MLB Player News

Bender struck out one in a perfect ninth inning Saturday to record his third save of the season in a 3-1 win over the Royals.

Marlins manager Clayton McCullough continues to mix and match his high-leverage options, as none of them have really stepped up to seize the closing job. Calvin Faucher blew a save chance in the ninth inning Friday, while Ronny Henriquez worked the eighth inning both Friday and Saturday, leaving the ninth to Bender in the latter contest. Two of Bender's saves on the season have come since July 7, and he's riding an 11-appearance shutout streak in which he's posted a 0.62 WHIP and 10:4 K:BB over 11.1 innings with two wins and five holds. That impressive stretch could earn him more save chances, but it could also make him a prime candidate to get moved at the trade deadline.

Latz will start in place of Nathan Eovaldi (back) in Sunday's game against the Tigers in Arlington, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

Eovaldi was scheduled for the start opposite Detroit ace Tarik Skubal, but the Rangers righty has been scratched due to tightness in his back. In Eovaldi's place, Latz will step in for what will most likely be a spot start, unless Eovaldi requires a stint on the injured list. The lefty previously made two starts this season, topping out at six innings and 88 pitches June 24 versus Baltimore. Latz has pitched well overall this season, posting a 3.00 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 48:21 K:BB over 48 frames spanning 21 appearances.

Erceg (4-3) took the loss Saturday, giving up two runs on two hits and three walks in an inning of relief as the Royals fell 3-1 to the Marlins. He struck out one.

Called in for the bottom of the eighth inning after Kansas City had tied the game at 1-1 in the top of the frame, Erceg handed the lead right back to Miami, although his line was somewhat misleading -- two of the walks he issued were intentional, and he threw 11 of 18 pitches for strikes. Carlos Estevez has blown three straight save chances, so the door could be open a crack for Erceg to work his way into the ninth-inning mix, but this performance won't encourage manager Matt Quatraro to switch things up. Through nine appearances in July, Erceg carries a 4.00 ERA, 1.56 WHIP and 10:7 K:BB over nine innings.

Pagan allowed a hit and a run while striking out one in a scoreless ninth inning Saturday to record his 21st save of the season in a 5-2 win over the Mets.

The 34-year-old righty established a career high in saves, surpassing the 20 he collected in 2019 -- the only other time he's reached double digits in his big-league career. Pagan is doing his best to improve his trade value as the deadline approaches, and over his last 10 appearances he's posted a 0.96 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 9:3 K:BB in 9.1 innings while converting all four of his save chances.

Walker did not factor into the decision in Saturday's 9-5 win over the Angels, allowing three runs on nine hits and one walk with four strikeouts over four innings.

Walker opened with three scoreless innings before giving up back-to-back homers in a three-run fourth. The 32-year-old threw 50 of 70 pitches for strikes but generated just four whiffs and has completed only four frames in both of his starts since rejoining the rotation July 8. He'll take a 3.75 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 53:25 K:BB across 62.1 innings into a tough matchup with the Yankees next weekend.

Hoffman gave up a hit and struck out one in a scoreless ninth inning Saturday to record his 23rd save of the season in a 6-3 win over the Giants.

After striking out the side Friday in a perfect ninth inning in a non-save situation, Hoffman came back the next day and shut down San Francisco once again. The right-hander has been tagged with earned runs in only one of his last 12 appearances, posting a 2.38 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 14:3 K:BB over 11.1 innings during that stretch while converting six of seven save chances.

Kopech (knee) began a throwing program Saturday, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

Kopech underwent surgery in early July to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee. He moved to the 60-day IL shortly afterward, so he isn't eligible to rejoin the active roster until Aug. 27, but the 29-year-old reliever said Saturday that he's optimistic he'll be ready by then.

Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre activated Headrick (undisclosed) from the 7-day injured list Saturday.

Headrick landed on the minor-league IL on June 26, but he's now healthy enough to pitch again. The lefty reliever got into 11 games with the Yankees earlier in the campaign, posting a 4.73 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 16:3 K:BB over 13.1 innings.

The Yankees activated Arias (undisclosed) from the 7-day minor-league injured list Saturday and transferred him to Double-A Somerset.

Arias landed on the minor-league IL in April but was able to begin a minor-league rehab assignment in late June. In six games between the organization's Florida Complex League, Single-A and High-A affiliates, the righty hurler posted a 3.12 ERA, 0.69 WHIP and 7:2 K:BB over 8.2 innings. Arias spent most of 2024 with the Cubs' Triple-A squad, and he could progress to that level with the Yankees before the end of the campaign if he makes a good impression at Somerset.

Manager Alex Cora said Saturday that Slaten (shoulder) has resumed playing catch, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.

The Red Sox pulled Slaten off his throwing program last week in an effort to focus on building strength in his shoulder. Now that the team is satisfied with his strength, the right-handed reliever will begin building back up. He remains without an official return timeline, but he figures to still be multiple weeks away from activation.