MLB Player News

Morgan (2-2) blew the save and took the loss Saturday against the Athletics, allowing three unearned runs on two hits and zero walks while striking out two over two-thirds of an inning.

Morgan entered the game with the lead but gave up a go-ahead grand slam to Seth Brown in the bottom of the seventh inning. Despite letting four runners cross the plate, the righty reliever escaped without an earned run and now has gone 11 straight appearances without allowing an earned run. Although he took the loss and blew the save, Morgan lowered his ERA to 1.91.

Knehr tossed 4.2 scoreless frames in long relief but didn't factor into the decision Saturday in the Padres' 6-2 loss to the Rockies in the second game of a doubleheader. He scattered three hits and walked none while striking out three.

Knehr was one of two pitchers summoned from Triple-A El Paso in advance of the twin bill after fellow hurlers Mike Clevinger and Adrian Morejon were placed on the COVID-19-related injured list. Though he performed admirably in long relief after starter MacKenzie Gore was chased midway through the third inning, Knehr's 65-pitch workload means he likely won't be available out of the bullpen for at least the next couple of days. As a result, Knehr could be a candidate for a demotion back to El Paso if the Padres want to swap him out for a fresh arm in the bullpen.

Long threw three scoreless innings against the Dodgers on Saturday, allowing three hits while striking out one batter. He didn't factor in the decision.

Long was making a spot start in place of Alex Cobb (neck), and he was able to give San Francisco a season-high 48 pitches. The left-hander didn't allow any extra-base hits, limiting Los Angeles to a single in each of his three innings. It's unclear if Long will get another chance to start or if he will return to the bullpen. Of his 12 major-league appearances this season, eight have been as a reliever.

Rainey struck out two and gave up a two-run home run in the ninth inning of Saturday's 8-6 win over the Brewers.

Called upon to protect a four-run lead in the ninth, Rainey issued a one-out walk to Andrew McCutchen before Luis Urias took him deep to chop that lead in half, but the Nationals' closer was able to escape by striking out Rowdy Tellez. Rainey has been scored upon in three straight appearances -- the second such stretch for him this season -- and his 3.38 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 22:7 K:BB through 18.2 innings mark him as one of the less reliable closers in the league.

Nelson will serve as the Diamondbacks' opening pitcher Sunday against the Phillies, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.

By tapping the left-handed Nelson, Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo hopes to neutralize sluggers Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper, lefty hitters at the top of the Phillies' order. Nelson is not expected to go much more than an inning. Luke Weaver, who Arizona added to its taxi squad Saturday, is expected to pitch multiple innings following Nelson. The need for a fill-in starter was created when Humberto Castellanos (elbow) was added to the 15-day injured list.

Martinez did not factor in the decision against Colorado in Game 1 of a doubleheader Saturday, but he struck out nine over 5.2 innings while allowing just one run on five hits and three walks.

Martinez was originally scheduled to start Sunday's contest, but he was moved up a day due to Mike Clevinger landing on the COVID-19 injured list. The late change didn't seem to bother Martinez at all, as he fell one out shy of a quality start and struck out a season-high nine batters. The right-hander didn't allow a run until the sixth inning, when Brendan Rodgers doubled home Charlie Blackmon to register the Rockies' only run of the game. Martinez hasn't earned any wins over his past five starts despite posting a 2.92 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 26:10 K:BB across 24.2 innings over that span.

Robles (1-2) was handed the loss and blown save during Saturday's 7-6 defeat at the hands of the Mariners, allowing two runs on three hits and one walk in two-thirds of an inning. He failed to record a strikeout.

After Boston took a one-run lead in the top of the ninth, Robles was brought in for the save opportunity. The 31-year-old recorded the second out with two runners on but surrendered two more singles to lose the game and suffer his league-leading fourth blown save. Matt Strahm and Tanner Houck have recorded the last three saves for the Red Sox, and Robles may not get many more ninth-inning opportunities if other pitchers perform better in the closer role.

Winder (shoulder) will make another rehab outing after throwing 30 pitches Friday in one inning with Triple-A St. Paul, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

It's possible Winder may need an additional rehab outing or two as the team talked before about building him up slowly before he returns from the injured list. He gave up two runs with three strikeouts and one walk in his one inning of work Friday.

Moore (3-0) picked up the win Saturday against the White Sox, striking out five batters across a pair of scoreless innings without allowing a baserunner.

Moore entered a tied game in the bottom of the eighth and did his job expertly across the next two frames, striking out five batters while getting the sixth to pop out. That left him as the pitcher of record when the Rangers scored four runs in the top of the 10th. Moore has been surprisingly effect in a relief role this season, cruising to a 2.63 ERA and 29.7 percent strikeout rate in 27.1 innings of work.

Pagan picked up his eighth save of the season Saturday against the Rays, striking out two batters while retiring the side in order in a scoreless ninth inning.

Pagan was tasked with protecting a one-run lead after Jhoan Duran threw a scoreless eighth inning and never let the Rays have much of a chance, sandwiching a groundout between a pair of strikeouts. Pagan now has an 8-4 lead over Duran on the Twins' saves leaderboard. The outing lowered the right-hander's season ERA to 2.57.