MLB Player News

Finnegan (2-1) allowed five runs (one earned) on two hits and two walks while striking out one in a third of an inning to take the loss against the Phillies on Sunday.

Finnegan was brought on in the fourth inning of Sunday's game, but he struggled to hold the Phillies in check and was charged with his first loss of the season as a result. Although the right-hander struggled against Philadelphia, he's posted a 4.13 ERA and 1.67 WHIP in 24 innings across 26 relief appearances this year.

Boxberger allowed one hit in a scoreless ninth inning Friday, striking out one batter and earning a save over Arizona.

Boxberger gave up a leadoff single to Carson Kelly but quickly finished off the next three batters to earn his first save since April 7. He's converted his only two save chances this season and has seven holds alongside a 3.04 ERA. He won't get regular looks in the ninth inning as long as Josh Hader is healthy and dealing.

Voth has been diagnosed with a broken nose after being hit in the face by a pitch and forced to exit his Sunday start against the Phillies, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

Voth was tabbed to make a spot start with Stephen Strasburg landing on the injured list with a neck injury. The right-hander was removed in the third inning after a Vince Velasquez fastball hit him in the face during his at-bat. Manager Davey Martinez said that Voth will stay in Philadelphia on Sunday night to get his nose reset. It's unclear how the nose issue will affect his availability going forward or whether he'll require an IL stint.

Atlanta outrighted Arano to Triple-A Gwinnett on Sunday after he cleared waivers, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

Arano posted a 3.86 ERA and 1.57 WHIP in seven innings for Gwinnett before Atlanta cast him off its 40-man roster Friday. The 26-year-old posted a 2.73 ERA and gathered 10 holds in 60 appearances for the Phillies in 2018, but he hasn't re-emerged as a big-league-caliber reliever since undergoing arthroscopic elbow surgery in May 2019.

The Cardinals assigned Webb to Triple-A Memphis after he cleared waivers Sunday.

Webb was designated for assignment Thursday after posting an ugly 13.22 ERA and 2.51 WHIP over his 22 relief appearances for the big club this season. The 30-year-old will likely need to show sharper command and control at Triple-A for an extended period before the Cardinals entertain the idea of adding him back to the 40-man roster.

Smith gave up a solo home run and struck out one in one inning to earn the save in Sunday's 4-2 win over the Dodgers.

The southpaw was taken deep by Albert Pujols in the ninth inning, but he was able to close out the contest. Smith has given up a run in two of his three appearances in June. He's now a perfect 11-for-11 in save chances despite a somewhat shaky 4.30 ERA and has posted a 1.17 WHIP and 33:8 K:BB across 23 innings. He entered Sunday with a 2.04 FIP, so it's fair to say he's had some bad luck. However, it hasn't resulted in any risk to Smith's grip on the closer job.

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.