MLB Player News

Hader notched a save against the Dodgers on Saturday, allowing one hit and striking out two batters in one scoreless inning.

Hader entered with a two-run lead in the ninth frame and quickly saw the tying run come to the plate after allowing Shohei Ohtani to hit a leadoff single. However, Hader retired the following three batters in order, as none of Mookie Betts, Will Smith or Freddie Freeman could move Ohtani past first base. Hader remains without a blown save this season, and he leads all MLB relievers with 25 total saves.

Armstrong earned a save against the Padres on Saturday by retiring the only batter he faced.

Texas held a three-run lead going into the bottom of the ninth inning, and manager Bruce Bochy turned to top closer Robert Garcia to close things out. Garcia struggled, however, loading the bases with two outs. Bochy then turned to Armstrong, who got Xander Bogaerts to ground into a fielder's choice to end the game. The save was the third of the season for Armstrong, who notched his other two saves across a three-game span in mid-May. Garcia has been a bit shaky of late, but he's still the most likely reliever to get the call the next time a save situation arises.

Garcia was pulled in favor of Shawn Armstrong in the ninth inning of Saturday's 7-4 win over San Diego with two outs and the bases loaded.

Garcia began the ninth inning with the most favorable save situation of a three-run lead and empty bases, but the Padres chipped away and had the winning run at the plate with two outs. Manager Bruce Bochy had seen enough and chose to go with a righty-righty matchup for what turned out to be the final batter when Armstrong got Xander Bogaerts to ground out to end the game. Garcia does have six saves this season and is still the team's top option at closer, but he doesn't have much of a previous pedigree as a closer and is more prone to decisions like this when he can't take care of things cleanly.

Snider (forearm) began a minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Tacoma on Saturday, giving up two hits and no walks in one scoreless inning. He struck out one.

Snider threw 12 pitches in his return to game action, entering the final stages of his recovery from a right forearm flexor strain. It's unclear if the Mariners have an eye toward having him rejoin the major-league roster before the All-Star break, but the right-hander will figure to need a handful of rehab outings before being activated from the injured list. Before going down on June 4, Snider held a 5.47 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 24:6 K:BB with four holds across 26.1 innings.

Lawrence (elbow) progressed to throwing from 120 feet Wednesday, MLB.com reports.

Lawrence has been sidelined since April 25 and received a platelet-rich plasma injection one month later. This is his first reported progress since, though he's still likely at least a few weeks away from being activated from the injured list.

Mayza (shoulder) progressed to throwing from 120 feet Wednesday, MLB.com reports.

Mayza has been sidelined since April 19 and is already eligible to be reinstated from the 60-day injured list. While this activity marks positive progress, he'll need to throw bullpen sessions and engage in a rehab assignment before being activated.

Kahnle walked one and struck out one in a scoreless ninth inning to earn the save Saturday in Cleveland.

The right-hander issued a two-out walk but otherwise had no issues finishing off Detroit's 1-0 victory. It's the first save since June 4 for Kahnle, which is especially encouraging after a five-run blowup earlier this week in Washington. Will Vest leads the Tigers with 14 saves and was unavailable after pitching the prior two days, but Kahnle is the team's top understudy with nine saves and a 2.89 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 32:12 K:BB over 37.1 innings this year.

Borucki (back) resumed throwing bullpen sessions Wednesday, MLB.com reports.

Borucki has been sidelined since June 21, and this was his first reported progress since. He has no official timeline for a return, but he could be available shortly before or after the All-Star break.

Cleavinger (0-4) allowed one earned run on two hits and a walk without recording an out in the ninth inning to take the loss Saturday against the Twins.

Cleavinger posted a 2.70 ERA and 1.00 WHIP across 10 innings in June and began July with two scoreless outings. He didn't have his best stuff Saturday, however, as he allowed a walk and two singles -- the latter of which was a bunt -- to allow a walk-off win for the Twins.

Flexen didn't factor in the decision Saturday against the Cardinals after giving up one run on four hits and no walks over 3.2 innings as a bulk reliever. He struck out two.

Manager Craig Counsell said Friday that the veteran right-hander was a candidate to get stretched out after Jameson Taillon (calf) was placed on the injured list, and Flexen then pitched behind an opener Saturday. The 31-year-old has excelled as a relief option for the Cubs this year with a 0.83 ERA across 32.2 innings, and it appears he'll now get a look as a rotation piece. Flexen threw 64 pitches in Saturday's contest, and it's unclear if Chicago plans to utilize him as a traditional starter or keep him in the bulk role.