MLB Player News

Junk gave up three hits and struck out five over four scoreless relief innings in Friday's loss to the Giants.

After Cal Quantrill provided the Marlins with five good innings, Junk finished up the 2-0 loss and gave the rest of the bullpen a much-needed night off. The 29-year-old righty has made two appearances for Miami since being called up May 24, allowing just one run over nine innings with a 9:1 K:BB. While the team doesn't have an opening in its rotation right now and should get Eury Perez (elbow) back in early June, Junk is making a case for an audition as a starter at some point down the road.

Walters was removed from Friday's game with what appeared to an injury in the area of his shoulder, arm and back, MLB.com reports.

Walters grabbed at the area in obvious pain following a pitch in the ninth inning and was immediately removed. The right-hander will undergo an MRI on Saturday, and manager Stephen Vogt described the injury as "not good" following the game.

Suarez struck out three over 1.1 perfect innings Friday to record his 18th save of the season in a 3-2 win over the Pirates.

The right-hander breezed through Pittsburgh's 5-6-7-8 hitters as he moved back into the MLB lead in saves, one ahead of Seattle's Andres Munoz. Suarez has been tagged for earned runs only once in his last 13 appearances, and through 24.1 innings on the season he's produced a 2.22 ERA, 0.82 WHIP and 28:6 K:BB while converting 18 of his 20 save chances.

Vest gave up a run on two hits while striking out one in the ninth inning Friday to record his eighth save of the season in a 7-5 win over the Royals.

It's the second straight appearance in which Vest has been charged with a run, but he held a 0.00 ERA in 12 May innings prior to that. The right-hander is the lead dog in the Tigers' closer committee right now, picking up three of the team's last four saves, and on the season Vest sports a 2.00 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 29:9 K:BB through 27 innings while converting eight of his 10 save chances.

Yates (hamstring) threw off a bullpen mound Friday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

For the first time since landing on the injured list May 18 due to a right hamstring strain, Yates was able to throw off a mound. Per Ardaya, the veteran reliever said Friday that he hasn't felt any discomfort in the hamstring since a few days after initially getting hurt and indicated that he is optimistic he isn't going to miss much more time. Yates is eligible to be activated Monday, and he could be back with the Dodgers around that date if he comes out of Friday's session with any setbacks.

Vesia allowed a hit in a scoreless inning to earn the save in Friday's 8-5 win over the Yankees.

Vesia got the save chance after Tanner Scott defused a two-on, two-out situation in the eighth inning. Both pitchers struggled in their last outings Wednesday versus the Guardians, and it's at least intriguing that Vesia was called upon to handle the top of the Yankees' order, which he did successfully after pitching around Trent Grisham's leadoff single. Vesia has allowed four runs in May, all via home runs, over 10.1 innings. He's at two saves, 10 holds, a 3.24 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 35:9 K:BB through 25 innings. With Scott blowing three saves over his last five appearances, Vesia looks to be the early candidate to take over the ninth inning should manager Dave Roberts officially make a change at closer. Even if that happens, it could lead to a committee scenario, especially once Kirby Yates (hamstring) and Michael Kopech (shoulder) are ready to return.

Munoz allowed three runs on four hits and struck out two without walking a batter over one inning, taking a blown save in Friday's 12-6 extra-inning loss to the Twins.

Munoz fell apart in the ninth inning, allowing a two-run home run to Willi Castro and the game-tying RBI single to Trevor Larnach. The earned runs were the first of the year for Munoz. The 26-year-old is still at a sterling 1.09 ERA, 0.81 WHIP and 31:8 K:BB while converting 17 of 20 save chances over 24.2 innings.

Cleavinger (0-1) allowed one earned run on one hit while striking out two across two-thirds of an inning to take the loss Friday against the Astros.

Cleavinger has been one of the Rays' most reliable high-leverage relievers this season, and he's maintained an impressive 27:4 K:BB across 21.1 frames while turning in scoreless efforts in 17 of 23 appearances. He stumbled Friday, however, allowing a solo home run in the bottom of the ninth inning after striking out the first two batters he faced to take his first loss of the campaign.

Finnegan allowed one run, hit one batter and didn't surrender a hit or a walk over one inning to earn the save in Friday's 9-7 win over the Diamondbacks.

Finnegan plunked Corbin Carroll, who stole second and then finished his trip around the bases on consecutive groundouts. Finnegan appears to be recovered from the shoulder fatigue that kept him out of game action for a week. He's allowed three runs (one earned) over his last three innings. For the season, the Nationals' closer has a 2.61 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 18:8 K:BB while converting 16 of 19 save opportunities over 20.2 innings.

Doval recorded his sixth save during Friday's 2-0 win over the Marlins after pitching 1.1 innings, allowing no runs or hits. He walked one and struck out two.

In his first chance back in the closer role for the Giants, Doval was asked to get the team out of a jam in the eighth and then record all three outs in the ninth, and he delivered to pick up his sixth save. There haven't been many more dominant pitchers than the 27-year-old lately, as he turned in his 20th straight scoreless outing to bring his season-long ERA down to 1.07. He's allowed just four hits over that stretch.