MLB Player News

Bednar notched a save against the Cardinals on Tuesday, intentionally walking one batter and striking out three over 1.1 scoreless and hitless innings.

Bednar took the mound with two outs in the top of the eighth inning with runners at second and third and New York nursing a 2-0 lead. He began by intentionally walking pinch hitter Alec Burleson before striking out Nelson Velazquez on three pitches. The star closer returned for the ninth and retired all three batters he faced, the final two by strikeout. It was the continuation of a dominant stretch for Bednar -- he's converted 15 straight save opportunities, posting a 0.91 ERA, 0.71 WHIP and 34:9 K:BB across 29.2 innings during that stretch. On the season, he's up to 25 saves, tied for sixth most in the majors.

Mears (shoulder) is scheduled to begin a mound progression next week, MLB.com reports.

Mears has been sidelined since May 29 due to a right shoulder impingement and has dealt with multiple setbacks in his recovery, but after resuming a throwing program July 29, the right-hander is nearing a return to mound work. The 29-year-old will almost certainly need a rehab assignment before being activated, but if no new setbacks arise during his progression, a return before the end of August is possible. On the year, Mears owns a 5.12 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 15:11 K:BB across 19.1 innings.

Estevez (shoulder) is scheduled to start a mound progression Friday, MLB.com reports.

Estevez started a throwing program July 17 and is nearing a return to mound work as his rehab from a right rotator cuff strain continues. Progressing to throwing off the mound is a positive step, though the right-hander will need to check more boxes, including facing hitters and embarking on a rehab assignment, before returning to the Royals becomes a real possibility. The veteran has been on the injured list for virtually the entire season, hitting the shelf April 1 after just one regular-season appearance due to a left foot contusion.

Lavender walked one and struck out one in 1.1 scoreless innings Tuesday to record his first career hold in a win over the Guardians.

Making his big-league debut, the 26-year-old southpaw got the final out of the seventh inning with the Mets leading 5-2, and then stayed in for the eighth after his team produced an insurance run. Lavender could get a long look as a high-leverage option with New York having dealt veteran southpaws A.J. Minter and Brooks Raley at the trade deadline, with fellow rookie Jefry Yan being his main competition for the job of top left-handed setup man for closer Devin Williams.

Way (back) is scheduled to start throwing Wednesday, per MLB.com.

Way was placed on the injured list July 28 due to low-back spasms and tightness but seemingly doesn't need more than about a week of rest before resuming throwing. Assuming no setbacks arise during Wednesday's session, the right-hander appears to be on track to avoid an extended IL stint. In 23.1 innings with the big-league club, Way has posted a 3.86 ERA, 1.59 WHIP and 21:10 K:BB.

The Rangers reinstated Bradford (elbow) from the 60-day injured list ahead of his scheduled start Wednesday versus the Giants in Arlington.

Texas placed MacKenzie Gore (personal) on the paternity list to clear a spot on the active roster for Bradford, who is slated to make his first appearance for the Rangers since Sept. 25, 2024 after a long recovery from his June 2025 internal brace surgery. The southpaw built up to four innings and 56 pitches over the course of four minor-league rehab starts, so he'll likely have a workload restriction in place in his first outing with the big club in nearly two years. Bradford had pitched effectively for the Rangers prior to undergoing elbow surgery, turning in a 3.54 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 70:13 K:BB over 76.1 innings in 2024.

The Blue Jays recalled Estrada from Triple-A Buffalo on Monday and optioned him to Triple-A on Tuesday.

In the aftermath of Monday's trade deadline, the Blue Jays were able to reopen a spot on the 26-man active roster and in the bullpen for Estrada. The 27-year-old righty ended up going unused in Monday's 3-1 win over the Astros before being sent back to the minors Tuesday to clear a spot on the roster for right-hander Jose Soriano.

Pagan gave up two hits and struck out one in a scoreless ninth inning Tuesday, recording his 12th save of the season in a 5-4 win over the A's.

The veteran righty has been locked in since recovering from a hamstring strain and coming off the IL at the beginning of July. Over his last 11 appearances and 10.1 innings, Pagan has produced a 1.74 ERA, 0.87 WHIP and 16:2 K:BB while converting all six of his save chances and adding two wins to his ledger.

Harris (3-1) blew the save and took the loss Tuesday, giving up two runs on three walks in two-thirds of an inning as the A's fell 5-4 to the Reds. He struck out one.

Taking the mound for the eighth inning and tasked with protecting a 4-3 lead, Harris instead walked the first two batters he faced, and then allowed both runners to come home with two outs on a pair of wild pitches. It's the second time in his last three appearances that Harris has been tagged for multiple runs, while the blown save was his first since June 21. The southpaw's nine saves lead the A's in 2026, but he's also got five blown saves on his ledger, and his job security as closer should be viewed as very low.

Cano gave up a hit and struck out two in a scoreless ninth inning Tuesday to record his second save of the season in a 3-1 win over the Angels.

Rico Garcia worked the seventh inning and Andrew Kittredge the eighth, leaving closing duties to Cano this time around. Tyler Wells has been the only Baltimore pitcher to collect multiple saves since the All-Star break so far, and he was shipped to Tampa Bay at the trade deadline. The Orioles will likely continue deploying a closing committee until Ryan Helsley (elbow) or Felix Bautista (shoulder) get healthy, but neither is expected back until late August or early September in a best-case scenario. Cano is at least doing his part to remain a key member of that committee -- he's been scored upon just once in 13 appearances since the beginning of July, posting a 0.77 ERA, 0.77 WHIP and 7:1 K:BB during that stretch with one win, one save and two holds.