MLB Player News

O'Brien (2) earned the save Sunday against the Tigers, striking out one over a perfect ninth inning.

Entering the ninth with a two-run lead, O'Brien was efficient in closing this one out. The 31-year-old retired the heart of Detroit's order on just 13 pitches to secure his second save of the season. The right-hander has yet to allow a run through his first five appearances (5.1 innings), an encouraging sign after he blew three of nine save opportunities in 2025. Ryne Stanek handled a hitless eighth inning, but it now appears O'Brien has taken control of the main closer role after opening the season still ramping up from his calf injury from the spring.

Leahy (1-1) earned the win Sunday against the Tigers, allowing two runs on five hits and three walks while striking out four over five innings.

Leahy worked through traffic all afternoon, allowing at least one baserunner in every inning he worked and needing 97 pitches (54 strikes) to complete five frames. The right-hander was especially inefficient early, laboring through 48 pitches over the first two innings. However, the only damage on the scoreboard came in the third inning on a two-run homer that Kerry Carpenter lifted over the center field wall. While Leahy limited the runs Sunday, he'll need to be more efficient moving forward, especially with a matchup scheduled against Boston for his next start.

Loaisiga blew a save chance, allowing one run on three hits while striking out one over one inning Sunday against Atlanta.

Loaisiga earned another save opportunity as he entered the ninth inning with a one-run lead but immediately ran into trouble, allowing three consecutive singles, including a game-tying RBI knock from Drake Baldwin. The 31-year-old managed to regroup from there, retiring the next three batters to send the game to extra innings. The run was Loaisiga's first allowed of the season across five appearances, but the flamethrowing righty should still be trusted in high-leverage situations despite the slip-up.

Scott earned a hold against the Nationals on Sunday, allowing one hit and striking out one batter in a scoreless eighth inning.

Scott opened last season as the Dodgers' closer but had a disappointing campaign, posting a 4.74 ERA and blowing 10 of 33 save chances during the regular season. He was eventually moved out of the ninth-inning role and did not pitch during the postseason due to injury. Los Angeles brought in Edwin Diaz to close ahead of the 2026 campaign, and Scott has settled well into a setup role, as he's given up just one run while compiling a 6:0 K:BB through 4.2 frames spanning six appearances. Diaz has also performed well and has a stranglehold on save opportunities as long as he stays healthy, so the expectation is that Scott will remain a setup option throughout the campaign.

Imanaga didn't factor into the decision Sunday against the Guardians, allowing one run on three hits and one walk in five innings. He struck out four.

The left-hander found a rhythm in his second start of the season, considering he was coming off a poor season debut that saw him cough up four runs to Washington. Imanaga fired five shutout frames before coming out for the sixth inning but was pulled after giving up a leadoff double to Steven Kwan, who eventually came around to score. Imanaga sports an 11:3 K:BB over his first 10 frames of 2026, and a favorable home matchup versus the Pirates is on tap for his next start.

Williams earned his second save of the season in Sunday's 5-2 win over the Giants, allowing two hits with one strikeout in a scoreless ninth inning.

Williams has yet to allow a run this season, though he flirted with trouble Sunday by allowing a couple of ninth-inning singles. Williams struck out Jung Hoo Lee to end the game. Through four innings this season, Williams owns a 5:2 K:BB.

Webb (0-1) allowed three runs on three hits and a walk while retiring only one batter to take the loss in the second game of Sunday's doubleheader against the Guardians.

Webb has now made four appearances so far this season, and he's been scored on in half of them. The righty is sitting with an ugly 7.36 ERA, and he's nothing more than a low-leverage option for the Cubs at the moment, which limits his fantasy ceiling. Webb did pitch better for the Rangers last year, however, posting a 3.00 ERA and 58 strikeouts across 66 innings of relief, which suggests that better performances could be ahead after a middling start to 2026.

Palencia tossed a scoreless ninth inning with a strikeout to earn the save in a 1-0 win over the Guardians in the first game of Sunday's doubleheader.

Palencia has been sharp so far this year with three scoreless appearances, though Sunday marked his first save opportunity and conversion. The hard-throwing righty led the Cubs with 22 regular-season saves in 2025, and that was after not beginning the year as the team's closer. Palencia was the Opening Day closer this year, and the save chances should start to stack up as the season progresses, giving him a fairly high ceiling as a fantasy option.

Bender picked up the save in Sunday's 7-6 win over the Yankees despite allowing two runs on a hit and three walks over one inning. He struck out two.

With Pete Fairbanks serving as the opener Sunday, the Marlins turned to Bender in the ninth inning with a three-run lead. After issuing a pair of walks, Bender gave up a two-run double to Jazz Chisholm before ultimately striking out J.C. Escarra to escape with a 7-6 win and his first save this season. After two scoreless appearances to open the year, Bender has given up four runs in just 1.1 innings in his last two outings. The right-hander logged four saves in 2025 while posting a 2.16 ERA with a 1.06 WHIP across 50 innings.

Vodnik secured his first save in Sunday's 4-1 win over the Phillies, allowing two hits with three strikeouts in a scoreless ninth inning.

Vodnik blew his first save opportunity of the season last Sunday against the Marlins but worked around a pair of singles in the ninth inning to eventually strike out the side. Vodnik has a 4.50 ERA and 4:0 K:BB across four innings early on in the 2026 campaign.