MLB Player News

Soto earned a save in Friday's 5-4 win over the Orioles, allowing one run on one hit with three strikeouts in one inning.

It was Soto's fifth appearance of the young season, but it was the left-hander's first save of 2026 after he pitched clean ninth innings Tuesday and Wednesday against the Reds in 8-3 victories. Soto struck out the side against the Orioles on Friday but did allow a solo home run to Gunnar Henderson with two outs. Soto looks to be manager Don Kelly's preferred closer option, which makes sense given the reliever's sterling 11:2 K:BB across 5.1 innings of work.

Ross was designated for assignment by the Diamondbacks on Friday, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.

Ross broke camp with the big club but quickly pitched his way off the roster, allowing eight earned runs on seven hits and four walks while striking out two across 3.2 innings out of the Arizona bullpen to begin the 2026 season. Taylor Rashi's contract was selected in a corresponding move.

The Diamondbacks selected Rashi's contract from Triple-A Reno on Friday.

The right-hander missed out on Arizona's Opening Day roster but will now get a look in the big leagues. Rashi made 10 appearances in his first taste of the majors last year and posted a 4.41 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 22:8 K:BB across 16.1 innings.

Walker pitched the sixth inning and retired the only two batters he faced in Thursday's win over the Mets.

Walker entered in the sixth with one out, no one on base and the Giants sporting a four-run lead. According to Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area, Giants manager Tony Vitello said the staff discussed before the game using Walker directly after starting pitcher Robbie Ray because they offer essentially opposite looks for hitters. Blade Tidwell followed Walker after the Giants tacked on another run and wound up getting a three-inning save. Walker still looks like the favorite for saves in the San Francisco bullpen, but his usage Thursday indicates Vitello won't always hold Walker back for the ninth inning. If the Giants' closer situation turns into more of a committee, Keaton Winn and others could get into the mix.

Manaea allowed one run on four hits and two walks over 3.2 innings of relief in Thursday's loss to the Giants. He struck out two.

After taking over for David Peterson with one out in the fifth inning, Manaea saved the rest of the Mets' bullpen by lasting the rest of the game and throwing 74 pitches (44 strikes). Manaea's fastest pitch of the night was just 91.3 mph and he routinely sat below 90 mph with his two-seamer and four-seamer, but he's made it work with the reduced velocity so far, posting a 1.80 ERA and 4:4 K:BB over two long-relief appearances covering five innings. The 34-year-old lefty appears to be a long way from regaining a spot in the rotation, however, even if an injury were to open up a slot.

Lopez (1-0) earned the win over Arizona on Thursday, allowing one run on four hits and one walk while striking out three batters over five innings.

Lopez gave up Jordan Lawlar's first MLB homer -- a big 424-foot solo blast -- in the third inning, but that's the only run the veteran hurler allowed. Meanwhile, Atlanta had a big day on offense, with an eight-run fifth inning giving Lopez an enormous cushion ahead of his final frame. The right-hander has had a nice beginning to the campaign, allowing just two runs (both on solo homers) over 11 innings while posting a 6:3 K:BB across his first two starts. Lopez made only one appearance last season before injuring his shoulder and missing the remainder of the campaign, but he was an All-Star in 2024, so it's feasible that he could be a viable fantasy asset throughout 2026 if he can remain healthy.

Perez gave up two hits, including a solo home run, in two-thirds of an inning Wednesday to record his first hold of the season in an extra-inning loss to the Phillies.

The 29-year-old lefty entered the game with two outs in the seventh inning and retired Kyle Schwarber, but Bryce Harper then took Perez deep to lead off the eighth as the Nationals' bullpen squandered a 5-0 lead. Perez may not hang onto a high-leverage role much longer if he can't keep the ball in the park -- he's served up two homers in his first three appearances and 2.2 innings this season, although his 3:0 K:BB is more promising than his 6.75 ERA.

Ferguson (oblique) threw from 60 feet on flat ground Wednesday, MLB.com reports.

Ferguson will join Cincinnati on its seven-game road trip that begins Friday in Texas before heading to Miami next week. Going out on the road with the team suggests the left-handed reliever is nearing a return, but the next step will be throwing off a mound.

Duran (1-1) earned the win Wednesday against the Nationals after retiring all three batters he faced, striking out one.

Duran was called upon for the 10th inning after the Phillies mounted a late comeback to force extras, and he needed only six pitches (four strikes) to retire the side. This was Duran's first win of the season, and he's also gone 2-for-2 in save chances early on. He hasn't allowed a run in three of his first four outings in 2026.

Henry (0-1) was tagged with the loss and a blown save Wednesday against the Phillies after allowing one unearned run on three hits and a walk across one-third of an inning.

Henry opened the season with back-to-back scoreless outings, but he had a rough showing in this one and gave up the game-winning hit to Justin Crawford in the 10th inning. The right-hander also allowed two inherited runners to score in the ninth to force extras. Through three outings and 2.1 innings so far, Henry owns a 2:2 K:BB with no earned runs allowed, but the fact that he's allowed four hits already is far from promising.