MLB Player News

Melancon allowed a hit and two walks while striking out one in a scoreless inning to earn the save in Sunday's 6-4 win over the Rockies.

Melancon was removed from the full-time closer gig after a blown save versus the Guardians last Monday. With Ian Kennedy unavailable after pitching the two previous days and Joe Mantiply having pitching earlier in the game, manager Torey Lovullo asked Melancon to close. He loaded the bases with two outs but got a fielder's choice to end the contest without surrendering a run for the first time in his last three appearances. Neither his recent work nor his season-long numbers -- a 4.54 ERA, 1.62 WHIP and 27:15 K:BB -- should inspire much confidence in the 37-year-old's ability to lock things down. This was his 15th save in 18 chances, but expect Kennedy and Mantiply to get their chances in the ninth inning over the last two months of the season. Kennedy picked up the first two saves since the move to a committee approach, while Mantiply was deployed in the sixth inning Sunday.

Merryweather (oblique) began a rehab assignment Saturday with the Blue Jays' rookie-level Florida Complex League affiliate, striking out two over a scoreless inning in his first appearance.

Merryweather is on the comeback trail after he had been sidelined since June 13 with a left oblique strain. After being moved to the 60-day injured list, Merryweather won't be eligible for activation until the middle of August, so he'll likely make at least a few more appearances in the minors before slotting back into the Toronto bullpen.

Banda elected free agency Saturday.

Banda will choose to try his luck in a new organization rather than accepting an outright assignment to Triple-A Buffalo after he was recently moved off Toronto's 40-man roster. The left-hander hasn't found much success out of the Pirates or Blue Jays bullpens in 2022, compiling a 5.88 ERA and 1.88 WHIP in 26 innings.

Doval picked up the save Sunday in Oakland, striking out one and allowing a walk and a hit in the ninth inning of a 6-4 victory.

Doval got into trouble to start the inning with two on and only one out but managed to strike out Seth Brown and get Jed Lowrie to groundout to end it. It was his 14th save in 16 attempts this season and just his second save since the beginning of July. The lack of saves recently has more to do with the Giants slumping than Doval's performance, as he's posted a 3.09 ERA and 17:6 K:BB since the beginning of July. For the season, the 25-year-old has a 3.00 ERA, matching his rate from last season, and a solid 57:19 K:BB in 45 innings.

Martinez (2-3) took the loss Sunday against San Francisco, allowing two runs on four hits and a walk while striking out five in 4.1 innings.

Martinez was called up before the game to fill the spot in the rotation left vacant when Frankie Montas was traded. The first run against Martinez came on a solo homer by Mike Yastrzemski in the third, and the second came in the fifth inning after he was removed with two on and one out. It was his fifth start of the season for Oakland and first since July 11. For the season he has a 6.08 ERA and 1.44 WHIP with six homers allowed in 23.2 innings. Should he stay with the big-league club, his next start will likely be next weekend in Houston.

Diaz struck out the side in the ninth inning to earn the save in Sunday's 5-2 win over Atlanta.

Diaz faced the top of the order, retiring Dansby Swanson, Matt Olson and Austin Riley on a combined 14 pitches (10 strikes). This was Diaz's sixth straight appearance with a save. He extended his scoreless streak to 18 innings, a span in which he's allowed seven hits, one walk and a hit batter while striking out 38. The dominant closer has a 1.39 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, 91:12 K:BB and 26 saves through 45.1 innings this year.

Sewald pitched a perfect inning and struck out one to earn the save in Sunday's 6-3 win over the Angels.

Sewald took an extra-inning loss to the Angels on Friday, but he was able to help the Mariners salvage a 2-2 split in this weekend series by closing out the finale. He's allowed just one unearned over his last six innings, picking up two saves and a hold in that span. The right-hander is now 14-for-17 in save chances while adding six holds, a 3-3 record, 2.42 ERA, 0.67 WHIP and 49:11 K:BB through 44.2 innings this year.

Davidson (1-3) took the loss Sunday versus the Mariners. He allowed six runs on six hits and five walks while striking out one in four innings.

Davidson's biggest mistake was a third-inning grand slam to Jesse Winker. This was Davidson's Angels debut after he was included as part of the return that sent Raisel Iglesias to Atlanta. Through 19.1 innings in five appearances (four starts), Davidson has struggled to a 7.91 ERA, 2.02 WHIP and 11:18 K:BB. He may stick in the Angels' six-man rotation, but it wouldn't be surprising to see him link up with Triple-A Salt Lake if his performance doesn't improve. If he gets another start, it would likely be at home against the Twins next weekend.

Howard (2-4) took the loss Sunday against the White Sox, allowing six runs (five earned) on eight hits and a walk while striking three in 3.1 innings.

Chicago scored a run in the second, two in the third and three in the fourth. Andrew Vaughn hit a two-run blast in the third and, after AJ Pollock and Luis Robert hit consecutive doubles with one out in the fourth, Howard was removed. Howard stepped into Texas' rotation at the beginning of July and has allowed four runs or more in four of his seven starts since then. As a starter, he has a 7.41 ERA, 1.74 WHIP and 10 homers allowed in 34 innings. His next start will likely be next weekend against Seattle.

Scott earned the save Sunday, striking out two and allowing one hit in the ninth inning of a 3-0 win over the Cubs.

Facing the top of Chicago's lineup, Scott allowed a leadoff single before retiring the next three batters, including punching out Seiya Suzuki and Patrick Wisdom. It was his 15th save in 19 chances this season. Since taking over the closer role at the beginning of June, Scott has a 3.42 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 37:18 K:BB in 26.1 innings.