Dodgers' Matt Sauer: Earns first major-league save
Rotowire
Sauer came away with the save in Wednesday's 10-1 win over the Marlins, allowing one run on one hit and one walk while striking out four across four innings.
The Dodgers needed only two pitchers Wednesday, with Landon Knack serving as the starter before Sauer relieved him to toss the final four innings. The right-hander's lone blemish came in the ninth frame on a sacrifice fly, but he finished the game with seven whiffs on 42 pitches (31 strikes) to register the first save of his major-league career. Sauer should continue to serve in the Dodgers' bullpen as a bulk reliever after Evan Phillips (forearm) was placed on the 15-day injured list, but the former made three starts with Triple-A Oklahoma City and is capable of stepping in as a spot starter.
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Dodgers' Matt Sauer: Rejoins big club
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The Dodgers recalled Sauer from Triple-A Oklahoma City on Wednesday.
Though he was optioned to Triple-A after tossing five innings of one-run ball while working in bulk relief in last Tuesday's win over the Marlins, Sauer was able to rejoin the Dodgers before the minimum 15 days lapsed because Los Angeles placed reliever Evan Phillips (forearm) on the injured list in a corresponding move. Los Angeles had an opening in its six-man rotation for Wednesday's game in Miami, but the Dodgers turned to Landon Knack to start rather than Sauer, who will be available in relief for the series finale.
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Dodgers' Matt Sauer: Optioned after first win
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The Dodgers optioned Sauer to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Wednesday.
Sauer registered his first major-league victory Tuesday versus the Marlins, allowing one run over five frames in a bulk-relief role. His removal from the 26-man roster creates a spot for Tony Gonsolin (back), who was activated from the 15-day injured list ahead of his scheduled start in Wednesday's game against Miami.
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Dodgers' Matt Sauer: Back in big leagues
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The Dodgers recalled Sauer from Triple-A Oklahoma City on Tuesday.
Sauer gave up a run in 1.2 innings during his lone MLB appearance April 7. Since then, he's surrendered just two runs in 11.2 frames while striking out 12 batters and walking one in Triple-A. Sauer may be a candidate to replace Tyler Glasnow (shoulder) in the starting rotation, though the Dodgers haven't yet specified what the former's role will be while he's with the big club. Noah Davis was optioned to Triple-A in a corresponding move.
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Dodgers' Matt Sauer: Heading back to minors
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Sauer is expected to be optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City ahead of Tuesday's game against the Nationals, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.
Sauer was unable to prevent Washington from extending the lead during Monday's game, surrendering one run on three hits over 1.2 innings of work in his 2025 debut. His time with the big-league club won't last long, as the team has elected to option him to Triple-A to make room for Justin Wrobleski, who is set to start Tuesday.
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Dodgers' Matt Sauer: Called up from minors
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The Dodgers recalled Sauer from Triple-A Oklahoma City prior to Sunday's game against the Phillies.
Sauer was added to the 26-man active roster as a replacement for southpaw Blake Snell (shoulder), who landed on the injured list Sunday. The Dodgers will need to break in two new starters Tuesday and Wednesday versus the Nationals, and though Sauer made a three-inning start for Oklahoma City on April 2, he may not necessarily be the club's top choice to fill one of the openings in the rotation. Instead, Sauer will be available out of the bullpen Sunday and Monday before potentially getting cycled back to the minors.
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Dodgers' Matt Sauer: Selected to active roster
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The Dodgers selected Sauer's contract from Triple-A Oklahoma City on Tuesday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
Sauer didn't perform that well during Cactus League play, giving up seven earned runs in 7.2 innings, but the Dodgers brought him to Japan nonetheless and have now added him to their active roster ahead of the second Tokyo Series game. With a 7.71 ERA in 14 career MLB appearances, the 26-year-old is likely to be used only in low-leverage situations, and there's a chance he heads back to Triple-A once the Dodgers' stateside schedule begins. To create roster space for Sauer, Justin Wrobleski was optioned to Oklahoma City, and Clayton Kershaw (toe) was transferred to the 60-day IL.
