MLB Player News

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.

The Phillies recalled Mercado from Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Wednesday.

Mercado will get his first call-up of the season after he previously made five appearances (two starts) for Philadelphia in 2024. After serving as a swingman between his stops in the minors and majors last season, Mercado has worked exclusively as a reliever for Lehigh Valley in 2025. Over his 17 appearances covering 20.1 innings, Mercado notched a 5.31 ERA, 1.64 WHIP and 22:8 K:BB. He's likely to fill a lower-leverage role out of the Phillies bullpen.

Leahy has posted a 6.52 ERA and 6:5 K:BB over 9.2 innings covering his last nine appearances.

Leahy still holds a 2.48 ERA for the season thanks to his great start, but a 3.73 FIP and 27:12 K:BB across 36.1 innings paint a less flattering picture. The 28-year-old collected 12 holds through his first 23 appearances but has zero across his last six outings.

Faucher gave up a hit and struck out one in a scoreless ninth inning Tuesday to record his fifth save of the season in a 3-2 win over the Pirates.

The right-hander leads the Marlins in saves, one ahead of Jesus Tinoco (forearm), and it's been over two weeks since a Miami reliever other than Faucher picked up a save -- Ronny Henriquez collected one May 25. Faucher's earned his spot with some stingy work that has seen him get scored upon only once in his last eight appearances, a stretch in which he's posted a 1.17 ERA, 0.78 WHIP and 5:1 K:BB in 7.2 innings.

Doval picked up his 10th save in Tuesday's 6-5 victory over the Rockies. He allowed two hits and one walk with no strikeouts over a scoreless inning.

Doval had a shaky outing but managed to close out the Rockies after the Giants took a one-run lead in the top of the ninth inning. Since surrendering two runs and blowing a save against the Padres on June 5, the right-hander has turned in four straight scoreless appearances, including three saves. While control has occasionally been an issue, the flamethrower has been outstanding overall in 2025, pitching to a 1.45 ERA and 1.00 WHIP across 31 innings.

Agnos (0-3) took the loss in Tuesday's 6-5 loss to the Giants. He allowed four runs on one hit and three walks with no strikeouts over one-third of an inning.

Agnos entered the ninth inning with a four-run lead but quickly ran into trouble, surrendering a solo homer to Casey Schmitt and then walking the bases loaded with one out. He was then replaced by Victor Vodnik, who allowed all three inherited runners to score. Agnos entered Tuesday with a 2.70 ERA and 1.05 WHIP, but those marks ballooned to 4.43 and 1.23, respectively, over 20.1 innings this season following the disastrous outing.

Vodnik blew the save Tuesday against the Giants. He allowed three inherited runs on two hits over two-thirds of an inning.

The right-hander was charged with a blown save, though he put in a tough position after Zach Agnos' disastrous one-third of an inning. Entering with the bases loaded, Vodnik allowed all three inherited runners to score on a sacrifice fly and two singles. The 25-year-old has delivered a strong 2025 campaign despite a stint on the shelf with a shoulder injury, recording a 2.25 ERA and 1.12 WHIP across 16 innings.

Jarvis allowed a run on three hits and two walks while striking out two over three innings to earn the save in Tuesday's 10-3 win over the Mariners.

Jarvis' first big-league save was of the three-inning variety, and this shouldn't be an indication that he'll get a chance to close any time soon, even with Justin Martinez (elbow) and A.J. Puk (elbow) both on the injured list. This was Jarvis' first major-league appearance since April 18. He struggled as a starter at Triple-A Reno prior to his recall Tuesday, posting a 5.17 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 29:17 K:BB across 31.1 innings for the minor-league affiliate. Jarvis figures to operate as a multi-inning reliever moving forward, though his 6.10 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 11:5 K:BB across 10.1 innings in the majors this season offer little reason for confidence.

Sauer (1-1) allowed nine runs on 13 hits and three walks while striking out six over 4.2 innings to take the loss Tuesday versus the Padres.

Sauer was terrible, but he was able to absorb some innings for a pitching staff that was lacking in fresh arms. This performance could make Sauer's current stay with the big club a short one, especially after he needed 111 pitches (69 strikes) Tuesday. His ERA spiked up to 5.68 with a 1.38 WHIP and 19:6 K:BB across 25.1 innings over eight appearances (one start) at the big-league level.