MLB Player News

Uceta (0-1) allowed two runs on four hits and a walk while striking out two over two innings in a loss to the Brewers on Friday.

Manager Dave Roberts opted to go with a bullpen game Friday and awarded Uceta with the opportunity to be the opener. The 23-year-old pitched a 1-2-3 first but allowed four hits in the second, including a two-run homer to Jackie Bradley. He turned it over to the rest of the bullpen after just two innings and 27 pitches and could see some more opportunities in the near future with the Dodgers' bullpen decimated by injuries.

Melancon earned the save Friday against the Giants, pitching a perfect inning and notching two strikeouts.

Melancon breezed through three batters in the ninth inning, tossing 10 of 13 pitches for strikes and collecting a pair of strikeouts. The veteran has a stranglehold on the closer position in San Diego due to an outstanding start to the campaign during which he has gone 9-for-9 in save opportunities and allowed only one run over 13 innings. Melancon has also racked up a superb 14:1 K:BB while allowing only four hits.

Sims was called upon to finish the ninth Friday against the Cubs but couldn't record the final out, eventually giving way to Tejay Antone for the save. He walked three while retiring two batters.

While Sims was wild in the outing (only 13 strikes on 27 pitches), he twice had what appeared to be potential game-ending third strikes instead called balls by home plate umpire Marty Foster. Given the number of pitches Sims threw, it's possible that he won't get the next save chance if one arises on Saturday.

Almonte (hand) will work on his mechanics while he's on the 10-day injured list, Nick Groke of The Athletic reports.

Almonte has struggled out of the bullpen early in the season, and he's posted a 12.46 ERA and 2.31 WHIP in 8.2 innings. His right hand contusion is considered minor, but manager Bud Black said that the injury provided a convenient point to take Almonte out of action. Black said Friday that he isn't sure whether Almonte will be able to return after spending the minimum of 10 days on the injured list, and it appears as though his return timetable will depend on the progress he makes with his mechanics while he's sidelined.

Antone retired the only batter he faced Friday to record his first save of the season in an 8-6 win over the Cubs.

Carson Fulmer started the ninth inning for the Reds with the club ahead 8-4, but after he put the first two batters aboard, Lucas Sims entered the game. Sims did no better, allowing both inherited runners to score and loading the bases with two outs, forcing manager David Bell to turn to Antone, who needed only three pitches to rack up his first career save by getting David Bote to ground out. The Reds prefer using Antone in longer high-leverage stints a la Josh Hader -- he's gotten more than three outs in five of his eight appearances so far -- but with both Sims and Amir Garrett struggling badly in save situations, the 27-year-old could find himself working the ninth more often.

Coonrod allowed a walk and struck out one in one inning to earn the save in Friday's 2-1 win over the Mets.

Closer Hector Neris pitched three of the previous four days and needed rest, so Coonrod was given an opportunity for a save. He did well, as a two-out walk to Brandon Nimmo was the only blemish in Coonrod's performance. The 28-year-old right-hander has a 1.50 ERA, 0.75 WHIP and 13:2 K:BB across 12 innings this season. He's picked up two holds and two blown saves in 11 outings.

Garcia (2-2) took the loss Friday versus Washington, allowing two runs (one earned) on one hit. Garcia did not record an out.

Garcia's outing lasted only two pitches before Washington's Kyle Schwarber hit a walkoff two-run home run. In addition to the loss, Garcia was also charged with a blown save, as Miami held a 1-0 lead when he entered. The 30-year-old has a 2.19 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 10:3 K:BB across 12.1 innings. He is now 4-for-5 in save chances, and he added two holds before taking over the closer job from Anthony Bass earlier in April.

Hand (2-0) allowed an unearned run on one hit and two walks with one strikeout in two innings to earn the win Friday versus Miami.

Hand allowed an RBI single to Garrett Cooper in the top of the 10th inning, but Kyle Schwarber bailed him out with a walkoff two-run home run in the bottom half of the inning. The run against Hand was the first he has allowed all season, but it won't show up on his still-perfect 0.00 ERA. The southpaw has added a 0.89 WHIP, 7:4 K:BB and three saves across nine innings as Washington's closer.

Littell's contract was selected by the Giants on Friday, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Littell served as a non-roster invitee this spring but was unable to break camp with the club after he posted a 4.50 ERA and 1.40 WHIP in 10 innings. He should mainly pitch in lower-leverage roles for San Francisco.

Ponce de Leon was placed on the 10-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation Friday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

The move was backdated to Thursday, so Ponce de Leon could be eligible to return as soon as May 9, but it's unclear if the issue is minor enough for that to be a possibility. Jake Woodford was recalled in a corresponding move.