MLB Player News

Estevez didn't allow a baserunner while striking out one in a scoreless ninth inning to earn the save Thursday against the Padres.

Daniel Bard pitched in three of Colorado's last four games entering Thursday, which allowed Estevez to earn his first save of the campaign. Estevez is not likely to see many additional save chances this season -- barring Bard being traded -- as he has a 4.45 ERA and 26:15 K:BB across 30.1 frames.

Moreta allowed a hit but tallied the final two outs of the 10th inning without allowing a run to earn the save Thursday against the Yankees.

Moreta has struggled mightily out of the Cincinnati bullpen this season, maintaining a 7.36 ERA and 29:9 K:BB across 25.2 frames. However, he earned his first career save Thursday after Hunter Strickland pitched with the game tied and Alexis Diaz unavailable after appearing in three of the team's last four games. Given his lack of success this season, it's difficult to envision Moreta picking up additional save chances..

Pressly (3-2) threw two scoreless innings and struck out three to earn the win in Thursday's extra-inning victory over the Angels.

Pressly kept the game tied at 2-2 in the ninth inning and then protected a one-run lead in the 10th. A passed ball in the extra frame put the tying run 90 feet from scoring, but Pressly was able to get the job done. He's thrown eight innings without permitting a baserunner (outside of extra-inning ghost runners) in his last seven appearances. The Astros' closer trimmed his ERA to 3.00 with a 0.96 WHIP and 29:8 K:BB across 27 innings this year. He's 19-for-22 in save chances and continues to have a strong grip on ninth-inning duties.

Hearn will be called up from Triple-A Round Rock to serve as the Rangers' bulk-relief pitcher Friday against the Mariners, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Hearn joined the Rangers taxi squad Thursday and will likely be able to handle a heavy workload after completing five innings in each of his last two starts with Round Rock. Hearn has struggled to a 5.86 ERA, 1.67 WHIP and 55:30 K:BB across 63 innings with the Rangers this season. Matt Bush will serve as the opener ahead of Hearn.

Barlow earned the save Thursday in Toronto, striking out one and allowing a hit in the ninth inning of a 3-1 victory. He also didn't walk a batter.

After giving up a single to begin the ninth, Barlow recorded a strikeout and got Cavan Biggio to ground into a game-ending double play. The righty is now 16-for-18 in save opportunities and has converted his last eight chances. Over his last 12 appearances, the 29-year-old has a 1.55 ERA, 0.77 WHIP and 14:2 K:BB in 11.2 innings.

Zerpa (2-0) earned the win Thursday in Toronto, striking out two in five innings while allowing a run on four hits and two walks.

Zerpa pitched two innings Monday as the 27th man for the Royals' doubleheader and was recalled to start Thursday. With the short turnaround, it was a bit of a surprise that the lefty tossed five innings, but he managed to pitch long enough to pick up his second MLB victory. He held Toronto scoreless until Matt Chapman led off the fifth with a solo blast. The lefty stayed in the game and finished off the frame by retiring George Springer and Vladimir Guerrero. The 22-year-old will likely be back in the minors for his next appearance. Whether that's a return to Double-A Northwest Arkansas or his season debut for Triple-A Omaha remains to be seen.

Jansen picked up the save Thursday in Washington, allowing a run on two hits while striking out two in the ninth inning of a 5-4 victory.

After striking out the first batter he faced, Jansen gave up a solo homer to Maikel Franco. With a runner on second and two outs, he fanned Josh Bell after running the count full to end the game. It was his 21st save and first since returning from the injured list with an irregular heartbeat earlier this week. While his 3.63 ERA leaves something to be desired for a closer on a likely playoff team, his 49:8 K:BB, 0.95 WHIP and .195 batting average against suggest the veteran may have been somewhat unlucky in the first half of the season.

Thompson (7-4) allowed five runs on eight hits across 4.1 innings to take the loss Thursday against the Mets. He walked four and struck out one.

Thompson struggled with his control, as he walked a season high four batters and also hit a batter. The eight hits didn't help his cause either, and the end result was his fourth loss of the year. Despite the rough outing, Thompson still has a strong 3.43 ERA and 1.25 WHIP, and with the Cubs dealing with a handful of injuries in the rotation, the righty should stick as a starter coming out of the All-Star break.

Cisnero (shoulder) is expected to be activated from the 60-day injured list Friday, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.

The Tigers optioned Thursday's starter Elvin Rodriguez to Triple-A Toledo following the game, and the team will also make a move to clear a spot on the 40-man roster so Cisnero can rejoin the bullpen. The righty has yet to appear in a game this season after suffering a right shoulder strain in early April. He posted a 3.65 ERA and 1.33 WHIP across 67 games in 2021, while also recording four saves.

Patino (oblique) will start Friday's game against the Orioles, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Patino landed on the 60-day injured list in mid-April and more recently dealt with a blister. However, he'll be set to rejoin the rotation Friday, stepping in as a replacement for the injured Shane Baz (elbow). Though Patino covered 78 pitches in his most recent rehab outing with Triple-A Durham, it came back on July 2, as the blister issue had kept him out of action for the past two weeks. As a result, the Rays may not count him to work much longer than four or five innings in his return from the IL.