MLB Player News

Mejia didn't factor in the decision Thursday against the Astros, allowing two runs on three hits while striking out two in two-thirds of an inning.

Working as the opener ahead of Chase Dollander, Mejia couldn't even get out of the first inning after allowing RBI singles to Yordan Alvarez and Joey Loperfido. Mejia opened April with three consecutive scoreless outings, but the wheels have fallen off lately as he's allowed five runs across 2.0 innings over his last three appearances. On the season, Mejia's ERA has ballooned to 7.00 with a 2.00 WHIP over eight appearances and nine innings.

Vodnik secured his second save of the season Thursday, pitching a scoreless ninth inning against the Astros and allowing one walk with zero hits or strikeouts.

The right-hander has converted his last two save chances, but perhaps more importantly, he's now on a roll of six straight outings in which he hasn't allowed an earned run. Vodnik isn't overpowering hitters, as he owns a 4:4 K:BB in 7.0 innings during his scoreless streak, but he's getting the job done. Should he stumble in the closing role, Jimmy Herget or Jaden Hill could be the next men up in the ninth inning.

Miller pitched a scoreless inning and struck out the side Thursday against the Mariners to earn his sixth save of the season.

Miller has yet to allow a run this season, and dating back to the 2025 campaign, he's now thrown 30.2 consecutive scoreless innings, sitting three shy of Cia Meredith's franchise record. The right-hander's allowed just one hit in 9.1 innings in 2026 and has struck out 10 of the last 12 batters he's faced. Miller's last blown save came Aug. 5 of last season, when he worked the eighth inning in front of Robert Suarez. His last blown ninth-inning chance came on June 19, while he was still with the A's.

Zerpa earned the save Thursday against the Blue Jays, allowing one hit over a scoreless ninth inning.

Zerpa entered the ninth with a one-run lead and had to navigate around a leadoff single to Vladimir Guerrero, but he settled in to secure his second save of the season. Despite the clean inning, the southpaw's overall numbers remain inflated from a rough outing last week in which he allowed four runs, leaving him with a 5.40 ERA across 10 innings.

Ribalta earned the save Thursday against the Pirates, allowing one hit and striking out one in a scoreless 10th inning.

The right-hander worked around the automatic runner as well as a leadoff single, striking out Bryan Reynolds and then inducing a game-ending double play from Jake Mangum. Despite the admirable performance, Ribalta was the sixth pitcher to come out of the bullpen, and the Nationals didn't have many other options in the 10th. Still, the 28-year-old has quality stuff with a mid-90s fastball and a changeup that produced a 40.4 percent whiff rate in 2025, and if he continues to improve his control he could emerge as a high-leverage option. After walking 21 batters in 33.1 innings across three levels last year, Ribalta has issued only one free pass in 7.1 innings between Triple-A and the majors to begin 2026.

Beeter (1-0) earned the win but blew the save Thursday against the Pirates, allowing one run on one hit and two walks while striking out one in the ninth inning.

Given a 7-6 lead, Beeter struggled to find the plate and tossed just 19 of 32 pitches for strikes, allowing the game-tying run on a bases-loaded infield single by Brandon Lowe. It was the second blown save of the season for the 27-year-old right-hander, but Beeter was able to wiggle out of the jam with no further damage, and the Nationals bailed him out by taking the lead in the top of the 10th. Beeter will need to clean up his control issues if he's going to remain in the ninth-inning picture, as he has more walks (eight) than strikeouts (seven) in 9.1 innings so far on the season.

Miller picked up the save Thursday against the Reds, tossing a scoreless ninth inning with a walk and three strikeouts.

Miller has a blown save on his ledger already this season, but he took advantage of his second chance to lock down a game Thursday. The 28-year-old issued a one-out walk to Matt McLain, but he struck out the other three batters he faced to earn the save. With 10 strikeouts in six innings, the 28-year-old has the stuff to be an effective late-inning option but needs to find the consistency. Even after Thursday's outing, he holds a 6.00 ERA and 1.83 WHIP this year. Miller is in the mix for saves as Ryan Walker has been utilized as a bit of a late-inning fireman rather than a traditional closer early this year.

The Brewers acquired Fernandez from the Diamondbacks on Wednesday.

Presumably, the Diamondbacks will receive cash considerations in return. Fernandez inked a minor-league contract with Arizona over the offseason, but he's been on the development list and has not pitched since the minor-league season began. The 29-year-old hasn't pitched in the big leagues since 2022 and holds a career 5.17 ERA and 47:35 K:BB in 54 innings across parts of four major-league seasons.

The Cardinals outrighted Shuster to Triple-A Memphis on Thursday.

Having been outrighted previously, Shuster has the ability to decline the assignment and become a free agent. For now, it appears he will stick around in the organization as swingman depth.

Williams coughed up four runs on three hits and a walk in one-third of an inning during Wednesday's loss to the Dodgers.

With the Mets mired in a long losing streak, manager Carlos Mendoza tried to get his closer some work in a non-save situation, but it backfired when Williams served up a grand slam to Dalton Rushing in the eighth inning. They were the first runs the right-hander had allowed this season, spiking his ERA from 0.00 to 6.75, but Williams sports an 8:3 K:BB through 5.1 innings and he's converted both his save chances.