MLB Player News

Coonrod threw two scoreless innings in his Phillies debut Monday against the Mets, striking out three and allowing one hit.

Coonrod kept the deficit at two in the sixth and seventh innings of a game that the Phillies would eventually come back to win 5-3. Coonrod's multi-inning usage likely indicates he isn't ticketed for high-leverage work anytime soon, but it was an encouraging outing nonetheless for the righty.

Brogdon (2-0) earned the win Monday against the Mets, striking out one and allowing one hit in a scoreless eighth inning.

Brogdon was brought in to face the Mets' fifth, sixth and seventh hitters with a two-run deficit in the top of the eighth. He allowed a single to J.D. Davis, then got Jeff McNeil to ground into a double play and struck out James McCann. That left Brogdon as the pitcher of record when the Phillies scored five runs in the bottom half of the inning to take the lead for good. While Brogdon likely won't remain the Phillies' wins leader for too much longer, he appears to be fourth in the team's high-leverage hierarchy behind Hector Neris, Jose Alvarado and Archie Bradley, so he should continue to pitch in close games going forward.

Rogers pitched a scoreless inning with one hit and one strikeout to earn a hold in Monday's 3-2 win over the Padres.

Rogers was one of four Giants relievers to keep a fairly clean pitching line as the bullpen was tasked with covering four innings Monday. The 30-year-old has collected two holds in three appearances this season, allowing an unearned run, two hits and a walk with two strikeouts over 2.2 innings. Rogers has slotted in as a setup man behind Jake McGee early in 2021, but he can't be counted out for save opportunities down the line this season.

The Nationals placed Hand on the COVID-19 injured list Tuesday, Jessica Camerato of MLB.com reports.

Hand is one of nine Nationals players on the 40-man roster who will begin the campaign on the IL as a result of the team's recent COVID-19 outbreak. Prior reports have suggested that only four of the players in question have been confirmed to have tested positive for the virus, but it's uncertain whether Hand is one of the infected players or merely a close contact. According to Jon Heyman of MLB Network, players that tested positive will be eligible to return after 10 days in quarantine, while those ruled out through contact tracing can return after a week. Daniel Hudson and Tanner Rainey look to be the top candidates for saves while Hand is sidelined.

Hand was not on the field for the Nationals' workout Monday, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

Eleven players in total are reported to be in quarantine for the Nats due to positive COVID-19 tests or being designated as close contacts, and Hand's absence from the workout suggests he's probably in one of those groups. If he's in the latter group, he could still be cleared to play in time for Tuesday's game against Atlanta, but Daniel Hudson or Tanner Rainey would be the most likely candidates to handle a save chance if Hand is unavailable.

Morejon allowed two runs on five hits and a walk while striking out two batters over four innings in Monday's loss to the Giants. He didn't factor into the decision.

Both runs Morejon gave up came via solo home runs. The 22-year-old left-hander was taken deep to center by Darin Ruf to open up the second inning, then Evan Longoria drove a sinker out of the yard to put the Giants up 2-1 in the fourth. Morejon never pitched more than three innings in 2020, as he primarily served as an opener; however, the Padres stretched him out to be a starter this spring, and he should remain in the rotation until Dinelson Lamet (elbow) is able to come off the injured list. His next opportunity to pitch is expected to come against the Rangers on Sunday.

Sims pitched a perfect eighth to earn a hold in his first outing of the season Monday against the Pirates. He struck out one.

Meanwhile Amir Garrett got the Reds' first save chance and was a little shaky while converting it, allowing a homer and two other baserunners before getting the final out. If Garrett, who threw 25 pitches, needs a day off, it's possible Sims could get the next chance on Tuesday.

Alvarado collected his first save of the season Monday, giving up a run on three hits while striking out two in the ninth inning of a 5-3 win over the Mets.

With Hector Neris having pitched three times in the last four days, it was Alvarado's turn to protect a late lead. The lefty made things interesting by giving up three straight two-out singles before Pete Alonso came within about five feet of an opposite-field homer, but it still went into the books as Alvarado's first save with his new club. It's noteworthy that he got the call over Archie Bradley in a save situation, a decision which may have been prompted by lefty Brandon Nimmo leading off the ninth for the Mets, but Neris remains the primary closing option for the Phillies.

Moore didn't factor into the decision in Monday's 5-3 win over the Mets, giving up two runs on four hits and four walks over 3.1 innings. He struck out four.

The veteran southpaw's first start back in MLB after spending last season in Japan was right in line with his career results, as Moore threw only 47 of 74 pitches for strikes and put plenty of traffic on the bases. He was in line for the loss before the Phillies erupted for five runs in the eighth inning, but Moore will look to give his new team a more efficient outing during his next scheduled start Sunday in Atlanta.

May (0-1) was saddled with the loss Monday as the Mets fell 5-3 to the Phillies, giving up three runs (two earned) on two hits and a walk over only one-third of an inning. He struck out one.

Entrusted with a 2-0 lead in the eighth inning in his first appearance for the Mets, May fanned Adam Haseley to begin the frame before loading the bases on two singles and a walk. The right-hander then gave way to Aaron Loup, who plunked Bryce Harper to bring home Philly's first run and get things rolling on yet another bullpen collapse that cost Jacob deGrom a win. May was expected to solidify the Mets' setup crew after posting a 3.19 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 12.2 K/9 over the prior three seasons for the Twins, but his tenure with his new club is off to an inauspicious start.