MLB Player News

Clarke (3-1) allowed a run on two hits and a walk with two strikeouts in one inning Thursday, earning the win over the Red Sox.

Clarke took a blown save by allowing the tying run to score in the seventh inning. He ended up with the win after the Royals rallied for four runs in their half of the frame. Since the start of July, Clarke has allowed two runs with a 12:4 K:BB across 13 innings in 12 appearances. The right-hander has a 3.77 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 41:8 K:BB, two saves, 10 holds and five blown saves through 45.1 innings this year. As long as he doesn't completely go off the rails, he should see regular setup work over the last two months of the season.

Hicks (3-5) earned the win in the second game of Thursday's doubleheader versus the Cubs. He allowed a run on a hit and two walks in one inning.

The Cubs tied the game at 2-2 against Hicks in the seventh inning, but Tyler O'Neill's three-run home run in the bottom of the frame put the Cardinals ahead again. In his last 5.1 innings, Hicks has surrendered seven runs on five hits, four walks and two hit batters. He had some promising results in early July after moving back to the bullpen, but his recent form is likely to keep him in a middle-relief role. For the season, the right-hander owns a 4.93 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 38:28 K:BB across 42 innings through 20 appearances (eight starts).

Helsley (6-1) earned the win in the first game of Thursday's doubleheader versus the Cubs. He allowed a hit and struck out two in a scoreless inning.

Helsley kept the game tied at 3-3 in the top of the ninth inning, and Lars Nootbaar delivered a walkoff single in the bottom of the frame. Save chances haven't been that prevalent for the Cardinals lately -- Helsley last recorded one July 23, though he's strung together an 8.1-inning scoreless streak in his last eight outings. The hard-throwing righty owns a 0.62 ERA, 0.62 WHIP and 66:12 K:BB with nine saves, six holds and three blown saves through 43.1 innings.

Bowlan (elbow) has given up 10 runs (eight earned) on 12 hits and three walks while striking out nine across 7.1 innings in his two starts since being activated from Double-A Northwest Arkansas' 7-day injured list July 26.

After undergoing Tommy John surgery early last summer, the 25-year-old right-hander looks to be healthy again. He's been rusty in his first two outings since returning to action for Northwest Arkansas, and keeping the ball in the yard -- he's allowed four home runs in two starts -- has proven to be a challenge in particular. Though Bowlan is one of the Royals' better pitching prospects, he likely won't be a realistic option to join the big-league rotation until at least 2023.

Nance (groin) threw a bullpen session Wednesday and will begin a rehab assignment this weekend, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

Nance landed on the injured list July 24 but is closing in on a return. It's not yet clear how many rehab appearances the right-hander will make, but it's possible that he rejoins the Marlins' bullpen as early as next week.

Espinal was outrighted to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Friday.

Espinal was sent down by the Yankees on Tuesday, and he'll lose his spot on the 40-man roster a few days later. Over seven relief appearances with the Triple-A club, he's posted a 3.60 ERA and 1.53 WHIP in 15 innings.

Hernandez saved Thursday's 3-2 win against the White Sox, striking out two in a perfect ninth inning.

Hernandez received a second straight save chance and delivered again with a stress-free outing. The 26-year-old has recorded saves in two of his last three appearances with five strikeouts across the outings and appears to be the new favorite to close games for Texas. He features a 2.57 ERA and 1.00 WHIP with seven strikeouts in seven innings.

Pivetta didn't factor into the decision during Thursday's 7-3 loss to Kansas City, allowing three runs on seven hits and one walk with five strikeouts in five innings.

Pivetta was given a two-run lead before he took the mound but gave it right back by surrendering two of his own on two hits in the bottom of the inning while allowing another run on three baserunners in the fifth. Aside from a one-run outing July 25, the 29-year-old has allowed at least three runs in each of his last six starts and has seen his ERA balloon from 3.23 to 4.51 as a result. In addition to 4.51 ERA, Pivetta carries a 1.33 WHIP with 119 strikeouts in 123.2 innings into his next start, which is scheduled to come midweek against Atlanta.

Puk recorded the final out of Thursday's win against the Angels to earn the save.

Puk relieved Zach Jackson -- who allowed the tying run to reach base -- to earn his third save of the season. He has been in a near-even split for save chances with Jackson since the All-Star break, and the closer role will likely remain up for grabs after Lou Trivino was dealt at the trade deadline. We'll also note that Dany Jimenez just returned from a shoulder injury as well. Puk has made the most of his chances, turning in 12 consecutive appearances without allowing an earned run and has tallied all three of his saves on the season since July 22. For the season, Puk owns a 2.01 ERA and a 45:11 K:BB across 44.2 frames.

Junis (4-3) allowed three earned runs on five hits and two walks while striking out five across 3.2 innings to take the loss Thursday against the Dodgers.

Junis surrendered only one run before being pulled, but he labored throughout the start. He allowed multiple baserunners in each of his last three frames and needed 79 pitches to record 14 outs. Junis has failed to complete more than 4.1 innings in any of his three starts since being activated from the injured list July 16. Overall, he has a 3.05 ERA with a 53:14 K:BB across 62 innings for the season.