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Dodgers' Matt Sauer: Making trip to Tokyo
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The Dodgers informed Sauer on Friday that he will be part of the team's travel roster during the Tokyo Series versus the Cubs, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
Over his four spring training appearances, Sauer has given up seven earned runs on 10 hits and a walk while striking out eight batters over 7.2 innings. Despite his poor numbers, the Dodgers have liked what they've seen from the 26-year-old enough to give him a spot in their bullpen while in Japan. Sauer owns a 7.71 ERA over his 14 career MLB appearances, so he'll likely be used only in low-leverage situations.
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Dodgers' Matt Sauer: Receives NRI from Dodgers
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The Dodgers signed Sauer to a minor-league contract Monday that includes an invitation to spring training, Kiley McDaniel of ESPN.com reports.
Sauer made the Royals' Opening Day roster in 2024 after being selected in the Rule 5 draft but was eventually returned to the Yankees, where he held a 6.12 ERA and 30:11 K:BB over 32.1 innings between Double-A Somerset and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The righty was used as a starting pitcher prior to 2024 and it's not clear what role the Dodgers have planned for him.
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Yankees' Matt Sauer: Returned to Yankees
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The Yankees received Sauer as a Rule 5 Draft return from the Royals on Sunday.
Sauer was designated for assignment by Kansas City on Monday. Since the 25-year-old wasn't claimed off waivers, his rights were offered back to the Yankees, who have assigned Sauer to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Sauer appeared in 14 games for the Royals this season, posting a 7.71 ERA and 2.08 WHIP over 16.1 frames.
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Royals' Matt Sauer: Solid in spring
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Sauer has allowed two runs (one earned) on seven hits and three walks while striking out eight over six innings across four Cactus League games.
Sauer was selected by the Royals from the Yankees in the Rule 5 Draft in December. As such, he has to be on the Royals' major-league roster all season or they will have to offer him back to the Yankees. Sauer hasn't pitched above Double-A yet in his career, but he had a 3.29 ERA and 1.15 WHIP with 83 strikeouts in 68.1 innings at that level last season. The Royals have plenty of candidates for rotation spots, but Sauer's pitched well enough in the spring to justify getting a bullpen spot in 2024.
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Royals' Matt Sauer: Nabbed by Royals in Rule 5
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Sauer was selected by the Royals in the Rule 5 Draft on Wednesday, Chris Kirschner of The Athletic reports.
Sauer, 24, posted a 3.42 ERA and 83:29 K:BB over 68.1 innings at Double-A Somerset in 2023. The right-hander pitched in relief in the Arizona Fall League and it's not clear whether the Royals plan to use him as a starter or reliever.
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Yankees' Matt Sauer: Opens season on shelf
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Sauer was placed on Double-A Somerset's 7-day injured list Thursday with a right forearm strain, Jim Callis of MLB.com reports.
Sauer didn't make any appearances after Aug. 31 of last season due to an undisclosed issue, which may have been the same forearm injury that is sidelining him to begin the 2023 campaign. The 23-year-old right-hander notably turned in 17- and 11-strikeout performances in two his four starts with Somerset in the second half of last season, but he was lit up when he wasn't making bats miss, as he finished with a 7.84 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and five home runs allowed over 20.2 innings with the Double-A club.
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Yankees' Matt Sauer: Racks up 17 K's in Double-A game
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Sauer recorded 17 strikeouts over eight innings for Double-A Somerset in a game against New Hampshire on Thursday.
Sauer allowed just one run on two hits in the contest, though Somerset wasn't able to win. The right-hander's 17 punchouts were a Somerset franchise record and are the most by any major- or minor-league pitcher this season, per Eli Fishman of Pinstriped Pros. Sauer appears to have recently found another level of swing-and-miss stuff in his arsenal -- he registered a then season-best 11 strikeouts in his previous contest Aug. 19.
