MLB Player News

Graterol (2-3) took the loss against Atlanta on Saturday, allowing two runs on two hits while striking out one batter in one inning.

After the Dodgers tied the score in the top of the eighth inning, they turned to Graterol to keep things even in the bottom of the frame. The right-hander was unable to do so, allowing a Travis d'Arnaud double followed by a Marcell Ozuna homer before getting any outs. Though Graterol retired the next three batters, the Dodgers were unable to overcome the damage. It's likely that Graterol will continue to see high-leverage work with Daniel Hudson (knee) out for the season and Blake Treinen (shoulder) not close to returning, though the team could also look to acquire a key reliever before the Aug. 2 trade deadline.

The Royals recalled Kowar from Triple-A Omaha on Sunday.

Kowar will provide the Royals with a multi-inning option out of the bullpen after Kansas City demoted lefty Foster Griffin to Triple-A in a corresponding move. Over his 12 starts with Omaha this season, Kowar has turned in a 6.34 ERA, 1.65 WHIP and 62:23 K:BB across 55.1 innings.

Yacabonis (0-1) took the loss Saturday against the Mets, allowing one run on one hit while striking out three and walking none.

Yacabonis entered a tied game and proceeded to allow a home run to Pete Alonso, which pushed the Mets into the lead. Yacabonis had his contract selected June 15 and already has 12 strikeouts across 5.1 innings. The loss Saturday was his first of the season. Yacabonis has a 3.38 ERA on the campaign.

Diaz picked up the save Saturday against Miami, allowing no runs on no hits while striking out three and walking none.

Diaz pitched a clean ninth inning, throwing 12 of 16 pitches for strikes against the heart of Miami's order. It was the eighth time this season that the reliever struck out at least three batters in an appearance. The save was his 16th of the year and the outing lowered his ERA to 2.12.

The Rangers are expected to activate Otto (illness) from the COVID-19-related injured list and have him serve as a bulk-inning pitcher in Sunday's game against the Nationals, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reports.

Kennedi Landry of MLB.com notes that the Rangers intend to have Brett Martin serve as an opening pitcher Sunday, so Otto will be making his first appearance out of the bullpen after previously making eight starts prior to landing on the IL. The Rangers should make Otto's activation official shortly before the game's 2:35 p.m. ET opening pitch.

Hader picked up the save Saturday against the Blue Jays, allowing a run on two hits while striking out two and walking none over one inning.

Hader picked up his league-leading 22nd save of the year. He allowed just his third earned run of the season in the game, a Lourdes Gurriel RBI single in the ninth. It took Hader 20 pitches to get out of the inning and close out the game. Across 22.2 innings this season, Hader has allowed nine hits and six walks. He will take a 1.19 ERA into his next appearance.

Alexander (1-3) tossed two scoreless innings of relief to earn the win Saturday against the Diamondbacks. He allowed a hit and a walk while striking out one.

Following four innings from starter Alex Faedo, Alexander navigated the fifth and sixth. The lefty pitched well, and he's starting to look better after a rough start to the season. Alexander had an 8.76 ERA across 12.1 innings before landing on the injured list in early May with a left elbow sprain. Since returning June 13, he has a 1.13 ERA and 0.88 WHIP over eight innings of work. Alexander was a valuable pitcher for the Tigers in 2021, registering a 3.81 ERA across 41 appearances (15 starts), and he may be returning to that form in 2022.

Leiter (1-2) allowed two runs on four hits across two innings of relief to take the loss Saturday against the Cardinals. He didn't have any walks and struck out two.

Leiter allowed two hits in the seventh inning but escaped without allowing any runs, and the Cubs proceeded to tie the game at 3-3 in the top of the eighth. However, Leiter was less fortunate in the bottom of the frame. A one-out double followed by a wild pitch left a runner on third. Leiter then hit Harrison Bader with a pitch and followed that by allowing a sacrifice fly and a run-scoring single. The righty has struggled this year with a 6.04 ERA, and he could get shipped back to Triple-A Iowa at some point.

Jansen picked up the save against the Dodgers on Saturday, striking out all three batters he faced in a perfect ninth inning.

Jansen pitched for Los Angeles for the first 12 seasons of his major-league career, so he may have had extra motivation to do well Saturday. Whatever the case, the closer looked overpowering in his outing, striking out Cody Bellinger, Max Muncy and Trea Turner on 14 pitches. Jansen has been rock solid in June, posting a 1.80 ERA, 0.70 WHIP and 15:0 K:BB across 10 innings while converting all eight of his save chances and adding one win.

Barlow (3-1) pitched a perfect ninth inning with one strikeout to put himself in line for the win in a 3-2 walkoff victory over the Nationals on Saturday.

Barlow was called in to pitch the ninth with the game tied 2-2. He did his job and let the offense take care of the rest, earning his third win of the season to go along with 13 saves. The Rangers closer has a healthy 2.84 ERA and 0.95 WHIP on the season and doesn't appear to have any competition for the ninth-inning role. However, Barlow's 5.10 xERA and 4.50 xFIP suggest that his numbers could be on the brink of correcting higher.