MLB Player News

Doval pitched a perfect ninth inning to earn the save in Friday's 2-0 win over the Pirates.

Carlos Rodon threw eight shutout innings before Doval closed out the contest. The right-hander needed just 11 pitches (seven strikes) to retire Ke'Bryan Hayes, Bryan Reynolds and Michael Chavis in order. Doval's scoreless streak is up to 7.2 innings, a span in which he's allowed just two hits and two walks with eight strikeouts. He's 10-for-12 in saves chances with a 2-2 record, one hold, a 2.54 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 33:11 K:BB across 28.1 innings overall as the Giants' primary closer.

Bautista (3-2) earned the win Friday over the Rays. He struck out three across 1.1 perfect innings.

Bautista was the beneficiary of Adley Rutschman's RBI single in the seventh inning, which accounted for the lone run in the contest. Across his last 12.1 innings, Bautista has allowed only one unearned run with eight hits and four walks while adding 12 strikeouts. The 26-year-old continues to dominate in a high-leverage role with a 1.65 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 29:10 K:BB, two saves and seven holds through 27.1 innings this season.

De Los Santos walked one and struck out one in two-thirds of an inning to earn his first career save in Friday's 2-1 extra-inning win over the Dodgers.

The right-hander put the winning run on base with two outs in the 10th inning, but he struck out Justin Turner to end the threat. The save chance Friday fell to De Los Santos after Emmanuel Clase had converted saves on four of the five previous days and needed rest. De Los Santos has a hold and a 1-0 record to go with a steady 2.45 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 25:7 K:BB through 18.1 innings overall, though he's not expected to compete for closing duties any time soon.

Speier walked one and struck out none in two-thirds of a scoreless inning Friday versus the Athletics.

Speier had been on the COVID-19 injured list before he was activated Friday. The southpaw has now gone 4.1 scoreless innings across his last four appearances. He had started to earn the occasional chance for holds prior to his two-plus-week absence. He's posted a 2.41 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 15:5 K:BB in 18.2 innings overall while adding two holds and an 0-1 record in 16 outings.

Winder (shoulder) gave up one run over three innings with a walk and no strikeouts in his second rehab start Thursday for Triple-A St. Paul. It's not clear if he'll make another rehab start before being activated from the injured list, Phil Miller of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

The Twins had indicated that Winder may need time to build up his arm strength, so another rehab outing seems likely. The right-hander posted a 3.68 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 23:9 K:BB through 29.1 innings for Minnesota prior to suffering a right shoulder impingement, and it's not yet clear whether he'll have a rotation spot waiting for him when he gets activated.

Smeltzer (3-1) allowed seven runs (six earned) on nine hits and two walks with three strikeouts in 4.1 innings, taking the loss versus Arizona on Friday.

Smeltzer kept runs off the board in only the second inning, and Jordan Luplow took him deep twice in the contest. Homers have become an increasing problem for Smeltzer, who has yielded seven long balls in his last three starts after opening the campaign with no homers against in four appearances. The southpaw has a 3.52 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 19:11 K:BB across 38.1 innings overall. He's projected for a home start versus the Guardians next week.

Thompson allowed two hits and two walks over six scoreless innings in Friday's win over Atlanta. He stuck out nine and did not factor in the decision.

The 27-year-old found himself in a duel with Charlie Morton and the Cubs' offense wasn't able to break a scoreless tie until the eighth inning. Thompson never faced much of a threat and, at one point, retired 10 straight batters. Friday was his second scoreless outing as a starter this year, lowering his season ERA to 3.27 through 55 frames. Thompson had allowed 15 runs (13 earned) over just nine innings in his previous three starts. He's lined up to start in Pittsburgh next week.

Bellatti picked up his third hold of the year in the second game of Friday's doubleheader against the Nationals, striking out two batters in two-thirds of an inning while allowing an unearned run on one hit.

He entered the game in the top of the ninth inning in position to record his first career save, as the Phillies has already used Seranthony Dominguez and Brad Hand in the first game of the day. Bellatti sandwiched a Yadiel Hernandez single between a pair of strikeouts but was pulled for lefty Jose Alvarado with Juan Soto up and the game on the line. Hernandez would eventually come around to score on a Didi Gregorius error, denying Bellatti the save and leaving him with a hold.

Alvarado (1-1) blew the save but got the win in the second game of Friday's doubleheader against the Nationals, allowing an unearned run in 1.1 innings of work while striking out one and giving up two walks and a hit.

The Phillies used both Seranthony Dominguez and Brad Hand in the matinee, so they were down to the less reliable members of their bullpen in the nightcap. After Andrew Bellatti retired two of the first three batters in the ninth inning, Alvarado was tasked with retiring Juan Soto to finish the game. He wound up walking him, as he's done against 17.1 percent of the batters he's faced this season, but he appeared to have gotten the job done by getting Nelson Cruz to ground out before Didi Gregorius threw the ball away. Alvarado got out of the inning without further damage and allowed only the ghost runner to score in the bottom of the 10th, which was good enough for a win after the Phillies had scored twice in the top of the frame. As long as Dominguez and Hand remain effective, it's unlikely Alvarado will see many more save chances.

Robertson issued two walks and struck out one batter in a scoreless inning while earning a save over Atlanta on Friday.

Robertson threw just 10 of 26 pitches for strikes and loaded the bases after a pair of walks and a hit batter. He escaped the threat with his eighth save of the year and first since May 31. The veteran righty lowered his season ERA to 1.82 with a 34:13 K:BB through 22 appearances.