MLB Player News

Bard earned the save, striking out one in the ninth inning in a 6-5 win Tuesday over the Phillies.

Bard recorded his fifth save of the season after pitching a perfect ninth inning. He is now 5-for-6 in save chances on the season. The 36-year-old has notoriously struggled with his command and control and allowed 4.9 BB/9 in 2021. This season, however, he has not yet allowed a walk while striking out seven in six innings of work. The Rockies are tied for first place and Bard is tied for the National League lead in saves.

Sanmartin (0-2) took the loss to the Padres on Tuesday, allowing five runs on eight hits and one walk over 5.1 innings. He struck out four.

Tommy Pham once again gave the Reds an early lead, and just like Nick Lodolo did in the series opener, Sanmartin gave the lead right back in the bottom of the first on a two-run Manny Machado homer. Sanmartin now sits with a 7.11 ERA and 8:6 K:BB in 12.2 innings this season. He looked comfortable and pitched better following an opener in his April 14 outing against the Dodgers, so perhaps the Reds will experiment with the lefty in the bulk-relief role again soon. Given the team context, Sanmartin will be difficult to deploy in any format, at least until he shows more consistency.

Hader earned a save against Pittsburgh on Tuesday, tossing a perfect ninth inning while striking out one.

Hader was efficient Tuesday, throwing six of his nine total pitches for strikes while striking out one and keeping the Pirates from reaching base. The save represents his fifth of the season; he's converted all five opportunities he's had. Due to his low pitch count Tuesday, it's likely he'll be available out of the bullpen if needed again Wednesday.

Hicks is scheduled to start Thursday's game against the Marlins, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Hicks was previously penciled in to start Tuesday's contest but was instead pushed back by two days. The 25-year-old threw 35 pitches over two innings during his last outing Sunday in Milwaukee and is expected to be limited to about 45 pitches in his first start of the season.

Floro (shoulder) threw a 16-pitch simulated game Sunday, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

Floro is scheduled to throw another simulated game at extended spring training Wednesday. If all goes well, the 31-year-old could head out on a minor-league rehab assignment and potentially return from the 10-day injured list before the end of the month. Before developing tendinitis in his right shoulder, Floro was viewed as a potential closing candidate, but the Marlins may prefer to ease him back in as a setup man once healthy. Anthony Bender has served as the Marlins' primary closer thus far, recording two saves in three chances and giving up two runs over 3.1 innings.

Marte was recalled from Triple-A Sacramento ahead of Game 2 of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Mets.

The 27-year-old wasn't called up as the 29th man for the twin bill but will instead join the active roster with Alex Cobb (groin) heading to the injured list. Marte appeared in one game for the Giants earlier this season and delivered a scoreless frame in his MLB debut.

Uceta was recalled from Triple-A Reno ahead of Game 2 of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Nationals.

Uceta was already with the big-league club on the practice squad and will join the active roster for the nightcap. He appeared in 14 games for the Dodgers last year and had a 6.64 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 25:12 K:BB across 20.1 innings.

The Pirates shifted Howard's (back) rehab assignment from Low-A Bradenton to Triple-A Indianapolis on Tuesday, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Howard will get a stiffer test for his second rehab outing after he struck out two and issued one walk over a scoreless inning for Bradenton on Friday. If all goes well in his appearance for Indianapolis, Howard could be activated from the 10-day injured list at some point over the weekend.

The Diamondbacks recalled Gilbert from Triple-A Reno ahead of his scheduled start Tuesday in the second game of Arizona's doubleheader in Washington.

With Arizona playing six games in a five-day stretch, Gilbert is stepping into the rotation as a temporary sixth starter. Since the Diamondbacks have designated him as their 29th man for the twin bill, Gilbert will be optioned back to Reno following his start Tuesday. In 40 innings with the big club in 2021, Gilbert submitted a 3.15 ERA and 1.02 WHIP over 40 innings, but those strong ratios were supported by weak peripherals (7.6 K-BB%, 38.6 percent groundball rate, 5.09 xFIP). Gilbert thus profiles as a risky DFS and season-long streaming option.

Arizona claimed Webb off waivers from Atlanta on Tuesday and optioned him to Triple-A Reno, Jody Jackson of Bally Sports Arizona reports.

The Diamondbacks cleared room for the right-handed reliever on the 40-man roster by designating outfielder Stuart Fairchild for assignment. Though Webb will begin his tenure in the Arizona organization at Triple-A, a promotion to the Diamondbacks could come in short order, given the lack of established middle-relief options in the big-league bullpen. Webb owns a 2.47 ERA and .240 batting average against over 78 career MLB relief appearances.