MLB Player News

Hall (lat) is tentatively scheduled to throw a bullpen session April 15, MLB.com reports.

Hall has been throwing on flat ground at the Brewers' spring training complex in Arizona and will be ready for mound work in mid-April if he continues to progress. He's slated for bullpen sessions April 15 and 18 before advancing to throwing live batting practice April 23. Hall is on the 60-day injured list as he comes back from a left lat strain and isn't eligible for activation until late May.

Alexander is likely to start Friday against the Reds, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

The Brewers are holding off announcing a probable pitcher for the game, likely because Alexander may be needed in relief before then. However, Alexander threw a bullpen session Wednesday, which points to him taking the ball Friday if he's not needed in relief Wednesday against the Royals or Thursday against the Reds. Alexander has made two relief appearances this season, most recently throwing 2.1 innings and 47 pitches Sunday, so the lefty is unlikely to be able to handle a full starter's workload Friday.

Salazar has appeared in three of the Nationals' first five games this season, allowing one run on six hits and a walk in three innings. He has yet to strike out a batter.

The 26-year-old righty is filling a low-leverage role in the Washington bullpen, but that's resulted in frequent usage with the team off to a 1-4 start and having been out-scored 28-14 in the four losses. Salazar split last season between the Dodgers and Nats, posting a 2.87 ERA, 1.64 WHIP and 27:14 K:BB in 29.1 innings with three holds in 26 appearances.

Reds manager Terry Francona said Wednesday that Diaz (hamstring) will begin a rehab assignment with High-A Dayton on Friday, Charlie Goldsmith of the Dayton Daily News reports.

The reliever is set to make appearances for Dayton on Friday and Sunday, which could set him up to be activated from the 15-day injured list when first eligible April 8, assuming all goes well. Diaz is coming back from a left hamstring strain which threw off his mechanics, but he and the Reds were pleased with how a live batting practice session went Tuesday, clearing the way for rehab games. Francona has indicated that he would like to use Diaz as his closer, although it might not happen right away upon the righty's return.

Pressly gave up a hit in a scoreless ninth inning Tuesday to record his second save of the season in a 7-4 win over the A's.

The veteran right-hander has appeared in four of the Cubs' first eight games and hasn't exactly been dominant, posting a 6.75 ERA and 1:4 K:BB in four innings, but he's 2-for-2 in converting save chances. Pressly should remain Chicago's closer as long as he's getting the job done, but if his struggles continue and begin to turn into blown saves, Porter Hodge -- who picked up his third hold Tuesday and has yet to give up a run in four innings with a 5:3 K:BB -- is ready to step in.

Martinez threw a scoreless and hitless eighth inning while striking out three to earn a hold in Tuesday's 7-5 win over the Yankees.

It was a dominant display by the right-handed Martinez, who came on the face the heart of New York's order, which included two righty hitters among three scheduled batters . He fanned Aaron Judge with a splitter and then punched out Jazz Chisholm and Anthony Volpe on 101-mph fastballs. The left-handed A.J. Puk followed, conveniently with three lefties due up, to convert Arizona's first save opportunity of the season. While that sequence may suggest Puk is the closer, manager Torey Lovullo still hasn't named one, and his late-game deployment was all about matchups, particularly having Martinez pitch to Judge. Martinez has allowed two hits and struck out five over 2.2 scoreless innings (three appearances) so far this season.

Scott didn't allow a baserunner or strike out a batter in a scoreless ninth inning to earn the save Tuesday versus Atlanta.

Facing the heart of the Atlanta lineup with a 3-1 advantage, Scott entered in the ninth inning Tuesday and induced three groundball outs on just 10 pitches. The clean performance ended a stretch of three straight appearances in which the left-hander allowed a run. Scott remains the favorite for save chances in Los Angeles and now leads the club with two, but Blake Treinen and Alex Vesia also have one apiece.

Walker earned the save after throwing a clean ninth inning during Tuesday's 3-1 win over the Astros.

Walker made quick work of Houston's lineup to secure his second save of the season, tossing nine of his 13 pitches for strikes to retire the big bats of Isaac Paredes, Yordan Alvarez and Christian Walker in order. The 29-year-old right-hander seized San Francisco's closing gig in the middle of last season due Camilo Doval's struggles in 2024, and Walker has converted each of his first two save opportunities to open 2025.

Puk allowed a solo home run in one inning but earned a save over the Yankees on Tuesday. He struck out two.

Puk was tasked with protecting a 7-4 lead in the ninth inning. He struck out the first two batters he faced before coughing up a solo shot to Ben Rice. Puk has punched out four batters in two innings but has also allowed a pair of hits and a walk. He converted the first save for Arizona this season and appears to be the main candidate for ninth-inning work.

Bender retired the only two batters he faced to earn a save against the Mets on Tuesday.

Bender entered the game with two runners on base and needed just four pitches to close out the 4-2 win. Anthony Veneziano originally began the ninth inning before getting into trouble. Bender is the first Marlin to record a save this season, and the bullpen situation seems pretty fluid. He's turned in 2.2 scoreless innings in three appearances. Calvin Faucher, who came into the game as the presumed favorite for saves in the Miami bullpen, had pitched Friday and Saturday and may not have been available.