MLB Player News

Bukauskas (elbow) threw a bullpen session Thursday, according to MLB.com.

That's the second time this week Bukauskas has thrown, and he's expected to begin a rehab assignment soon.

Martin (0-3) allowed four runs on three hits and two walks over a third of an inning and took the loss Friday as the Diamondbacks fell to the Padres.

Martin gave up back-to-back home runs to open the game and later hit a batter among the seven hitters he faced. He has given up 23 hits -- including five HR -- 19 runs and 14 walks over 16 innings, which has manager Torey Lovullo re-thinking the decision to put him in the rotation. "We'll sit down and have some conversations as a staff and figure out the best thing moving forward for him and the rest of the group," the manager said when asked if the club will reconsider Martin's spot in the rotation, per Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic. If a change is made, Riley Smith, who provided 3.2 innings of relief Friday, could get the call next Wednesday in St. Louis.

Moore allowed three hits and a walk over five scoreless innings against the Mets during the second game of Friday's doubleheader. He struck out two and did not factor in the decision.

It was Moore's first outing since May 20 after he spent roughly a month on the injured list with a back issue. He turned in his best outing of the season and lowered his ERA to 5.79 through 23.1 innings. It's unclear if he'll get another turn in the rotation or head back to the bullpen.

Neris worked a perfect eighth inning to earn a save over the Mets in the second game of Friday's doubleheader. He struck out one batter.

Neris needed just seven pitches to finish off the Mets and split Friday's doubleheader. It was reported that the 32-year-old had lost his job as the Phillies' closer, but Jose Alvarado blew a save opportunity in the first game Friday. At this point, it's unclear who manager Joe Girardi will lean on moving forward. Neris owns a 3.41 ERA with a 35:11 K:BB through 29 innings.

Crowe (1-4) earned the win over St. Louis on Friday, pitching five innings and allowing four runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out four.

The right-hander was far from dominant in the start, as he induced only eight swinging strikes and allowed four extra-base hits (including two homers) over five frames. However, he fared just well enough to collect his first career win in his 14th appearance. Crowe was 0-2 in three starts last season, and he entered Friday with an 0-4 record and a 6.42 ERA across 40.2 innings in 2021, so he hasn't yet proven that he's capable of handling big-league hitters. He's in line to make his next start at Colorado next week.

Williams (4-1) struck out two in a perfect 11th inning to earn the win against the Rockies on Friday.

Williams had to deal with the phantom runner on second base to begin the 11th inning, but he didn't allow any additional baserunners and earned his second win in his last three outings as a result. The right-hander has been slightly more inconsistent in 2021 than he was in his rookie season, but he's posted a 1.50 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 9:1 K:BB in six innings across his last seven appearances.

Gilbreath (0-1) allowed an unearned run on a hit and a walk in a third of an inning to take the loss against the Brewers on Friday.

The southpaw recorded the final out of the 10th inning but issued a single and a walk to load the bases in the 11th. Following his removal, Keston Hiura hit a sacrifice fly off Yency Almonte to end the game. Gilbreath has made six relief appearances since he was recalled by Colorado, and he hasn't allowed any earned runs in five innings during that time.

Bard allowed two runs on one hit and one walk while striking out three in the ninth inning to blow the save in Friday's loss to the Brewers.

Bard picked up his 10th save of the season in Wednesday's win over the Mariners, but he was unable to preserve a two-run lead in Friday's matchup as the Rockies went on to lose in 11 innings. The right-hander still likely has decent job security as Colorado's closer given the team's lack of other options, but he's been charged with a loss and a blown save across his last three appearances.

Manager Joe Girardi said Friday that Neris has been supplanted as the Phillies' closer by Jose Alvarado, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Girardi indicated after Neris blew another save Wednesday that he'd consider making a change at closer, and Alvarado will now be Philadelphia's top option in save situations. Neris went 9-for-11 in save opportunities with a 1.90 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 29:8 K:BB through his first 25 outings of the season, but he blew three saves and surrendered six runs in his past six appearances. The 30-year-old will shift to a different role for now, though he could reclaim the closer's job later on if he can rediscover his earlier form.

Manager Joe Girardi said Friday that Alvarado has overtaken Hector Neris as Philadelphia's top option for saves, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Alvarado has two saves this season with his last one coming May 5, but he'll receive an opportunity as the Phillies' closer after Neris was unable to convert three of his past four save chances. Alvarado has also recorded nine holds while posting a 2.70 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 36:23 K:BB across 26.2 innings. The left-hander's 19.7 percent walk rate, which would be a career-worst mark, will be his largest hurdle in his path to securing the closer's gig long term.