MLB Player News

Varland allowed a run on three hits and struck out one over one inning to earn the save in Friday's 5-3 win over the Padres.

Varland was scored upon for just the second time in his last 11.1 innings, and he also has an 18:3 K:BB during that span. However, he was able to convert the save despite the rough performance. Varland is 19-for-19 in save chances with a 1.10 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 67:13 K:BB through 49 innings this season.

Morgan (knee) began a throwing progression this week, per MLB.com.

Morgan has been on the IL since late June due to soreness in his left knee. The righty reliever had been pitching pretty well prior to getting hurt, posting a 2.08 ERA and 1.27 WHIP with an 11:2 K:BB over 8.2 innings spanning seven appearances since the calendar flipped to June. Morgan isn't expected to return to San Diego by the All-Star break, but he could be activated before the end of July.

Diaz (elbow) threw live batting practice Wednesday and is approaching a minor-league rehab assignment, per MLB.com.

The live BP was Diaz's second over a four-day span and marked another step forward in his recovery from the elbow surgery he underwent in late April. The expectation remains that Diaz will need to embark on a rehab stint before being activated from the 60-day IL, but even so he appears in line to return to the Dodgers' bullpen not long after the All-Star break.

Smith earned the save Friday against the Marlins after tossing a perfect ninth inning.

Smith didn't record a strikeout en route to his MLB-leading 28th save of the season, but he needed just nine pitches (seven strikes) to get the job done in the bottom of the ninth. Smith has yet to allow a hit in five appearances so far in July while posting a 4:1 K:BB across five innings.

The White Sox traded Eisert and Jacob Gonzalez to the Pirates on Friday in exchange for minor-league reliever Jaden Woods and the 34th pick in the 2026 First-Year Player Draft, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Eisert has struggled to find his footing in the big leagues this season, logging a 5.93 ERA and 1.24 WHIP through 27.1 innings with the White Sox. Unless a change of scenery sparks a significant turnaround, the 28-year-old southpaw is likely to remain in a middle-relief role with the Pirates.

Kittredge earned the save in Friday's 5-3 win over the Royals, when he allowed one hit and struck out one batter in a scoreless ninth inning.

Kittredge was called out of the bullpen for the ninth inning to protect the Orioles' two-run lead. He yielded a one-out double to Michael Massey, but Kittredge recovered by getting the next two batters out, capped off by a four-pitch strikeout of Josh Rojas. Kittredge has been tapped for save chances in each of Baltimore's last two games, and he could be ahead of Tyler Wells to be the team's preferred closer in the absence of Ryan Helsley (elbow).

The Giants reinstated Winn (elbow) from the injured list Friday.

Winn will return to the Giants' bullpen after spending nearly a month on the shelf due to a right elbow strain. During his rehab assignment, the 28-year-old fired three scoreless innings while striking out three batters and walking two across three appearances. Now healthy, he figures to reclaim a high-leverage role and could be in the mix for saves if Caleb Kilian continues to struggle.

The Blue Jays reinstated Fisher (personal) from the bereavement list ahead of Friday's game against the Padres.

Fisher was away from the team while attending to a personal matter, but he'll be available out of the bullpen for Friday's series opener. The 25-year-old right-hander has a 3.33 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, eight holds, one save and a 46:21 K:BB across 46 innings this season.

The Angels optioned Saucedo to Triple-A Salt Lake following Thursday's game against the Rangers.

The move corresponds with the Angels reinstating Grayson Rodriguez (back) from the 15-day injured list, and the right-hander will start in Friday's game against the Twins. Saucedo has appeared in six major-league games out of the Angels' bullpen this season, though he was tagged with the blown save in his last outing against the Rangers on Tuesday, when he allowed one run on two hits while striking out two across one inning. Saucedo will head back down to Triple-A, where he has a 6.75 ERA, 1.79 WHIP and 32:24 K:BB across 30.2 innings this season.

Hurt will start a bullpen game for the Dodgers on Friday versus the Diamondbacks, Jody Jackson of Bally Sports Arizona reports.

Hurt has plenty of past starting experience, but he's been a reliever almost exclusively since 2024 and hasn't recorded more than four outs in an appearance for the Dodgers in 2026. With no long relievers on their roster, the Dodgers will employ a true bullpen game after Shohei Ohtani (knee) was scratched from what was scheduled to be his final start before the All-Star break.