MLB Player News

Hand struck out one in a perfect inning during Sunday's loss to the Dodgers.

The southpaw cleared the COVID-19 protocols Friday but the Nats didn't have a late lead for him to protect all weekend, so Hand instead worked the eighth inning in a non-save situation Sunday. The team's offense should get back to full strength this week, so Hand should begin to receive save opportunities soon enough after racking up 103 saves over the last four seasons for San Diego and Cleveland.

Moore allowed five runs on nine hits while striking out five over five innings but did not factor in the decision during Sunday's 7-6 win over Atlanta.

Moore was given a wake-up call from the get-go, as he surrendered two hits on his first two pitches of the night with the second hit being a two-run shot to left to put the Phillies in an early 2-0 hole. He ended up ceding five hits and three runs in the first frame and eventually allowed two more runs, including a Freddie Freeman long ball, before being taken out after the fifth inning. Moore has yet to figure things out through his first two starts, as he had trouble with walks in his first outing and home runs on Sunday. He'll take a 7.56 ERA into his next outing that is scheduled to be against the Cardinals on Friday.

Smith (0-2) allowed one run on one hit, as he was handed the loss in Sunday's 7-6 defeat to the Phillies.

Smith entered in the ninth and let up a leadoff double to Alec Bohm to put himself in some early trouble. Bohm advanced to third on a groundball to the right side and then scored on a controversial sac fly in which he was called safe at the plate despite video evidence showing that his foot never touched home plate. Atlanta was unable to keep the game alive in the bottom half of the inning as Smith suffered his second loss of the year. The 31-year-old has sandwiched two saves in between his pair of losses, as he's had a bumpy start to the season with a 6.75 ERA through four innings.

Alvarado (2-0) pitched a clean eighth inning while also walking a batter as he was awarded his second win of the season in a 7-6 victory over the Braves on Sunday.

Alvarado led off the eighth by walking Travis d'Arnaud but was able to retire the next three hitters and get out of the inning without much sweat. He earned his second win of the year after the Phillies were able to tack on the go-ahead run in the ninth, but it was the first outing of the season that the 25-year-old flamethrower failed to record a strikeout. Alvarado has allowed one run in 4.2 innings and boasts a 9:1 K:BB as he continues to assert himself as one of the game's most dominant relievers.

Neris went 1-2-3 in the ninth to record his second save of the season in a 7-6 win over the Braves on Sunday.

Neris did not have an easy task to close out the game with Pablo Sandoval, Ronald Acuna and Ozzie Albies stepping up to the plate. The 31-year-old was able to retire all three hitters on just 10 pitches as he helped the Phillies avoid a sweep to the Braves. Neris has yet to allow a run in four appearances and has converted both of his save chances on the year so far.

Treinen registered his third hold of the season as he allowed two hits but got out of his one inning damage-free in Sunday's 3-0 win over the Nationals.

Treinen was called upon to pitch the eighth inning and started off a little rocky as he allowed the first two hitters to reach. He was able to buckle down thereafter and battled to get the next three batters out to escape the jam. The 32-year-old has now hurled three straight scoreless outings after a rocky start in which he allowed two runs in a blown save opportunity against the Rockies on April 3.

Rogers pitched 1.1 scoreless innings with one walk to earn a hold in Sunday's 4-0 win over the Rockies.

Rogers helped protect a 3-0 lead when he entered with two outs in the seventh inning. He also worked through the eighth. He's posted a 1.50 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and four strikeouts over six innings this season. He's racked up four holds while also taking a pair of blown saves as the primary setup man to Jake McGee.

Jansen earned his second save of the season in Sunday's 3-0 win over the Nationals, as he recorded two strikeouts in an easy 1-2-3 frame.

Jansen was able to notch his second save of the season, and his first since April 3, as he returned to dominant form while only needing eight pitches to get through the inning. Jansen was involved in a blown save earlier in the week and then was passed up for a save opportunity in favor of Corey Knebel on Friday, which may have had fantasy managers shaking in their boots. He reassured his closer status Sunday and appeared to turn back the clock a bit while touching 94 MPH with his cutter and reaching 95 MPH with his sinker. The Dodgers have a day off Monday, which means Jansen should be available if needed when the team returns Tuesday in a home series against the Rockies.

De Leon (0-1) allowed six runs on eight hits and three walks while striking out nine over 4.1 innings in a loss to the Diamondbacks on Sunday.

The righty threw 61 of his 89 pitches for strikes but was unable to build on his last start. The 28-year-old saw limited action in 2020 and will have a lot of attention on him moving forward as the Reds decide whether to keep him in a starting role or move him to the bullpen upon teammate Sonny Gray's return.

Ponce de Leon (1-1) allowed seven runs on six hits and four walks over 1.1 innings Sunday, taking the loss against Milwaukee.

Sunday was a day to forget for Ponce de Leon. The Brewers bounced early with a four-run first inning, including a two-run shot by Avisail Garcia. He was then chased from the game after allowing a three-run blast to Travis Shaw with just one out in the second. The 29-year-old could be moving back to the bullpen after this outing as Kwang Hyun Kim (back) is expected to return soon.