MLB Player News

Nittoli intends to opt out of his contract at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

Nittoli has spent the start of the season at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, posting a 3.44 ERA and 1.08 WHIP in 36.2 innings over 22 appearances (four starts). However, he'll seek out other opportunities via free agency ahead of the second half of the year.

Minter walked one and struck out one in a third of an inning Friday to record his fifth save of the season in an 8-4 win over the Nationals.

Will Smith began the ninth inning with Atlanta ahead 8-1, but his struggles forced manager Brian Snitker to turn to Minter to quash a Washington rally as Kenley Jansen had pitched each of the prior two days. Over his last 10 appearances, a stretch that includes all five of his saves plus three of his 18 holds, Minter sports a 2.16 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 10:2 K:BB through 8.1 innings.

Alexy allowed three runs on three hits and three walks while striking out two over two-plus innings in Friday's 8-3 loss to the Mariners.

Alexy, who was recently shifted from starter to reliever in the minors, made his bullpen debut for the Rangers. He made it through the sixth and seventh innings unscathed but left a bases-loaded, none-out mess in the eighth inning for Jose Leclerc, who ceded a grand slam to Julio Rodriguez. The Mariners averaged an exit velocity of 96 mph with an expected batting average of .413 on balls in play off Alexy.

Junis (hamstring) is a candidate to return from the injured list ahead of Saturday's game against the Brewers, Evan Webeck of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

Mauricio Llovera left Friday's game against the Brewers due to a flexor strain, so Junis would likely provide length out of the bullpen if he's ultimately cleared to return Saturday. Alex Cobb and Logan Webb are listed as the probable starters for Saturday and Sunday, respectively, but Junis said that he's built up to approximately 50-60 pitches. The right-hander has made two rehab appearances in the Arizona Complex League and has allowed a run on five hits and no walks while striking out four in four innings.

Llovera was removed from Friday's win over the Brewers due to a flexor strain, Evan Webeck of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

Llovera entered Friday's matchup in the top of the sixth inning and allowed no hits and a walk while striking out two in 1.2 innings. However, he was removed after throwing 31 pitches. He'll undergo further testing to determine the extent of his injury, but Jakob Junis (hamstring) is a candidate to return Saturday if the Giants need a bulk reliever.

Brasier struck out two in a perfect 11th inning Friday to record his first save of the season in a 5-4 win over the Yankees.

John Schreiber, Garrett Whitlock and Tanner Houck -- who blew the save in the ninth but stayed in to pitch a scoreless 10th -- had all seen action already by the time Boston retook the lead in the top of the 11th, leaving Brasier to handle the save opportunity. Given the 34-year-old's 5.40 ERA through six appearances in July, Brasier isn't likely to see consistent high-leverage work after the All-Star break despite getting the job done Friday.

Dominguez walked three batters and struck out one in a scoreless ninth inning Friday to record his fourth save of the season in a 2-1 win over the Marlins.

The right-hander loaded the bases with only one out, but Dominguez was able to get Jesus Sanchez to hit a grounder that resulted in a force out at home before fanning Miguel Rojas to end the game. With Corey Knebel potentially back in the save mix along with Brad Hand, Dominguez can't afford many more performances like this if he wants to remain part of the Phillies' ninth-inning committee.

Hader (0-4) allowed six runs on five hits and a hit batter in one-third of an inning, taking the loss Friday versus the Giants.

Hader gave up three home runs, including a walkoff grand slam to Mike Yastrzemski after solo shots from Joey Bart and Darin Ruf made it a one-run game. After starting the year in dominant form for two months, Hader's season has taken a sour turn of late. He's allowed 15 runs across 12.1 innings in his last 14 appearances, which includes both of his blown saves this year. He's 27-for-29 in save chances with a 4.50 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 52:11 K:BB in 30 innings overall. Extended struggles haven't often been a thing in the southpaw's career, so it's worth monitoring how he responds after the All-Star break.

Long (1-2) walked one and struck out two in a scoreless inning, earning the win Friday over the Brewers.

Long kept the deficit at three runs, and the Giants rallied for six in the bottom of the ninth to make him a winner. Through six appearances in July, the southpaw has given up six runs in nine innings, though two of those were three-run outings and the other four were scoreless. He has a 3.00 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 25:11 K:BB through 36 innings, working as an occasional opener and a multi-inning reliever.

Martinez (foot) picked up a hold against Arizona on Friday, allowing one hit in a scoreless inning of work.

Martinez was hit on the right foot by a line drive Tuesday, but there was never any indication that he suffered a serious injury. The right-handed hurler didn't pitch Wednesday or Thursday, but he served as the bridge between Yu Darvish and Taylor Rogers and picked up a hold in the 5-3 victory over the Diamondbacks on Friday. The hold was Martinez's first of the season, and he has also notched three wins and three saves while posting a 3.63 ERA over 74.1 innings. He's made 10 starts and eight relief appearances.