MLB Player News

Vesia earned the save in Wednesday's 5-2 win over the Padres, striking out three in a perfect ninth inning.

After Tanner Scott faced the middle of San Diego's lineup in the eighth inning, the Dodgers turned to Vesia with a three-run lead in the ninth. The left-hander breezed through the bottom of the Padres lineup, striking out the side to lock down his third save. The 29-year-old Vesia boasts a 2.79 ERA with a 1.07 WHIP and 41:9 K:BB across 29 innings in a high-leverage role this season.

Bednar struck out two in a perfect ninth inning Wednesday to record his ninth save of the season in a 5-2 win over the Marlins.

The right-hander fanned Kyle Stowers and Xavier Edwards to lock down his sixth straight successful save conversion since May 20. Over that 10-appearance span, Bednar has delivered a 0.96 ERA, 0.64 WHIP and 12:2 K:BB in 9.1 innings, and the 30-year-old appears to have fully regained the elite form he seemed to have lost during a rough 2024, and an even worse beginning to 2025.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts indicated Wednesday that Casparius could be stretched out as a starting pitcher, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Casparius is starting Wednesday's contest in San Diego, and he won't be used as a traditional opener, according to Roberts. The right-hander hasn't recorded more than five outs or thrown more than 28 pitches in an appearance in nearly three weeks, but he's gone at least three innings in four outings this season and was used primarily as a starter in the minors. The Dodgers are seeking rotation help amidst a slew of injuries, and Roberts feels more comfortable with the idea of moving Casparius into the rotation because the team just got Michael Kopech and Kirby Yates back in the bullpen.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Wednesday that Hodge (hip) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Iowa either on Friday or Saturday, Meghan Montemurro of The Chicago Tribune reports.

The skipper added that Hodge will require multiple rehab appearances before rejoining the Cubs' bullpen. Hodge initially went on the 15-day injured list last month with an oblique strain, but he's more recently been battling a hip impingement. If all goes well, Hodge should be activated before the end of June.

Thompson (lat) has resumed a throwing program at the Cardinals' spring training facility in Florida, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Thompson was shut down for a while after suffering a setback with his left lat strain last month. The southpaw will be built back up slowly and likely will not be an option for the Cardinals until sometime in the second half. Thompson has been sidelined all season.

Henry (0-1) took the loss Tuesday against the Mets, giving up an unearned run on one hit without retiring a batter.

Taking the mound in the bottom of the 10th inning with the score tied 4-4, Henry's first pitch was laced into right field by Jeff McNeil to bring home the phantom runner from second base. Henry has emerged as a reliable relief option for the Nationals this season, posting a 2.31 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 25:13 K:BB through his first 23.1 big-league innings, but he remains on the fringes of the team's high-leverage crew -- he has zero wins or saves and only two holds in 22 appearances.

The Pirates optioned Nicolas to Triple-A Indianapolis on Wednesday.

He'll cede his spot in the bullpen to right-hander Carmen Mlodzinski, who was called up from Triple-A in a corresponding move and will provide the Pirates with a multi-inning option in relief. Nicolas made three appearances after his June 3 promotion, giving up one earned run on three hits and one walk over 4.1 innings.

Casparius will serve as the Dodgers' opening pitcher in Wednesday's game against the Padres, Sammy Levitt of 97.3 The Fan San Diego reports.

Casparius is stretched out enough to provide multiple innings if that's the route manager Dave Roberts wants to take, but Justin Wrobleski is expected to absorb the bulk of the innings Wednesday once he enters the game out of the bullpen. The right-handed Casparius has been excellent for Los Angeles this season, collecting a 2.93 ERA and 44:7 K:BB over 40 innings.

Bender worked a scoreless seventh inning without a walk or a strikeout to record his eighth hold of the season in Tuesday's win over the Pirates.

The right-hander entered the game to protect a 3-0 lead and needed only nine pitches (seven strikes) to dispatch Pittsburgh's 5-6-7 hitters. Bender has a career-low 20.0 percent strikeout rate through 27.1 innings this season and a 10.0 percent walk rate that's just a tick below the career-worst 10.3 percent mark he posted in 2022, but he's generating enough weak contact to make it work, posting a 1.98 ERA and 1.02 WHIP. He hasn't recorded a save since April 1, however, and seems stuck in a setup role ahead of current top closing option Calvin Faucher.

The Phillies designated Hernandez for assignment Wednesday.

Hernandez doesn't have any minor-league options remaining, so the Phillies had to remove him from their 40-man roster to clear a spot for right-hander Michael Mercado, who was recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley in a corresponding move. After being claimed off waivers from the Royals in the spring, Hernandez had operated as a low-leverage reliever for Philadelphia this season, logging a 5.26 ERA, 1.75 WHIP and 23:13 K:BB in 25.2 innings. Any team willing to trade for or put in a waiver claim for the right-hander will have to assume the money remaining on his $1.16 million contract for 2025.