MLB Player News

Hader struck out three across 1.1 innings Thursday against the Marlins to secure the save.

Hader was deployed in the eighth inning with two outs and the bases loaded, but he would strike out the final batter of the frame and then go on to retire the side in order in the ninth. The southpaw gave up a home run in his last outing Saturday against Pittsburgh, but he managed to redeem himself in a big spot Thursday afternoon. Hader has posted a 2.35 ERA with 60 punchouts across 30.2 innings this season for Milwaukee.

Lambert (1-0) picked up the win against the Cubs on Thursday, giving up one earned run on four hits over seven innings, striking out nine and walking one in the Rockies' 3-1 victory.

Making his big-league debut, Lambert was excellent, fanning nine batters and allowing just a single run before exiting the contest after seven innings and 95 pitches. The Rockies need an arm to step up with Kyle Freeland's early-season struggles landing him in Triple-A Albuquerque, and Lambert couldn't have done much more to show he should continue to be the one to fill that spot.

Pomeranz is scheduled to make his next start Friday against the Dodgers, Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

The Giants used Monday's off day to reshuffle their rotation, with Pomeranz getting pushed to the back of the pitching order as a result. The lefty will return to action Friday on six days' rest, but the extra two days off between starts hardly provides reason for fantasy managers to deploy Pomeranz with any confidence. He's failed to reach five innings in any of his last five outings, logging a 15.70 ERA and 2.72 WHIP during that span.

Lambert had his contract selected from Triple-A Albuquerque ahead of his scheduled start Thursday against the Cubs, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

Lambert is poised to make his big-league debut after posting a 5.07 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 51:16 K:BB in 60.1 innings with the Isotopes. While the 22-year-old righty has yet to put things together at the highest level of the minors, he could make a case to stick in the Rockies' rotation for more than one turn with a strong performance given the team's starting pitching struggles this season. To make room for Lambert on the roster, Mike Dunn (shoulder) was placed on the 10-day injured list, while Harrison Musgrave (elbow) was shifted to the 60-day IL.

Hudson will start Thursday's game against the Reds.

Hudson was scheduled to toe the rubber Wednesday before the contest was postponed due to inclement weather. The Cardinals simply elected to push all their starters back a day, so Hudson won't have his turn in the rotation skipped. The right-hander owns a 3.94 ERA, 1.58 WHIP and 42:27 K:BB across 59.1 innings this season.

Rainey gave up a hit and struck out one in two-thirds of an inning Wednesday to record his first hold of the season in a win over the White Sox.

He entered the game in the sixth inning after Anibal Sanchez has served up a solo homer to Yoan Moncada and got the job done, fanning Eloy Jimenez to end the frame and keep the Nats' 2-1 lead intact. Rainey's been sharp since his promotion, posting a 2.25 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 14:4 K:BB through eight innings, but as yet he isn't seeing many high-leverage opportunities. Given the shape of the team's setup crew in front of closer Sean Doolittle, though, that could change quickly if he continues shutting down the opposition.

Melancon owns a 2.31 ERA and 2.4 K/BB through 23.1 innings this season.

Melancon has quietly got his career back on track after struggling with both performance and health through his first two seasons in San Francisco. The 34-year-old isn't as untouchable (7.3 K/9 and 1.24 WHIP) as he used to be when he was one of the league's top closers from 2013 to 2016, but the results are certainly a step back in the right direction. Will Smith is firmly entrenched as the Giants' closer, but Melancon -- and his seemingly unmovable contract -- could be a candidate to close if the former is dealt at the trade deadline.

Neris recorded his 12th save of the season in a 7-5 victory against the Padres on Wednesday, firing 1.2 scoreless innings in which he allowed a walk and recorded two strikeouts.

With runners on first and second in the eighth and clinging to a two-run lead, the Phillies turned to Neris. He promptly walked the first batter he faced, but he then retired the next two to escape the bases-loaded jam. Neris subsequently set down the Padres in order during the ninth, keeping him perfect (12-for-12) in save opportunities for the season. He also has a 2.03 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and 38 strikeouts in 26.2 innings.

Beede (0-2) took the loss Wednesday, giving up six runs (five earned) on five hits and four walks over five innings while striking out five as the Giants were downed 7-0 by the Mets.

While the right-hander had no chance at picking up a win with Jason Vargas firing a five-hit shutout for the Mets, Beede didn't do himself any favors by serving up a pair of fourth-inning homers to Amed Rosario and Michael Conforto. Beede is currently scheduled to take the mound again Tuesday, but given his 8.15 ERA and 15 walks in 17.2 innings (against 19 strikeouts), the Giants may end up considering other rotation options.

Nelson (0-1) allowed five runs (four earned) on four hits and three walks while striking out two across three innings to take the loss Wednesday against the Marlins.

Nelson made his long-awaited return to the Brewers' rotation, but he struggled with his command in the short start. He surrendered two free passes and a double to begin the third inning, which was followed by a grand slam off the bat of Brian Anderson that accounted for all of Nelson's earned runs. The slow start was understandable given that Nelson was making his first major-league start since September 8, 2017. Most important, he appears to have come out of the start healthy. He'll have the chance to continue building back up in his next outing, which is currently scheduled for Tuesday at Houston.