MLB Player News
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Carmen Mlodzinski RP | PIT
Pirates' Carmen Mlodzinski: Takes loss against Giants
Mlodzinski (2-3) allowed two runs on seven hits and struck out one without walking a batter over six innings, taking the loss Friday versus the Giants.
A Rafael Devers home run and a Heliot Ramos RBI single accounted for the two runs on his line. Mlodzinski's single strikeout was a bit of a disappointment after he racked up 10 punchouts versus the Reds last Saturday. This was his first quality start of the season, and it ended a stretch of three poor outings in which he allowed a total of 15 runs (14 earned) across 13.2 innings. He's had fairly mixed results overall with a 4.50 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 41:13 K:BB through 40 innings over eight appearances (seven starts). The right-hander offers strikeout upside in a favorable projected matchup next week at home versus the Rockies.
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PJ Poulin RP | WAS
Nationals' PJ Poulin: Earns one-out save
Poulin earned the save in Friday's 3-2 win over the Marlins, allowing one walk and recording one out in the ninth inning.
Poulin was summoned with a runner on first and two outs to face lefty Joe Mack before the Marlins countered with right-handed hitter Heriberto Hernandez. Poulin walked Hernandez before inducing a game-ending groundout to earn his first save of the season. It was likely just a matchup play after current closer Gus Varland picked up a save Thursday. On the year, Poulin owns a 3.38 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 14:11 K:BB across 18.2 innings, adding three holds and serving as an opener in five of his 19 appearances.
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Hunter Harvey RP | CHC
Cubs' Hunter Harvey: Suffers setback in recovery
Harvey was diagnosed with a stress reaction in his right triceps Friday, Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Harvey had progressed to throwing off a mound while working his way back from ticeps inflammation, but he reported soreness after Thursday's session. An MRI revealed a stress reaction, which will keep the 31-year-old shut down for the next month. A clearer timeline for his return may begin to emerge once he's cleared to restart his throwing program.
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Ethan Roberts RP | CHC
Cubs' Ethan Roberts: Returns from IL
The Cubs reinstated Roberts (finger) from the 15-day injured list Friday.
The right-hander has been on the shelf nearly a month due to a right middle finger laceration, but he's ready to rejoin the Cubs after a five-outing rehab assignment. Roberts has made just three appearances in the majors this year and has pitched 2.2 scoreless frames.
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Dennis Santana RP | PIT
Pirates' Dennis Santana: Works seventh inning
Santana threw a scoreless seventh inning while walking one to earn a hold Thursday against the Diamondbacks.
Santana blew a save and allowed four earned runs on April 27 and has not gotten a save chance in three appearances since. Meanwhile, Gregory Soto has earned two saves in that span, both of which have come in Pittsburgh's last two games. While the closer situation has been fluid between Soto and Santana early on this season, Santana has allowed at least one run in four of his last 10 appearances and has only a 5.4 K/9 across 16.2 innings on the campaign.
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Gregory Soto RP | PIT
Pirates' Gregory Soto: Nabs second save in as many days
Soto earned a save against the Diamondbacks on Thursday, striking out one batter in a perfect inning of work.
Soto entered in the ninth frame with Pittsburgh up 4-2 and kept things that way, retiring the side in order on 14 pitches (11 strikes). It was the second straight day in which Soto notched a save after picking up just one save over his first 17 outings. Meanwhile, Dennis Santana, who recorded two saves in April but has given up six runs over his past four appearances spanning 3.2 frames, pitched a scoreless seventh frame in Thursday's contest. It's probably still a fluid closer situation, but for the moment it seems like Soto has jumped ahead of Santana in the pecking order.
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Riley O'Brien RP | STL
Cardinals' Riley O'Brien: Converts 11th save
O'Brien struck out one in a perfect inning to earn the save in Thursday's 2-1 win over the Padres.
O'Brien got the job done on 10 pitches (eight strikes) to preserve a one-run lead. He's had some shaky moments lately, allowing four runs over his last 4.2 innings, but he's still converted four of his five save chances in that span. This is O'Brien's first full season closing, and he's done well in the role with 11 saves on 13 chances while maintaining a 2.00 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 20:1 K:BB through 18 innings.
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Tanner Banks RP | PHI
Phillies' Tanner Banks: Continues to struggle in 2026
Banks allowed two runs on four hits and one walk in 1.1 innings Thursday against the Athletics. He struck out two.
Banks hasn't been a particularly reliable arm out of Philadelphia's bullpen in the early going. Only nine of his 15 appearances have been scoreless outings in terms of earned runs allowed, and the 34-year-old has a 6.75 ERA, 2.39 WHIP and 18:9 K:BB with two holds across 14.2 innings.