MLB Player News

  • A.J. Puk RP | ARI

    Diamondbacks' A.J. Puk: Earns eighth-inning hold

    Puk allowed one hit and struck out one over one inning to earn a hold in Tuesday's 4-3 win over the Orioles.

    Puk worked around a hit and a stolen base to record his second hold of the season. He entered the eighth inning with two lefties due up and served as the bridge to Justin Martinez, who recorded the save. It was the second straight save situation where Puk worked the eighth and Martinez the ninth. Arizona manager Torey Lovullo still hasn't named a closer and appears to be calling on the lefty Puk or righty Martinez depending on the matchups.

  • Phil Maton RP | CHC

    Cardinals' Phil Maton: Earns save Tuesday

    Maton picked up a two-out save in Tuesday's 5-3 win over the Pirates, allowing a hit and striking out a batter in a scoreless appearance.

    Ryan Helsley threw 37 pitches Sunday in a blown save attempt, so Maton was called upon to shut the door after JoJo Romero let the Pirates back in it with two runs in the ninth. Maton allowed an RBI double to Joey Bart to make it a two-run game and bring the tying run up to the plate, but he was able to retire Tommy Pham for the win. Maton has now tossed 5.1 scoreless innings with a 7:1 K:BB while picking up his sixth career save in the early going this year.

  • Padres' Wandy Peralta: Continues strong start to season

    Peralta struck out one batter in a perfect inning against the Athletics on Tuesday.

    Peralta needed just nine pitches to set the A's down in order, and eight of those offerings were strikes. The veteran lefty has yet to give up a run over 6.1 innings this season, and he's yielded just one hit while posting a 4:1 K:BB. Peralta has entered in the seventh inning or later in each of his seven appearances, and while he has just one hold to date, he's also recorded a pair of wins. Robert Suarez has a stranglehold on the Padres' closer role, but Peralta could have some utility in fantasy leagues that count holds if he continues to pitch well and receive late-game opportunities.

  • Giants' Hayden Birdsong: Strong start to season continues

    Birdsong threw three scoreless innings during Tuesday's 1-0 loss to the Reds, allowing a hit and a walk while striking out two.

    Birdsong threw 25 of his 39 pitches for strikes during his third appearance of the season. The 23-year-old gave up a double to begin the ninth frame, but he kept his composure and retired Cincinnati's next three hitters. Manager Bob Melvin said postgame, "The velocity's been there out of the bullpen as well, all his pitches working -- he just looks like he's really confident," according to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle. Birdsong has recorded a 0.00 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and a 6:3 K:BB over seven innings so far this season.

  • Porter Hodge SP | CHC

    Cubs' Porter Hodge: Blows second save Tuesday

    Hodge (1-0) blew the save but picked up the win Tuesday against Texas, giving up one run on two hits and no walks while striking out three in 1.1 innings.

    Working with a 6-5 lead, Hodge fanned Wyatt Langford in the seventh inning but blew the save after a Josh Jung triple scored a game-tying run in the eighth frame. The Cubs then scored four runs in the bottom of the inning to get Hodge off the hook, and Ryan Pressly worked around two singles to put the game away in the ninth frame. Although Pressly has converted each of his three save chances to open the year, he's allowed six walks and 11 hits over seven innings. However, Hodge has also been shaky, having failed to convert both of his save opportunities and logging a 1.43 WHIP across his seven frames of work.

  • Yuki Matsui RP | SD

    Padres' Yuki Matsui: Strong start to season

    Matsui allowed one run on two hits with a strikeout in an inning Tuesday against Athletics. He has a 1.80 ERA with nine strikeouts and two walks in five innings.

    Matsui is working in middle relief but could be used in higher-leverage roles if he can continue his high strikeout totals and limit his walks. After striking out 12 batters per nine innings during his 10-year career in Japan, Matsui's K rate dipped after moving to the States. His 26.8 percent strikeout rate during the regular season last year was still above league average, but Matsui's 10.5 percent walk rate likely prevented possible ascension to higher-leverage work.

  • Brad Lord P | WAS

    Nationals' Brad Lord: Tosses three scoreless innings

    Lord allowed two hits and two walks over three scoreless innings in a no-decision Tuesday. He struck out four during the win over the Dodgers.

    Lord was given the nod in a spot start and turned in a solid appearance. He needed 55 pitches (33 strikes) to get through three frames, but he avoided danger and kept the Dodgers off the board. Lord now owns a 1.80 ERA with a 4:4 K:BB through five innings this season. He's currently lined up to start in Pittsburgh next week.

  • Braves' Raisel Iglesias: Earns first save of 2025

    Iglesias secured the save in Tuesday's 7-5 win over Philadelphia, allowing one walk in a scoreless ninth inning.

    Iglesias' only blemish came on a Bryce Harper walk, but the 35-year-old closer captured his first save of the 2025 campaign after getting Alec Bohm to pop out to third base. It was a nice bounce-back effort for Iglesias after he blew his first save chance against the Dodgers on April 2. He needed 15 pitches to get through Tuesday's game, so he should be available for another save opportunity should it present itself in the next game of the series.

  • Rafael Montero RP | NYY

    Braves' Rafael Montero: Shipped to Atlanta

    The Astros traded Montero and cash to Atlanta on Tuesday in exchange for a player to be named later.

    Montero has made three appearances out of the bullpen so far this season, giving up two earned runs while striking out five batters across four innings. Now in Atlanta, the 34-year-old reliever will likely remain in the major-league bullpen, but he isn't expected to see many high-leverage opportunities.

  • Connor Thomas RP | MIL

    Brewers' Connor Thomas: Hits injured list

    The Brewers placed Thomas on 15-day injured list Tuesday due to left elbow arthritis.

    The Rule 5 pickup earned a spot on the Brewers' Opening Day roster, but he struggled over his two relief appearances so far this season, allowing 12 earned runs over 5.1 innings. He'll cede his spot on the 26-man active roster and in the bullpen to right-hander Nick Mears (illness), who was activated from the IL in a corresponding move.

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