MLB Player News

Yates fired a perfect inning while striking out two batters in a 6-0 win over Atlanta on Thursday.

The 30-year-old has been a revelation for the Padres, posting a 2.19 ERA and 14.1 K/9 through 24.2 innings. That said, Yates' inability to limit home runs (1.7 HR/9) holds him back from being an elite middle reliever.

Lamet (3-2) fired seven shutout innings Thursday, walking one and striking out eight in a win over Atlanta.

Lamet turned in his finest outing as a major leaguer, notching his first career scoreless outing and exceeding six innings for the first time as well. The rookie's success can be attributed to his aggressiveness on the mound, throwing first-pitch strikes to 13 of the 26 batters he faced and finishing with 69 strikes and 27 balls. It is worth noting that the righty had a brown spot on his pant leg checked out by the umpiring crew in the sixth inning per the request of Atlanta manager Brian Snitker, but it proved to simply be a smudge of dirt, as reported by Dennis Lin of The San Diego Union-Tribune. After a rough two-start stretch where he gave up a total of 14 earned runs, the 24-year-old has rattled off three consecutive quality starts. Lamet still owns an unsavory 5.25 ERA through seven starts, but his elite strikeout rate (12.2 K/9) makes him an appealing streaming option in the right matchups.

Nelson (6-4) struck out 11 over seven innings of two-run ball in an 11-3 blowout win over the Reds on Thursday. He allowed just three hits and a walk, but two of the hits were homers.

He's now collected double-digit whiffs four times in his last seven starts after achieving that feat zero times in his first nine outings of 2017. Joey Votto slugged a pair of homers off him in this one, but Nelson's cut down on the long balls this year after last season's aberrant 1.3 HR/9. Most crucially, though, he's striking out more batters (104 of 'em in 97 innings) thanks to improved fastball location as well as a more effective (and slightly harder) curve. His next turn in the rotation is slated for Tuesday at home against the Orioles.

Treinen (0-2) took the loss Thursday by allowing three runs in the ninth inning to the Cubs.

The Nationals' endgame woes continued Thursday with a ninth inning meltdown from Treinen. He fanned the first batter he faced before hitting Jeimer Candelario with a pitch and later allowing RBI base hits to Tommy La Stella and Jon Jay to blow the Nats' two-run lead. Treinen had started to turn things around of late with one earned run over his last 6.2 innings entering Thursday, but his rough go against the Cubs ballooned his season-long ratios to a 6.11 ERA and a 1.70 WHIP. Even with Koda Glover currently on the shelf, Treinen may have to wait awhile before his next save opportunity.

Montero is scheduled to start Sunday's game against the Phillies, Matt Ehalt of The Record reports.

With Zack Wheeler (biceps) expected to return to the starting rotation for Saturday's game, Montero will simply have his next start pushed back a day to fill in for the recently injured Robert Gsellman (hamstring). Montero has already made three spot starts for the Mets this season, and while he struggled in his first two outings, he struck out seven and allowed just one run in 5.2 innings of work against the Giants in his most recent start. He could be a decent streaming option against a Phillies squad that has scored the second fewest runs in the majors this season.

Stephenson was fantastic Wednesday for Triple-A Louisville, allowing two runs over 7.2 innings, striking out eight while not allowing a walk, the Cincinnati Enquirer's Zach Buchanan reports.

Stephenson had struggled some with his control with Louisville prior to this outing, having allowed 12 walks over 18.2 innings. The Reds passed him and Cody Reed over when they called up Luis Castillo in part because of their respective control issues. There's a reasonable chance he'll be back up with the Reds, as a starter even, later on this season with continued progress.

Lopez was called up from Double-A Biloxi on Thursday.

With Chase Anderson (oblique) headed to the disabled list, Lopez was promoted to the Brewers to offer an extra arm out of the bullpen while the team figures out who will replace Anderson in the rotation. The 24-year-old was recently shifted to a bullpen role after struggling as a starter for the Shuckers, and he has posted three scoreless innings of relief since making the move.

Hand tossed a clean eighth inning Wednesday, picking up his 12th hold in a 7-4 win over Atlanta.

The veteran reliever struggled earlier this month, giving up six runs over his first four June appearances, but he has settled down since, firing eight scoreless innings and picking up four holds in the process. Brandon Maurer -- despite carrying a 6.32 ERA -- has been effective in save situations, but Hand would be next in line should the Padres' closer falter down the stretch.

Maton has 11 strikeouts and zero walks while not giving up a run on five hits in 7.1 innings this season for the Padres.

The young reliever is showing potential in his first season with the Padres after they drafted him in the 20th round of the 2015 draft. His 13.5 K/9 in the big leagues shows his value as a possible closer for San Diego in the near future, a role he played this season for Triple-A El Paso while going 13-for-13 on save opportunities before being called up. He is an intriguing arm to watch for owners in deep dynasty leagues.

Maurer pitched a scoreless ninth inning without allowing a baserunner and striking out two batters to earn his 15th save during Wednesday's win over Atlanta.

Maurer has a firm grasp on the ninth-inning duties for San Diego, but he's been a ratio anchor for fantasy clubs. The 15 saves and 8.9 K/9 are solid, but the closer's 6.32 ERA and 1.24 WHIP are concerning marks. He's also surrendered eight runs through 9.1 innings over 11 June appearances for a 7.71 ERA, so it's not like there have been any recent signs of improvement, either.