MLB Player News

The Nationals recalled Varland from Triple-A Rochester on Wednesday.

He's taking the roster spot of Jackson Kent, who was sent back to Rochester following Tuesday's bulk-relief outing versus the Tigers. Varland spent time in the Nationals' closer role earlier this season, but he's been rocked for 14 runs (13 earned) over his last seven innings in the big leagues.

Senga earned the save after striking out two over a hitless and scoreless ninth inning in Tuesday's 6-3 win over the Rangers. He also hit a batter.

Senga was handed a three-run advantage after Nate Lavender and Dedniel Nunez combined for two perfect innings ahead of him. The right-hander issued no walks and allowed no hits while needing 19 pitches (11 strikes) to finish the job, striking out two of the four batters he faced. The save was Senga's eighth of the season, though his ERA remains elevated at 7.34.

Cornelio allowed one hit and three walks while striking out four batters across 2.2 scoreless innings while serving as the Nationals' opener in the team's 3-1 win over the Tigers on Tuesday.

Tuesday marked Cornelio's third start of the season, and although he ran his pitch count up to 60 (33 strikes), he did enough to keep the Tigers off the board until turning the keys over to Jackson Kent in the third frame. Cornelio has a 3.89 ERA, 1.53 WHIP and 38:28 K:BB across 34.2 major-league innings this season, with the 26-year-old right-hander also spending time in the minors with Triple-A Rochester.

Thielbar (3-4) took the loss after allowing three runs (two earned) on two hits over one inning in Tuesday's 8-2 extra-innings loss to the Marlins.

Thielbar worked a scoreless 11th inning before returning for the 12th, but that's when things went south for the left-hander. Thielbar allowed the first batter he faced to drive home the inherited runner at second, and by the time the frame ended, the Marlins had built a lead they wouldn't relinquish. Thielbar's ERA rose to 4.99, and this mark his first outing allowing more than one earned run since Aug. 16.

Ekness (3-4) earned the win after walking one and striking out two over a hitless and scoreless inning in Tuesday's 8-2 extra-innings victory over the Cubs.

Ekness handled the bottom of the 11th inning with the game still tied 2-2, working around a two-out walk to keep Chicago off the board. Miami then erupted for six runs in the top of the 12th, putting Ekness in position for his third victory. The right-hander lowered his ERA to 3.54 with this scoreless appearance, and he's ending the season on a strong note, not allowing a run in his last five appearances.

Duran earned the save in Tuesday's 6-4 win over the Brewers, allowing one run on one hit and one walk while striking out two in the ninth inning.

The Phillies jumped out to a 6-3 lead thanks to a three-run eighth inning, prompting the team to send out Duran in the ninth to secure the win. The 28-year-old right-hander was cruising after striking out the first two batters he faced before giving up an RBI single, but Duran managed to lock down the win for the Phillies for his 33rd save of the season, ninth most in the majors. He's earned the save in each of his last four outings and has a 1.88 ERA and 1.03 WHIP across 57.1 innings this season.

Palencia tossed 1.1 scoreless innings of relief with a strikeout in Tuesday's 8-2, extra-innings loss to the Marlins.

Palencia hasn't retaken his job as Chicago's primary closer, but he has started to pitch better lately after a slow start in his return from the injured list earlier this month. Across his last seven appearances, the hard-throwing righty hasn't allowed an earned run while striking out six batters across 7.2 innings. Palencia hasn't been able to match his 2025 breakout campaign, when he posted a 2.91 ERA with 22 saves and 61 strikeouts across 52.2 regular-season innings, though his improved performance does give him a little momentum heading into a possible Chicago playoff run.

Lovelady will draw the start Wednesday for the Nationals in a bullpen game against the Tigers, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports.

Lovelady will make his sixth start of the season while the Nationals lean on their bullpen to get through Wednesday's series finale. The 31-year-old southpaw has given up three runs (one earned) in 2.1 innings since returning from the injured list and will likely remain in the game for only an inning or two.

Soto struck out two in a clean ninth inning to earn the save Tuesday against the Cardinals.

After allowing a leadoff walk, Soto retired the Cardinals in order en route to his 16th save of the season. The 31-year-old punched out JJ Wetherholt and Ivan Herrera. Soto has now recorded three consecutive scoreless outings after back-to-back rocky appearances against divisional opponents. This year, the southpaw owns a 6-5 record, 3.72 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 78:29 K:BB over 65.1 innings.

The Giants recalled Roxby from Triple-A Sacramento on Tuesday.

Roxby appeared in four games in Triple-A after he was optioned back there Sept. 7. He allowed one earned on a home run with seven strikeouts across 7.1 innings. The righty returns to the majors as a corresponding move to Blade Tidwell landing on the 15-day injured list due to a UCL sprain.