MLB Player News

Pagan struck out a batter in a perfect ninth inning Tuesday to record his fifth save of the season in a 2-1 win over the Giants, but he appeared to injure his hamstring on his final pitch, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports. "His hammy grabbed a little bit. So we need to check him out. He's getting looked at right now," Reds manager Terry Francona said after the game.

The 34-year-old right-hander had appeared to right the ship after a bumpy start to the season, but the injury could set him back. Pagan blew his first save chance of 2026 and got tagged for five runs and two home runs in his first three appearances, but since then he's converted five straight saves and reeled off six straight scoreless outings, albeit with a 5:5 K:BB in his last six innings. If Pagan winds up missing time, Tony Santillan would likely be the next man up for Cincinnati in the ninth inning.

Estrada (elbow) resumed playing light catch earlier this week, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Estrada's velocity had been down through his first seven appearances of the season, but it wasn't until the right-hander felt tightness in his elbow while playing catch that the Padres decided to place him on the injured list last Friday. The Padres are labeling Estrada's injury as tendinitis, and the fact that he's already been cleared to start throwing again offers hope that he'll be in line for an abbreviated stay on the shelf. Despite the early drop in velocity, Estrada was able to strike out more than a batter per inning and netted four holds prior to landing on the shelf.

Clevinger is on the 7-day injured list at Triple-A Indianapolis with an undisclosed injury, Jose Negron of DK Pittsburgh Sports reports.

Clevinger has been pitching in relief at Indianapolis, allowing five runs with a 9:5 K:BB across 8.2 innings. It's unclear how long he might be sidelined, but the 35-year-old will not be an option for the Pirates for at least the next week.

Sewald struck out one in a perfect ninth inning Tuesday to record his sixth save of the season in a 4-3 win over the Orioles.

The veteran reliever needed 11 pitches (seven strikes) to convert his sixth straight save chance to begin the season. Sewald has a 2.45 ERA, 0.55 WHIP and 10:0 K:BB through 7.1 innings, and while he's been a little lucky with a .143 BABIP in the early going, his 13.5 percent swinging strike rate is also his best mark since 2023.

Diaz threw a bullpen session Tuesday but didn't get called upon for a save opportunity in the Dodgers' 2-1 win over the Mets. His status is set to re-evaluated before Wednesday's contest, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

Neither the Dodgers nor Diaz have indicated that he's hurt, and manager Dave Roberts said Monday that he expects the reliever to be available during the current series versus New York. However, the team opted to have the veteran closer throw a bullpen session Tuesday, which essentially ruled him out from being able to pitch during the contest later that evening. Diaz has displayed decreased velocity early in the campaign, though he's noted that his velocity has often been down early in previous seasons before eventually ticking back up. The missed opportunity for a save Tuesday is frustrating for fantasy managers who invested heavily in Diaz, but for now, the best course of action seems to be to stick with the reliever with the expectation that he'll get back to closing sooner rather than later.

Vesia struck out all three batters he faced in the ninth inning against the Mets on Tuesday to earn a save.

With the Dodgers up one run heading into the ninth inning, it was Vesia -- rather than Edwin Diaz -- who was summoned to close out the game. Vesia more than lived up to the role, needing just 10 pitches to strike out all three batters he faced. It was the lefty's second save of the campaign, with his other coming in an appearance during which he faced only one batter. Vesia clearly has manager Dave Roberts' trust in high-leverage situations and has yet to give up a run through 7.1 frames spanning eight outings this season. With that said, Diaz is likely to get the vast majority of the Dodgers' save chances over the course of the campaign. Per Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register, Diaz was unavailable Tuesday after throwing a bullpen session during the afternoon.

Miller struck out one batter over a perfect inning to notch a save against the Mariners on Tuesday.

It was a relatively stress-free save for Miller, who entered in the ninth inning with a three-run cushion. Regardless, the flamethrowing righty continued to dominate, retiring the side in order on 15 pitches. Miller is a perfect 5-for-5 in save chances on the campaign and has compiled 29.2 consecutive regular-season scoreless innings dating back to last year. He's been nearly impossible to make contact against this season, allowing just one base knock while posting a 20:1 K:BB through 8.1 frames.

Megill blew his save chance during Tuesday's 9-7 extra-inning loss to Toronto. He allowed three runs on three hits and one walk and failed to strike out a batter over one inning.

After giving up one run while converting three saves through his first four outings of the season, Megill has now been roughed out his last two times out, yielding seven runs and putting seven runners on base while recording just three outs. Per Adam McCalvy of MLB.com, manager Pat Murphy acknowledged after Tuesday's loss that the Brewers may consider a change at closer, though the skipper said that no immediate decision has been made. Abner Uribe notched seven saves for Milwaukee in 2025 and would appear to be the next man up if the Brewers go in a different direction at closer, though he's been shaky of late with at least one run allowed in three of his last four appearances. Angel Zerpa (6.00 ERA, 1.67 WHIP in nine innings) has recorded the Brewers' lone save this season that hasn't gone to Megill.

Varland earned the save Tuesday against the Pirates, allowing one hit and one walk with one strikeout in a scoreless ninth inning.

Curiously, manager Blake Butera called Varland's number again for a second straight save opportunity after he pitched a clean ninth inning against the Brewers to pick up his first career save Sunday. Prior to Sunday, Clayton Beeter had recorded both of Washington's saves. Beeter, however, recorded the final two outs of the bottom of the eighth Tuesday before Varland got the ball to open the ninth with a 5-4 lead. It appears as if Butera may be willing to use both pitchers in save situations moving forward. Varland has a 4.50 ERA and 7:3 K:BB through his first six innings.

Fairbanks (0-1) blew the save and took the loss during Tuesday's game against Atlanta. He allowed three runs on three hits while striking out one batter across one inning.

The Marlins brought out Fairbanks for the bottom of the eighth while holding a 5-3 lead. He retired two of the first three batters he faced before loading the bases, and he was unable to get out of the frame unscathed after yielding a bases-clearing double to Dominic Smith. Fairbanks collected a save in two of his first three outings of the season while striking out five batters across three innings. However, he has allowed three earned runs in each of his last two appearances. If Fairbanks can't figure out his command, then that might force the Marlins look to other closing options out of the bullpen such as Michael Petersen, Tyler Phillips, Calvin Faucher or Anthony Bender.