MLB Player News

Blach (4-3) gave up five runs on nine hits over six innings in Wednesday's loss to the Brewers. He struck out three without a walk.

As usual, Blach showed great control, throwing 73 of his 104 pitches for strikes, but he didn't miss many bats, and this time that bit him. The rookie is good at getting batters to hit the ball on the ground, but his meager total of 26 strikeouts in 64.1 innings is a major blotch on his fantasy value. Still, in today's pitching-thin environment, he's a credible back-end or streaming starter in many formats.

Treinen is having a poor 2017 so far with a 6.66 ERA and 1.97 WHIP through 24.1 innings.

Treinen had a rough April and beginning of May, but has showed a righting of the ship in his last nine appearances. Since a May 8 game in Baltimore he has a 3.37 ERA and 1.22 WHIP with eight strikeouts and two walks. Last season, the 2011 seventh-round pick had an ERA of 2.28, a large reason he started this season as Washington's closer, and his recent improvement has shown promise that he's on his way to a return to last year's form.

Ellington has given up seven runs in seven innings since being recalled from Triple-A New Orleans in the middle of May.

The 26-year-old's stats this season have been inflated immensely from his last appearance, when he gave up six runs in 0.1 innings in a June 6 game against the Cubs. Before that game, he had pitched 10.1 innings this season with a 0.87 ERA, an impossible pace to maintain given his 2.03 WHIP. Ellington's true self probably sits somewhere between the pitcher who showed up against Chicago and the one who pitched in the games before that, but the high WHIP suggests it lies closer to his June 6 outing than the games beforehand.

Rodney didn't allow a baserunner and struck out a batter to record his 15th save of the season during Wednesday's win over the Padres.

Rodney has now gone 12 appearances and 11.2 innings without allowing an earned run and has converted nine of 10 opportunities with a 0.60 WHIP during that stretch. The veteran clearly has a firm grasp on the closer role for the time being, but with a 4.33 ERA dating back to the 2015 campaign, it's probably only a matter of time before Rodney has another ninth-inning implosion.

Barraclough has walked 22 and struck out 27 with an ERA of 4.07 through 24.1 innings this season.

Since arriving in the big leagues in 2015, Barraclough has always struggled with his control, but this season it has gone from bad to worse. He's walking 8.1 batters per nine innings, and the 22 walks he's given up is more than the number of hits off of him, 19. Combined, the two make for an inflated WHIP of 1.68. The high ERA and WHIP make him a risky option for fantasy owners, and the hard-throwing reliever will have to find a way to throw the ball over the plate more often for that to change anytime soon.

Iglesias struck out one in a perfect ninth inning Wednesday to pick up his 11th save of the season in a 6-4 win over the Cardinals.

The 27-year-old continues to put up incredible numbers, and Iglesias has now reeled off 18 straight scoreless appearances to leave him with a 0.59 ERA and 0.92 WHIP on the year. With the Reds just three games out in a surprisingly competitive NL Central, their closer should continue to receive plenty of save opportunities.

Manager Pete Mackanin said he would have bypassed Neris and used Pat Neshek as his closer Wednesday had there been a save opportunity, Jim Salisbury of CSN Philadelphia reports.

Mackanin said he was going to talk with Neris about "his lack of success lately" and the fact that he has been hanging too many splitters. Neris is worth hanging onto in most leagues as Neshek is likely to be dealt by the trade deadline. He could also get his closing role back, assuming this is more than just a one- or two-game demotion, before that if he rediscovers his dominance with his splitter. Batters are hitting .233 with a .367 slugging percentage against the pitch this season compared to a .152 average and .255 slugging percentage last season according to Statcast. The splitter is still a very effective pitch for Neris, but clearly not quite as devastating as last season.

White is expected to miss 4-to-6 weeks with a broken toe, Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times reports.

This is a tough break for White, who compiled a 3.72 ERA and 49:16 K:BB across 38.2 innings (nine starts) with High-A Rancho Cucamonga before injuring himself. The good news is the injury won't require surgery, so he'll hopefully be back on the mound sometime around mid-July.

Rodriguez was designated for assignment by the Phillies on Wednesday, Jim Salisbury of CSN Philadelphia reports.

Rodriquez compiled an unimpressive 6.49 ERA and 17:13 K:BB across 26.1 innings out of the bullpen this season, prompting the Phillies to cast him off the 40-man roster. A corresponding roster move will likely be announced before Thursday's series finale against the Braves.

Stewart (shoulder) was activated from the disabled list and optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Wednesday.

Stewart is set to rejoin Oklahoma City after making two rehab appearances there, allowing two runs while striking out nine and walking none through five innings. He's behind a decent amount of pitchers in the pecking order right now, but given his previous success in the upper levels of the minors, he may be worth keeping an eye on in case the Dodgers' pitching staff encounters a few injuries. Stewart will take the roster spot of Chris Heston, who was claimed off waivers by the Twins on Wednesday.