MLB Player News

Garcia pitched a perfect ninth inning to earn the save in Sunday's 3-1 win over Pittsburgh.

After taking blown saves in his last two outings, this was an encouraging return to form for Garcia. He protected a two-run lead to make sure Sandy Alcantara's eight-inning gem didn't go to waste. For the year, Garcia is 10-for-13 in save chances. He's posted a 2.63 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 23:7 K:BB across 24 innings.

Voth was removed in the top of the third inning of Sunday's game against the Phillies after he was hit in the face by a Vince Velasquez pitch during an at-bat, Maria Torres of The Athletic reports.

Summoned from the bullpen to make a spot start in place of Stephen Strasburg (neck), Voth struck out two over a perfect two innings and appeared poised to come back out for a third frame. However, he didn't get the opportunity after taking a 90 mile-per-hour Velasquez offering to the front of his helmet, with the ball then deflecting off the left side of his face. Though sporting a bloody nose, Voth was able to walk off the field under his own power, but he'll likely be subject to X-rays and concussion tests before the Nationals provide an updated diagnosis of his injury.

The Phillies reinstated Neris from the paternity list ahead of Sunday's game against the Nationals.

Reliever David Hale was moved to the COVID-19 injured list to reopen a spot on the active roster for Neris, who was only on the paternity list for one day. He should immediately step back in as the Phillies' closer ahead of their series finale against the Nationals. Through 24 outings this season, Neris has been one of baseball's most reliable end gamers, converting nine of 11 save chances while posting a 1.96 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 27:8 K:BB across 23 frames.

Manager Dave Martinez said Voth will start Sunday's game against the Phillies, which the Nationals will treat as a bullpen day, Jessica Camerato of MLB.com reports.

After the Nationals elected to send Erick Fedde (COVID-19 injured list) out for a minor-league rehab start Saturday, Voth became the logical choice to pick up a spot start in place of Stephen Strasburg (neck), who was moved back to the IL a few days ago. After Strasburg recorded just four outs in his start June 1 before exiting with the neck strain, Voth stepped in to cover a season-high three innings of long relief. The Nationals apparently don't plan to stretch Voth out much further than that for Sunday's start, as Martinez said the right-hander will likely cover 2-to-3 innings before giving way to the bullpen, according to Maria Torres of The Athletic.

Abbott pitched two scoreless innings out of the bullpen in Saturday's loss to the Giants. He allowed a hit and a walk while striking out one.

Abbott was called up from Triple-A Iowa earlier in the day and was effective in his MLB debut. The 25-year-old had a 6.39 ERA and 1.67 WHIP in five starts for Iowa before getting the call, so expectations should be tempered, though he at least made a good first impression. Abbott will serve out of the Cubs' bullpen for the time being but could be an option for some spot starts.

Atlanta optioned Webb to Triple-A Gwinnett on Sunday.

Webb's latest stint with the big club lasted all of one day. He went unused Saturday in Atlanta's 6-4 loss to the Dodgers, and he'll now head back to Triple-A with the big club calling up Shane Greene from Gwinnett in a corresponding move.

Holmes (2-0) earned the win in relief Saturday against the Marlins by tossing a scoreless inning.

Holmes tossed 10 of his 16 pitches for strikes and kept the Marlins off the board in the top of the 12th inning. That was enough to grant him his second win of the campaign. The 28-year-old right-hander has been pitching well of late, and he's gone 13 straight outings (12 innings) without allowing a run, posting an 11:4 K:BB in that span.

Cimber (1-2) was tagged with the loss Saturday against the Pirates after allowing an unearned run on one hit and one walk in one-third of an inning.

Cimber pitched the 12th inning and while he retired Ke'Bryan Hayes with a flyout, he couldn't hold on and gave up the game-winning RBI on a single from Jacob Stallings that scored Adam Frazier. The 30-year-old right-hander has given up at least one run in four of his last five outings and owns a 5.68 ERA across 6.1 innings in that span.

Brogdon was credited with the save Saturday against the Nationals. He pitched a scoreless ninth inning and struck out two.

Brogdon only needed 14 pitches (nine strikes) to secure his first save of the season and did it in impressive fashion, striking out two of the three batters he faced -- none other than Trea Turner and Juan Soto. The 26-year-old right-hander got the save chance since the established closer, Hector Neris, was placed on the paternity list Saturday, so the former might not be tasked with picking up more save chances going forward. Jose Alvarado and Sam Coonrod could see save opportunities in the near future while Neris is unavailable, though the fact that Brogdon came through in the clutch when called upon is an encouraging sign for the future.

Howard didn't factor into the decision Saturday against the Nationals after tossing 2.1 innings of one-run ball, allowing one hit and two walks while fanning two.

Howard was tagged with the Nationals' first run of the game but didn't have too many problems on the mound in his short, 48-pitch outing. Howard has been a starter in each of his last three appearances with the Phillies, but it remains to be seen whether he'll remain in the rotation or if he'll return to the bullpen moving forward. His upside as a starter is quite limited, though, as he's yet to pitch more than four complete innings in any of his appearances.