MLB Player News
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Reynaldo Lopez RP | ATL
Braves' Reynaldo Lopez: Collects third win
Lopez (3-1) picked up the win in Sunday's victory over the Pirates, allowing a hit and a walk over 1.1 scoreless innings of relief. He struck out two.
The right-hander was in the right place at the right time as the pitcher of record when Atlanta erased a 2-0 deficit in the bottom of the seventh inning. Lopez remains erratic out of the bullpen, getting scored upon in four of nine appearances since the beginning of May while stumbling to a 5.14 ERA, 1.71 WHIP and 12:7 K:BB over 14 innings.
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Ryne Stanek RP | STL
Cardinals' Ryne Stanek: Finding groove
Stanek boasts a 1.38 ERA and 14:6 K:BB over 13 innings since the beginning of May.
Stanek finished April with an 8.31 ERA and 18:12 K:BB across 13 frames in his first 15 outings of the season, but he's found a groove since then, having yielded an earned run in just one of his last 14 appearances. His poor control still gets him into trouble at times, but Stanek has re-established himself as one of Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol's go-to right-handed setup men. He could net the occasional save on days Riley O'Brien is unavailable.
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Sam Moll RP | CIN
Reds' Sam Moll: Rough weekend in St. Louis
Moll (1-5) allowed two unearned runs on two hits and one walk without retiring a batter to pick up the loss to the Cardinals on Sunday.
Moll had a rough weekend in St. Louis, losing two consecutive games by giving up eighth-inning runs. His own throwing error led to one run while shortstop Matt McLain's fielding error plated the second. The Reds bullpen has been a mess since the beginning of May and currently sits 29th with a 5.12 ERA and last with 158 walks allowed (5.74 BB/9).
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Emilio Pagan RP | CIN
Reds' Emilio Pagan: Could throw off mound soon
Pagan (hamstring) will be re-assessed for strength deficit on Monday, MLB.com reports.
Pending the results of that testing, Pagan could begin throwing from a mound immediately after. From there, he'll move on to facing batters and then a rehab assignment. Originally given a four-to-eight week timeline for a return, Pagan just passed the four-week mark.
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Dylan Smith RP | SF
Giants' Dylan Smith: Records first save
Smith picked up the save Sunday against the Cubs. He struck out one over a perfect inning.
Smith shut the door in Sunday's low-scoring affair, retiring the side in order in the 10th inning to secure his first career save and a Giants victory. The right-hander's save opportunity came about with Caleb Kilian, Erik Miller and Keaton Winn already having been deployed in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings, respectively. Smith likely won't see save chances regularly, though the 26-year-old could work his way into more high-leverage opportunities if he continues to pitch well.
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Javier Assad RP | CHC
Cubs' Javier Assad: Excels in extended relief outing
Assad allowed a hit and a walk while striking out five over 6.1 scoreless innings of relief in Sunday's 2-1 loss to San Francisco.
With Jameson Taillon (hamstring) exiting with no outs in the second inning, Assad was called upon to eat innings and did so brilliantly. His five strikeouts marked a season high, and the right-hander now owns a 4.73 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 19:8 K:BB across 32.1 innings over nine appearances (three starts). If Taillon requires a stint on the injured list, Assad is a logical candidate to step into the rotation.
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Sean Manaea RP | NYM
Mets' Sean Manaea: Earns first win in bulk relief
Manaea (1-1) earned the win Sunday against San Diego. He allowed two runs on four hits and a walk while striking out three over four innings of bulk relief.
Entering after an inning from opener Huascar Brazoban, Manaea was generally able to stay out of trouble, except for a two-run homer surrendered to Freddy Fermin in the fifth inning. The southpaw logged 66 pitches (39 strikes) in what was his second appearance since joining the New York rotation after operating exclusively as a reliever to open the season. Over his past seven outings, Manaea owns a 3.43 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 22:7 K:BB across 21 innings. The 34-year-old is tentatively slated to next take the ball Friday against Atlanta and could once again operate behind an opener.
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Shane Drohan RP | MIL
Brewers' Shane Drohan: Collects third win in quality start
Drohan (3-1) earned the win Sunday at Colorado, allowing three runs on five hits and one walk while striking out four across 6.1 innings.
The rookie left-hander entered the outing without ever pitching beyond 4.1 innings in the majors, yet he worked into the seventh and finished with a career-high 83 pitches while recording his first career quality start. The increased workload is an encouraging development for a young pitcher still building innings. Drohan now owns a 3.11 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 37:11 K:BB on the season, and he is next scheduled for a home matchup against the Phillies.
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Jonathan Bowlan RP | PHI
Phillies' Jonathan Bowlan: Steady campaign continues
Bowlan allowed one hit and no walks in two scoreless innings of relief Sunday against the White Sox. He struck out three.
With the Phillies nursing a 9-5 lead Sunday, Bowlan recorded the game's final six outs on just 19 pitches. The 29-year-old right-hander has seen very little high-leverage work in 2026, posting a 3.98 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 21:4 K:BB with one hold and no saves across 20.1 innings.
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Riley O'Brien RP | STL
Cardinals' Riley O'Brien: Holds on for 17th save
O'Brien secured the save Sunday against the Reds, allowing no runs on one hit and no walks in the ninth inning. He struck out one.
O'Brien did let the possible tying run get to the plate, but he was able to hang on for the save courtesy of a Blake Dunn flyout. The 31-year-old right-hander has been shaky at times as St. Louis' closer, though he's now collected three saves in a row and ranks second in the National League behind only Mason Miller in saves. Through 29.1 frames, O'Brien has a 3.68 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 31:7 K:BB while converting 17 of his 21 save chances.