just enough to earn his second win of the 2022 campaign. He threw 51 of his 85 pitches for strikes and tied his career-best with seven strikeouts. The 26-year-old rookie has an ERA of 5.22 and a WHIP of 1.54 in 70.2 innings pitched. The likelihood of Heasley picking up any more wins down the stretch will be linked to whether the Royals decide to let him go longer into games in his final handful of starts. He is expected to take the mound in a favorable matchup at Detroit later in the week.

Manaea (7-7) gave up six earned runs on 10 hits and no walks while striking out four over four innings to take the loss in a 15-7 defeat against the Royals on Sunday.

Manaea's struggles in the month of August continued with an abysmal appearance that saw him picked apart by hits and chased after 79 pitches. It was Manaea's worst start since Aug. 8, when he was pounded for eight runs by the Dodgers. He has now given up 21 earned runs over five starts this month and his season-long ERA has crept up to 4.90. The left-hander is tentatively expected to make his next start at the Dodgers.

Dominguez (triceps) is feeling 'way better' but hasn't yet begun a throwing program, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports. Dominguez was planning on starting to throw either Sunday or Monday.

Dominguez is still hopeful to return as close as possible to his first eligible date, which is Sept. 2. But the Phillies won't have a real target date until that throwing program starts.

Pivetta (9-10) allowed five runs on eight hits and three walks over five innings Sunday, striking out four and taking a loss against the Rays.

Pivetta never found a groove Sunday as he coughed up five runs, matching the total from his previous three starts combined. He was taken deep twice by Isaac Paredes, accounting for three of those runs. The 29-year-old righty saw his season ERA climb to 4.40 with a 143:54 K:BB through 26 starts. Pivetta is lined up to face the Rangers at home next week.

Helsley (9-1) was charged with one run on one hit and struck out three over 1.1 innings, blowing a save but earning the win Sunday versus Atlanta.

Helsley was brought in for a high-leverage chance after Adam Wainwright faded in the seventh inning. Dansby Swanson took Helsley deep for a three-run home run, but the Cardinals rallied ahead again in the eighth after a clean top half of the frame from the righty. While typically the closer, each of Helsley's last three appearances have seen him pick up a win, and his nine victories puts him second among major-league relievers this year behind Toronto's Adam Cimber. Helsley has added 12 saves, four blown saves and six holds while pitching to a 1.04 ERA, 0.65 WHIP and 77:13 K:BB. He's given up at least a run in three of his last six appearances, which has opened the door for Giovanny Gallegos to regain a larger share of the closing duties. Both of the Cardinals' top relievers have three saves in August.

Gallegos allowed a hit in a scoreless inning to earn a save in Sunday's 6-3 win over Atlanta.

Regular closer Ryan Helsley was brought in for a high-leverage situation in the seventh inning and allowed a three-run home run. He also pitched the eighth and picked up the win when the Cardinals rallied ahead. That left the save opportunity to Gallegos, who delivered with his fifth consecutive scoreless appearance. Both Gallegos and Helsley have picked up three saves this month, which suggests manager Oli Marmol has started to lean on a matchup-based approach to his bullpen usage again. Gallegos owns a 3.04 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 57:12 K:BB through 47.1 innings while adding 13 saves, eight holds and six blown saves this year.

Assad is listed as the Cubs' starting pitcher for Monday's game in Toronto, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Assad will get a chance to build on a strong MLB debut last week, when he struck out three over four scoreless frames in the first game of a doubleheader with the Cardinals. The rookie should be able to maintain a spot in the rotation until the Cubs get one of Keegan Thompson (back), Wade Miley (shoulder) and Adbert Alzolay (lat) back from the injured list.

Finnegan struck out one batter in a perfect ninth inning and earned a save over the Reds on Sunday.

Finnegan tossed seven of 10 pitches for strikes as he quickly finished off the 3-2 victory. He's now tossed 7.1 consecutive scoreless frames while converting four straight saves since his last blown chance Aug. 9. Finnegan is sporting a 3.12 ERA and a 53:18 K:BB while converting eight saves in 12 chances this season.

Soto allowed three runs on three hits and a walk while retiring just one batter before getting pulled in the ninth inning of Sunday's 9-8 win over the Rangers.

Soto came on in a non-save situation with the Tigers up 9-5 heading into the ninth. He got the first batter he faced, but then followed that up with a walk and a wild pitch before allowing a double, a home run and a single. That was enough for Detroit manager A.J. Hinch, who turned to Joe Jimenez to close out the game. The lefty Soto has been mostly solid this year with a 2.96 ERA coming into Sunday, but the righty Jimenez has pitched well too and could see more save opportunities moving forward depending on matchups.

Ort was recalled from Triple-A Worcester on Sunday, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

Ort was sent to the minors in mid-August but will rejoin the major-league bullpen as part of a move after Hirokazu Sawamura and Austin Davis were designated for assignment. Ort has posted a 9.00 ERA and 2.07 WHIP in 15 innings over 12 relief appearances in the big leagues this year.