MLB Player News

Pagan (hamstring) collected his sixth save of the season Friday in the Reds' 2-1 win over the Twins, striking out one batter in a scoreless ninth inning.

Pagan injured his hamstring in his last outing against the Giants on Tuesday, but he was cleared to come out of the bullpen Friday to protect the Reds' one-run lead in the ninth. He needed just 13 pitches (eight strikes) to get through the frame for his sixth save of the season, which is tied with Mason Miller and Paul Sewald for most in the National League. It was a good sign to see Pagan back on the mound, but his usage over the weekend will be worth monitoring.

Leahy (2-2) picked up the win Friday against the Astros, allowing three runs on five hits and no walks with six strikeouts across five innings.

Leahy served up a pair of solo homers in the third inning and loaded the bases with one out in the fourth, but he was able to strike out both Christian Vazquez and Isaac Paredes to escape further damage. He then allowed another solo shot in the fifth. Leahy's transition from reliever in 2025 to a starter this season has yielded subpar results, as he now owns a 5.21 ERA and 13:8 K:BB through 19 innings. He doesn't possess swing-and-miss stuff and therefore doesn't carry much, if any, fantasy appeal. Leahy's next start should come next week in Miami.

Junk did not factor into the decision in Friday's 7-5 extra-inning loss to the Brewers, allowing four runs (three earned) on six hits and two walks with three strikeouts over 5.1 innings.

Junk was mostly done in by a three-run fourth inning before allowing another run in the sixth. After opening the season with consecutive two-run efforts, the 30-year-old has now allowed nine runs (seven earned) over his last two outings. He owns a 4.50 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 15:6 K:BB across 22 innings to open the year and lines up for a home matchup against the Cardinals next week.

Schmitt went 2-for-5 with a solo home run and an additional run scored during the Giants' 10-5 win over the Nationals on Friday.

Schmitt extended the Giants' lead to 9-4 in the seventh after belting a solo home run off Paxton Schultz. It was Schmitt's second long ball of the season and his fifth multi-hit game, four of which have come over his last 10 games. In that 10-game span, he has gone 14-for-38 (.368) with five RBI, four doubles and seven runs scored.

The Nationals optioned Ribalta to Triple-A Rochester on Friday.

The transaction comes one day after Ribalta recorded his first career save in Thursday's extra-inning win over the Pirates. Ribalta is clearing out to make room on the roster for Richard Lovelady, who was acquired via trade Thursday.

The Padres optioned Jacob to Triple-A El Paso on Friday.

He's clearing out to make room on the roster for Matt Waldron (lower body), who will start Friday's game versus the Angels after being activated from the injured list. Jacob had just been recalled earlier this week and turned in a scoreless outing in his lone appearance out of the bullpen.

The Cubs placed Palencia on the 15-day injured list Friday with a left oblique strain.

It's unclear when Palencia -- who hasn't pitched since Sunday -- was hurt, but the injury will knock him out at least for the next couple weeks and likely longer. The Cubs are also currently without Hunter Harvey (triceps) and Phil Maton (knee), so their late-inning bullpen depth is thin. Caleb Thielbar could be the next man up for saves, with Ben Brown also an option.

Morejon secured a hold Thursday, working 1.2 perfect innings with two strikeouts in a 5-2 win over the Mariners.

Morejon has had a bumpy start to the season after his All-Star campaign in 2025, when he pitched in 75 games and had career-best marks in ERA (2.08) and WHIP (0.90). The southpaw came into the season as the set-up guy for dominant closer Mason Miller and has three holds in eight appearances so far, but Morejon allowed at least one run in four of his first six outings. San Diego seems to still have faith in him, however, given he's been used in high-leverage situations each of his past two games.

Ramirez allowed one run on one hit and one walk while striking out two in the seventh inning of Thursday's 8-7 extra-inning loss to Washington.

Ramirez was charged with a blown save, allowing the go-ahead run at the time due to a wild pitch to give the Nationals a 7-6 lead. The 30-year-old has appeared in nine games for Pittsburgh, recording a 2.13 ERA in 12.2 innings. The right-hander has posted at least two strikeouts in seven of his nine relief outings, working more than one inning five times and picking up two wins and a hold.

The Pirates recalled Sanders from Triple-A Indianapolis on Friday, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

It's unclear at this time what the corresponding roster move will be. Sanders has yielded two runs with an 11:7 K:BB over six frames with Indianapolis. The 29-year-old got a cup of coffee with the Pirates last season, allowing six runs with a 4:5 K:BB in 6.2 innings.