Rangers' Luke Jackson: Bounces back with eighth save
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Jackson struck out one in a scoreless two-thirds of an inning to record his eighth save of the season in Friday's 2-0 win over the Giants.
Robert Garcia remained on the mound to begin the ninth inning and struck out Jung Hoo Lee before handing the ball over to Jackson, who took care of right-handed batters Matt Chapman and Wilmer Flores. It was a nice bounce-back effort for Jackson after he blew his first save of the season Thursday, but it likely leaves him unavailable for Saturday if Texas has another late lead to protect. Through 10.2 innings on the year, Jackson sports a 3.38 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 8:3 K:BB.
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Rangers' Luke Jackson: First blown save in second loss
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Jackson (0-2) was charged with the loss and a blown save in Thursday's 4-3 loss to the Athletics, giving up two runs (one earned) on two hits and one walk in one inning. He struck out one.
Jackson entered the game with a runner on base in the eighth inning and put out Brent Rooker to protect a 3-2 lead, but trouble arose in the ninth frame. The first of his two runs allowed was unearned due to a Leody Taveras fielding error, but Jacob Wilson's walk-off single saddled Jackson with his first blown save of the year. The veteran right-hander has still converted seven of his eight save chances to go with a respectable 3.60 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 7:3 K:BB over 10 frames, so he figures to remain the favorite for ninth-inning work in Texas' bullpen for the time being, despite Thursday's showing.
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Rangers' Luke Jackson: Notches fourth save
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Jackson struck out two in a perfect ninth inning Friday to record his fourth save of the season in a 5-2 win over the Rays.
The 33-year-old righty has only delivered double-digit saves once before in his career, when he racked up 18 for Atlanta in 2019, but Jackson is well on his way to topping that total in 2025. He's converted four straight save chances to begin the campaign while posting a 5:2 K:BB in 4.1 innings, although a shaky performance in a non-save situation on Opening Day still has him saddled with a 6.23 ERA. The Rangers have other ninth-inning options if he falters, but for now Jackson appears to be following the trail blazed by Kirby Yates in last year's bullpen.
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Rangers' Luke Jackson: Secures third save
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Jackson earned the save Wednesday in Cincinnati after allowing a hit and striking out one batter in a scoreless ninth inning.
The right-hander has now notched a clean save in three straight appearances since he surrendered three runs over one-third of an inning Opening Day. It'll take a bit for Jackson's ERA and WHIP to level out, but he appears to have settled in as the favorite for saves in Texas. Veteran Chris Martin, who worked the eighth inning Wednesday, is also in the mix and has converted the Rangers' only other save opportunity this year.
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Rangers' Luke Jackson: Handed loss on Opening Day
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Jackson (0-1) took the loss Thursday against the Red Sox after surrendering three runs on two hits and a walk over one-third of an inning. He struck out one.
The right-hander entered for the top of the ninth inning with the game tied 2-2 and struck out Triston Casas to open the frame. Jackson then allowed a single and a walk before serving up a three-run homer to Wilyer Abreu. Jackson emerged as the apparent favorite for saves late in spring training, and though Thursday wasn't a save situation, his 2025 campaign is off to an inauspicious start. Chris Martin and Robert Garcia are also in the closer mix, and rookie Marc Church could also be involved in high-leverage spots.
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Luke Jackson: Becomes free agent
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Atlanta declined Jackson's $7 million club option for 2025 on Monday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
Jackson will be paid a $2 million buyout and is now a free agent. The 33-year-old collected a 5.09 ERA and 59:26 K:BB across 53 relief innings between San Francisco and Atlanta in 2024.
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Braves' Luke Jackson: Traded to Atlanta
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Atlanta acquired Jackson and outfielder Jorge Soler from San Francisco on Monday in exchange for infielder Sabin Ceballos and left-hander Tyler Matzek (elbow), Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.
Jackson will head back to Atlanta after spending time in the organization from 2017 through 2021, including winning a World Series title in his final season with the club. The right-hander possesses an inflated 5.40 ERA and 1.43 WHIP while striking out 33 batters over 35 innings in 36 appearances with the Giants this season. Jackson will provide Atlanta with another experienced right-handed arm out of the bullpen.
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Giants' Luke Jackson: Takes extra-inning loss
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Jackson (4-2) allowed two runs (one earned) on one hit in an inning of relief Thursday, taking an extra-inning loss versus the Cubs.
Just one day after picking up a win in a relief appearance, Jackson was on the hook for the loss. He gave up a two-run home run to Ian Happ in the 10th inning, and the Giants were unable to respond. Aside from Wednesday's sharp outing, Jackson has been rough lately, allowing seven runs (six earned) over his last 3.2 inning. He has a 6.23 ERA, 1.65 WHIP and 20:14 K:BB through 26 innings overall.
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Giants' Luke Jackson: Picks up second win
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Jackson (2-1) allowed a run on two hits and struck out two over one inning, earning the win Thursday over the Pirates.
Jackson allowed a solo home run to Bryan Reynolds in the seventh inning, but the Giants pulled ahead with a five-run eighth. Jackson has been scored on in four of his last five outings, allowing multiple baserunners each time he's given up at least a run. The homer was the first he's allowed all year. Jackson is at an uninspiring 5.84 ERA, 1.70 WHIP and 15:7 K:BB with two holds and three blown saves over 12.1 innings this season.
