MLB Player News

Yates gave up a hit and struck out the side in the ninth inning to record his ninth save of the season in Saturday's 5-4 win over the Diamondbacks.

The right-hander has been almost untouchable to begin the year, racking up a 17:3 K:BB in 10 innings to go along with a 0.90 ERA and nine straight successful save conversions. With the Padres looking like a legit contender for the NL West title in the early going, Yates should continue getting plenty of opportunities.

Strahm didn't factor into the decision in Saturday's 5-4 win over the Diamondbacks, allowing four hits over five scoreless innings while striking out four.

The southpaw dealt with runners in scoring position in the first three innings but was able to shut down the Arizona offense each time. Strahm exited the game after 89 pitches (57 strikes) in line for his first win of the season, but Gerardo Reyes promptly let the D-backs back into the game in the bottom of the sixth inning. Strahm will carry a 4.26 ERA and 8:5 K:BB through 12.2 innings into his next outing, at home Friday against the Reds.

Iglesias earned his second save of the season against the Cardinals by allowing one hit during a scoreless ninth inning. He had one strikeout and one walk.

Iglesias allowed a run in each of his first three outings of the year -- none of which were save opportunities -- but has two scoreless innings and two saves in his last two times on the mound. The 29-year-old has a 4.05 ERA, 1.65 WHIP and 8:4 K:BB through 6.2 innings.

Santana could qualify for the win in Saturday's game against the Brewers, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Caleb Ferguson will be the Dodgers' starter, but he will be limited to either three innings or 45 pitches, so he won't qualify for the win, even if the Dodgers have the lead when he exits. Manager Dave Roberts said Santana will pitch at some point in this game, making him the most likely Dodger to get a win Saturday. Santana is being used as a long reliever right now, but the Dodgers still view him as a starter long-term.

Williams was recalled from Triple-A Fresno prior to Saturday's game against the Pirates, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

The Nationals needed a fresh arm for the bullpen, and Williams will get the opportunity, in large part due to his impressive spring training. He should operate in low-leverage spots. Justin Miller (back) hit the 10-day injured list in a corresponding move.

Barraclough gave up a hit and recorded two outs via strikeout to blow his second save of the season in Friday's extra-inning loss to the Pirates.

He entered the game with two runners on and one out in the eighth inning to protect a 2-1 lead, and Barraclough promptly gave up a two-run single to Starling Marte. Barraclough has excelled at throwing other Nats relievers under the bus so far this season -- his 1.50 ERA and 7:3 K:BB through six innings look superficially solid, but he's allowed all seven of the inherited runners he's been given to score, exacerbating the team's bullpen woes. Until manager Dave Martinez has better options available, though, expect Barraclough to continue being used in fairly high-leverage situations.

Manager Dave Roberts named Ferguson as the Dodgers' starter for Saturday's game against the Brewers, the Associated Press reports.

After the Dodgers took an 8-5 loss in Friday's series opener Roberts tabbed Ferguson as the replacement for the injured Hyun-Jin Ryu (groin). Since Ferguson hasn't been asked to record more than four outs in any of his seven appearances this season and pitched just three days earlier, he's not expected to work long Saturday in what amounts to a bullpen game. Clayton Kershaw (shoulder) is poised to return from the injured list to start Monday against the Reds, so he'll effectively fill Ryu's next turn while Ferguson heads back to the bullpen.

Pomeranz gave up two runs on four hits, walking one and striking out five over five innings in Friday's 3-2 win over the Rockies.

Pomeranz went five innings in a contest that lasted 18 frames, resulting in his second no-decision of the season. The 30-year-old southpaw owns a 3.86 ERA and solid 3.2 K/BB ratio through three starts, but his 1.50 WHIP is a large contributor to a 4.77 FIP. Pomeranz remains a deep-league option for now, but his past success and favorable home park could result in mixed-league value at some point this season. His next start comes on the road against the Nationals on Thursday.

Reyes (1-0) worked two-thirds of an inning, striking out one, to pick up the win in Friday's 2-1 victory over the Diamondbacks.

The 25-year-old's big-league debut couldn't have gone much better. Reyes stepped in for Chris Paddack in a 1-1 tie to finish the sixth inning, and then became the pitcher of record when Fernando Tatis Jr. doubled home the winning run in the top of the seventh. Reyes' fastball was humming at 96-98 mph as he fanned Adam Jones, and while he won't work in particularly high-leverage spots at the outset of his career, he could quickly move into a setup role in front of Kirby Yates if he keeps generating whiffs.

Yates struck out two in a perfect ninth inning Friday to record his eighth save of the season in a 2-1 win over the Diamondbacks.

The 32-year-old has put together a brilliant start to the season, converting all eight of his save chances with a 1.00 ERA and 14:3 K:BB through nine innings. Yates' numbers in 2018 suggested he was ready to emerge as an elite closing option for the Padres, and so far he's done nothing to dispel that notion.