MLB Player News

Natera picked up the save Sunday against the Athletics. He allowed a hit and no walks while striking out two over 1.1 scoreless innings.

Natera entered with two outs in the eighth inning and finished off the game with little resistance, earning the first save of his big-league career. Since having his contract selected June 5, the 26-year-old has posted a 0.96 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 12:6 K:BB across 9.1 innings. Natera could continue to see high-leverage opportunities in a suspect Angels bullpen that lacks a defined closer, with Ryan Zeferjahn, Kirby Yates and Sam Bachman combining for five saves as part of an informal closer committee.

Gomez picked up the save Sunday against the Rockies. He pitched a perfect inning without recording a strikeout.

Following an Anthony Banda hit-by-pitch to open the ninth inning, Gomez entered and retired the side without any trouble to secure his eighth save of the season. The right-hander has been stellar of late, not allowing a hit across 6.1 scoreless innings over his past six outings while recording three saves during that stretch. The 26-year-old has been great since joining the Twins on May 6, posting a 1.25 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and 22:8 K:BB with seven saves across 21.2 innings for Minnesota while emerging as the club's top option in the ninth inning.

Chapman allowed two runs (one earned) on a hit and a walk while striking out two over one inning to take a blown save in Sunday's 5-4 extra-inning win over the Yankees.

Chapman continued a rough patch of performances. He's now allowed six runs (five earned) over his last five innings, a span that includes both of his blown saves and two of his three losses this season. He was able to avoid the loss Sunday, as the Red Sox went on to win in 10 innings. Despite the recent hiccups, Chapman still has a 2.19 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 32:12 K:BB across 24.2 innings while converting 16 of 18 save chances this season. He doesn't appear to be at risk of losing the closing job yet, though he has pitched three of the last four days and may be due a rest day soon.

Triple-A Durham placed Vernon (elbow) on its full-season injured list Friday.

The Rays initially shut Vernon down due to right elbow soreness back during spring training. The right-hander then went on a minor-league rehab assignment in May, making five appearances as a reliever, before going back on the shelf for good. His 2026 season ends with a 1.42 ERA, 0.79 WHIP and 8:2 K:BB across 6.1 innings in the Florida Complex League and for High-A Bowling Green.

Lange earned the save Sunday against the White Sox, retiring the side in order in the ninth inning of a 5-4 win.

Lange was called upon to protect a one-run lead and needed just 10 pitches to retire Chicago in order, locking down his seventh save of the season. It was an encouraging bounce-back after he was tagged for five runs while recording just one out in his previous appearance. Despite the uneven results recently, Lange appears to have a firm grip on Kansas City's primary closer role. He now owns a 4.95 ERA, 1.49 WHIP and 37:21 K:BB across 36.1 innings.

Avila did not factor into the decision Sunday, allowing four runs on six hits and three walks while striking out four over four innings against the White Sox.

Avila ran into trouble immediately, walking the first batter he faced before serving up a two-run homer to Miguel Vargas. He was tagged again in the second inning, allowing three consecutive hits that led to two more runs. Command continues to be the biggest concern for the right-hander, as he has now issued at least three walks in five of his six starts since joining the rotation. During that stretch, Avila owns a 5.68 ERA and 23:18 K:BB. His next start is set to come Sunday at home against the Phillies.

Smith earned the save Sunday against the Mariners, allowing one unearned run on two hits while striking out one in the ninth inning.

After Cleveland erupted for five runs in the eighth inning, Smith was called on to protect a two-run lead. He allowed back-to-back singles before a throwing error by Victor Robles allowed a run to score. The right-hander stranded runners on second and third to preserve his 26th save of the season. Following a brief rough patch over his last few appearances, Smith has begun to steady himself and lower his ratios. He owns a 3.05 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and a 57:10 K:BB across 38.1 innings.

Jansen (1-4) allowed four runs (three earned) on two hits and a walk across 1.1 innings of relief to take the loss in Sunday's extra-inning contest against the Astros. He struck out one.

Jansen got through the top of the ninth inning of a 3-3 game without any problems, but things came unraveled in the 10th. The veteran started the frame by allowing a walk, a single and a three-run home run. The rough outing pushed Jansen's ERA from 4.26 up to 5.31. It's been a poor campaign overall with four blown saves and now four losses as well. He's become increasingly hard to trust in fantasy leagues.

Alexander will operate as the Rangers' opening pitcher Monday in Cleveland, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Alexander is set to become the first pitcher since 1969 to record saves in back-to-back games and then start the following contest. He'll likely handle no more than an inning or two before turning the game over to the bullpen. The Rangers haven't indicated whether a pitcher will work in bulk relief behind Alexander, but Winston Santos is the freshest arm in the bullpen and had worked at least four innings in each of his last six outings at Double-A Frisco before being recalled Wednesday.

The Orioles claimed Zulueta off waivers from the Cubs on Sunday and optioned him to Triple-A Norfolk, Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun reports.

The 28-year-old righty reliever will move on to his fifth different organization since the start of 2024 despite having posted mediocre numbers at the big-league level over the past two seasons (5.32 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 25:11 K:BB in 23.2 innings) and at the Triple-A level in 2026 (7.54 ERA, 1.90 WHIP, 24:20 K:BB in 22.2 innings). Zulueta boasts a big fastball that can hit 100 mph, and the Orioles are hoping that their staff can help him harness his control at the Triple-A level and emerge as an effective reliever for the big club down the road.