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Giants' Luke Jackson: Collects extra-inning win
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Jackson (1-1) allowed a walk and struck out two without giving up a hit in a scoreless inning to earn the extra-inning win Sunday over the Reds.
Jackson was tagged for three runs in his season debut and promptly went on the injured list with a back issue. He's been sharp since his return with 8.1 scoreless innings and a 7:3 K:BB in that span. Jackson has a couple of blown saves on his ledger and remains in a low-leverage role, though he pitched the 10th inning Sunday after Camilo Doval was called upon for a four-out appearance spanning the eighth and ninth frames.
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Giants' Luke Jackson: Throwing from 90 feet
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Jackson (back) is currently throwing from 90 feet, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.
Jackson will be reevaluated Friday to see if he's ready to begin throwing off a mound. The reliever suffered a lower-back strain Opening Day and will be eligible to return next weekend, although it's not clear at this point whether he'll be ready at that time.
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Giants' Luke Jackson: Sent for MRI
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Jackson suffered tightness in his lower back Thursday against San Diego and is being sent for an MRI, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Jackson entered the game in the seventh inning and allowed two singles and a walk to the Padres before being removed due to the injury. He suffered from a similar issue in 2023, a concerning development given this was the first game of the new campaign.
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Giants' Luke Jackson: Showing strikeout upside
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Jackson has allowed one run on one hit and one walk while striking out four over two Cactus League innings.
Jackson missed all of 2022 while recovering from Tommy John surgery. He bounced back over the latter half of 2023, posting a 2.97 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 43:15 K:BB over 33.1 innings. Jackson's strikeout totals give him some real upside, but he doesn't have a clear path to consistent late-inning work with the Giants. The right-hander should mainly pitch in the middle innings, which could give him chances to vulture wins since the Giants have a lot of uncertainty in their rotation.
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Giants' Luke Jackson: Stuck with second loss
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Jackson (1-2) took the loss Tuesday, surrendering four runs on three hits in two-thirds of an inning as the Giants fell 11-8 to the Cubs. He struck out two.
A three-run shot by Christopher Morel accounted for most of the damage against Jackson, who was the fifth of six San Francisco pitchers to take the mound in an ineffective bullpen day. The right-hander has served up three long balls in his last 11 innings, leading to a 4.91 ERA over that stretch, but his 17:5 K:BB should keep him in a mid-to-high-leverage role for the Giants despite his volatility.
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Giants' Luke Jackson: Set for rehab assignment
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Jackson (back) will begin a rehab assignment with the Giants' Arizona Complex League affiliate Thursday, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Jackson should need only one or two rehab appearances before rejoining the Giants' bullpen. He's been out since late June with a lower-back strain. Jackson holds a 2.16 ERA in 8.1 innings with the big club this season.
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Giants' Luke Jackson: Exits with injury
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Jackson was removed from Saturday's game against Arizona with an apparent injury, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.
Jackson immediately signaled toward the Giants' dugout to come get him after throwing a pitch in the sixth inning. The 31-year-old reliever missed two months at the beginning of the season while recovering from Tommy John surgery. The Giants will take a look at him and provide further updates in the near future, but the fact Jackson immediately knew something was wrong is not a positive sign.
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Giants' Luke Jackson: Returning from 60-day IL
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San Francisco activated Jackson (elbow) from the 60-day injured list Tuesday, Evan Webeck of The San Jose Mercury News reports.
Jackson is nearly 14 months removed from Tommy John surgery and will join the Giants' bullpen for Tuesday night's game against the visiting Pirates. He allowed four earned runs over 5.1 innings on a six-appearance minor-league rehab assignment and figures to be eased in as a lower-leverage option initially.
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Giants' Luke Jackson: Pitching again Saturday
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Jackson (elbow) will pitch again Saturday in a rehab appearance for Triple-A Sacramento.
Jackson has made two relief appearances thus far on his rehab assignment, not allowing a run with two strikeouts over two innings. The right-hander is making steady progress after missing all of 2022 while recovering from Tommy John reconstructive elbow surgery. The Giants will likely want to see Jackson work in back-to-back games before activating him, but he could be a late-inning option for the club before the month of May ends.
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Giants' Luke Jackson: Beginning rehab assignment
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Jackson (elbow) is beginning a rehab assignment with Single-A San Jose on Sunday, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
Jackson is first eligible to come off the 60-day injured list May 29, and the right-hander may be ready to go by that point if he endures no setbacks during his rehab assignment. He's working his way back from the Tommy John surgery he underwent last February and will presumably require several outings in the minors to build up his velocity and hone his command. Once activated, Jackson could emerge as a late-inning option out of the San Francisco bullpen.
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Giants' Luke Jackson: Transferred to 60-day IL
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Jackson (elbow) was moved to the 60-day injured list Saturday.
Jackson is still working his way back from Tommy John surgery, and the move confirms he won't be ready to go for at least two months. His former spot on the 40-man roster will go to Bryce Johnson, whose contract was selected in a corresponding move.
