MLB Player News

Junk didn't factor into the decision in Tuesday's 9-2 win over the White Sox, allowing two runs on five hits and a walk over 4.1 innings. He struck out five.

The 30-year-old right-hander was comfortably sitting 94-96 mph with his four-seam fastball while mixing in a curve, changeup, slider and sweeper, but Junk threw just 50 of his 79 pitches for strikes and couldn't last long enough to quality for the win, despite getting plenty of support from the Marlins' offense. He's just keeping a spot in the rotation warm for a younger arm like Braxton Garrett or Robby Snelling, but there's been no suggestion he's getting replaced just yet. Junk lines up to make his next start at home early next week against the Reds.

Duran gave up a hit and struck out two in a scoreless ninth inning Tuesday to record his second save of the season in a 3-2 win over the Nationals.

The right-hander fanned Jose Tena and Joey Wiemer while touching 99.9 mph with his fastball. Duran is 2-for-2 in converting save chances with a 3.38 ERA and 5:0 K:BB through 2.2 innings and three appearances as he begins his first full season as the Phillies' closer.

Soto allowed a hit and a walk in a scoreless ninth inning during Tuesday's 8-3 win over the Reds. He struck out one.

The veteran lefty was getting ready to handle a save situation when Oneil Cruz added some insurance with a two-run homer in the top of the ninth. Soto has a 0.00 ERA and 6:2 K:BB through 3.1 innings to begin the season, while presumed closer Dennis Santana -- who worked a scoreless eighth against the bottom of the Reds' order to record his first hold of the year -- also has a 0.00 ERA in four innings, albeit with a less dominant 2:2 K:BB. Neither pitcher has a save yet in 2026, but the scales seem to be tipping in Soto's favor as the top high-leverage option in the Pirates' bullpen.

Puk (elbow) has thrown multiple bullpen sessions since late March, Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports reports.

Puk is coming back from an internal brace procedure he underwent last June. Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said Tuesday that his best guess is that Puk returns to the team at some point in June.

Santillan's velocity is down so far this season, Charlie Goldsmith of Charlie's Chalkboard reports. "You'll see them pitch into their velocity," manager Tito Francona said. "They did last year. They had more outings in spring training than they did this year. You'll see it climb."

Santillan's average fastball velocity in his first two outings has been 93.8 mph, after he averaged 96.3 mph while pitching in 80 games last season. The Reds eased Santillan and Emilio Pagan into spring training in light of their heavy workloads last season.

Sewald earned the save by striking out the side in order during Tuesday's 7-5 win over the Tigers.

The 35-year-old was called upon for the ninth inning after Arizona turned a 5-1, eighth-inning deficit into a two-run lead, and he dispatched the middle of Detroit's lineup on 13 pitches. Sewald now has two saves through three scoreless appearances this year, already matching his saves total from a bumpy 2025 regular season with Cleveland and Detroit. Things can change fast this early in the season, but Sewald has quickly established himself as Arizona's top option for saves.

Banks picked up a hold Tuesday versus the Nationals, allowing one run on three hits and no walks in 1.2 innings.

The Phillies were working with a three-run lead when Banks entered, so Banks was able to hang on for his first hold of the season. The southpaw had a relatively long leash against a lefty-heavy Washington lineup, tossing 37 pitches Tuesday, which suggests Philadelphia is comfortable assigning Banks to record more than three outs if the situation calls for it.

Maton (0-1) allowed two runs on two hits while retiring two batters in relief to take the loss Tuesday against the Angels. He walked two and struck out one.

Maton struggled in the sixth inning and ended up taking his first loss with his new team in a 2-0 defeat. The veteran righty looked much sharper across two scoreless appearances to start the season, and after he posted a 2.79 ERA in 61.1 innings for the Cardinals and Rangers last year, there's no reason to believe this will be anything more than a blip on the radar. Maton should continue to serve as a key setup option in front of closer Daniel Palencia.

Stanek walked one and recorded one strikeout in a scoreless seventh inning in Tuesday's 3-0 win over the Mets.

Stanek handled the ninth inning in both of the Cardinals' previous two wins, picking up the save on Opening Day against the Rays before blowing the save in the second game of the season. Manager Oliver Marmol opted to use Stanek in a setup role Tuesday, and Stanek had his best inning of the young season. With Stanek used earlier in the game, the Cardinals went to Riley O'Brien for the ninth inning Tuesday, and he slammed the door shut on the Mets, setting them down in order on 11 pitches to pick up his first save of the season. All three of Stanek, O'Brien and JoJo Romero figure to get save chances for the Cardinals this season.

O'Brien picked up his first save of the season in Tuesday's 3-0 win over the Mets. He didn't allow a hit or a walk with no strikeouts in a scoreless ninth inning.

It's notable that manager Oliver Marmol went to O'Brien for the ninth inning after the Cardinals' first two save chances of the season were given to Ryne Stanek in the opening series against the Rays. Stanek pitched the seventh inning against the Mets on Tuesday, walking one and striking out one in a scoreless frame. Stanek's save chances have been a rollercoaster, as he walked three on Opening Day and blew the save the following game, only to pick up the win later. O'Brien was effective in the role last season after Ryan Helsley was dealt at the trade deadline. The 31-year-old O'Brien turned in a 2.06 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 45:22 K:BB across 48 innings last regular season and picked up all six of his saves following Helsley's departure. The Cardinals figure to give O'Brien, Stanek and JoJo Romero save opportunities this season.