MLB Player News
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Gregory Soto RP | PIT
Pirates' Gregory Soto: Blows second save
Soto was charged with his second blown save of the season Friday in an 11-9 extra-inning loss to the Phillies, giving up three runs (two earned) on two hits and two walks in the ninth inning.
With the Pirates holding an 8-5 lead, the southpaw was called in to get them across the finish line, but a Konnor Griffin error put the first batter aboard and things unraveled from there. It was the first time since April 10 that Soto has issued multiple walks, but he's been scored upon in back-to-back appearances, inflating his ERA on the season from 1.33 to 2.42 to go along with a 0.85 WHIP and 26:9 K:BB through 22.1 innings. His job security as the team's primary closing option likely didn't slip, however, as Dennis Santana failed to record an out while taking the loss in the 10th.
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Orion Kerkering RP | PHI
Phillies' Orion Kerkering: Notches first save of 2026
Kerkering walked one and struck out one while giving up an unearned run in the 10th inning Friday to record his first save of the season in an 11-9 win over the Pirates.
With Jhoan Duran not yet pitching on back-to-back days and Brad Keller having worked Wednesday and Thursday, interim manager Don Mattingly has to get creative with his high-leverage arms. Jose Alvarado struck out the side in a scoreless ninth, and then after the Phillies rang up three runs in the top of the 10th, Kerkering got the call and allowed only the phantom runner to score. The right-hander hasn't seen much usage in key situations this season, and through 16.1 innings over 18 appearances he sports a 2.20 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 12:7 K:BB with just one win and one hold in addition to Friday's save.
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Tejay Antone RP | CIN
Reds' Tejay Antone: Logs save
Antone allowed one run on one hit over one inning, recording the save in Friday's 7-6 win over the Guardians.
It was an unlikely save opportunity for Antone and the Reds, who upped a lead to 6-1 in the eighth inning before the bullpen fell apart. Graham Ashcraft and Brock Burke combined to give up four runs on five walks and one hit in the bottom of the eighth to make this contest a closer-than-it-should-have-been affair. Cincinnati's closer has been unsettled since Emilio Pagan (hamstring) landed on the injured list, and Antone could be one of several arms trotted out in the ninth inning.
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Trevor Megill RP | MIL
Brewers' Trevor Megill: Collects fifth save
Megill struck out one batter in a perfect ninth inning to earn the save in Friday's 3-2 win over the Twins.
Megill's ninth-inning opportunity came after manager Pat Murphy elected to use Abner Uribe in the eighth. Both relievers have struggled with consistency this season and own an ERA above 4.60, so it's unlikely the Brewers are ready to abandon their closer-by-committee approach.
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Mason Miller RP | SD
Padres' Mason Miller: Flirts with danger in save
Miller allowed two hits and a walk while striking out four over 1.1 scoreless innings to earn the save in Friday's 2-0 win over the Mariners.
Miller had a close call after being called upon to relieve Jason Adam in the eighth inning, allowing a single to load the bases before striking out Connor Joe. In the ninth, Miller put two more runners on base but struck out the last two batters he faced to finish the save. He threw 34 pitches (19 strikes) in his second appearance in three days, so his workload could be managed over the weekend. The flamethrower has converted all 14 of his save chances this season while pitching to a 0.86 ERA, 0.76 WHIP and 44:6 K:BB across 21 innings.
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Randy Vasquez SP | SD
Padres' Randy Vasquez: Tosses six shutout innings
Vasquez (5-1) allowed four hits and struck out three without walking a batter over six scoreless innings to earn the win Friday over the Mariners.
Vasquez has been more good than bad this year, posting three scoreless outings and four quality starts among his first nine starts of the campaign. This was also the fourth time this year he's avoided issuing a walk. He avenged a poor showing at home against the Mariners back on April 15, when he allowed four runs over a season-worst four innings. The right-hander is now at a 2.68 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 45:13 K:BB through 50.1 innings this season. His 2.3 BB/9 has been his biggest area of improvement in 2026, which has helped Vasquez be one of the Padres' most reliable starters. His next start is projected to be a tough one at home versus the Dodgers.
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Huascar Brazoban RP | NYM
Mets' Huascar Brazoban: Opening again Saturday
Brazoban will serve as the Mets' opening pitcher for Saturday's game against the Yankees, Abbey Mastracco of the New York Daily News reports.
The Mets seem to like using the right-handed Brazoban as an opener ahead of left-hander David Peterson, as the two are now set to work in tandem for the third time this month. Brazoban's last opening assignment didn't go very well, as he allowed two earned runs and walked three batters over one inning against Arizona and was hit with his first loss of the season. He'll aim to bounce back Saturday in what will likely be a one-inning start.
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Clay Holmes RP | NYM
Mets' Clay Holmes: Suffers fracture in leg
Holmes was diagnosed with a fractured fibula following his removal from Friday's game against the Yankees, Laura Albanese of Newsday reports.
Holmes suffered the injury after getting hit on the right leg by a 111-mph line drive off the bat of Spencer Jones in the fourth inning. Holmes remained in the game for a short while afterward before exiting midway through the fifth, finishing with four earned runs allowed on seven hits and two walks while logging eight strikeouts in 4.1 frames. The Mets haven't yet offered a timetable for the 33-year-old's return, but manager Carlos Mendoza said after the game that Holmes will be out for "a long time," so a move to the 60-day IL is possible.
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Chase Shugart RP | PHI
Phillies' Chase Shugart: Strong campaign continues
Shugart allowed one hit and no walks in two scoreless innings of relief Friday against the Pirates. He struck out one.
Since being recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley in the middle of April, Shugart has given the Phillies quality work out of the bullpen while operating mostly in middle relief. Through 15.2 innings for Philadelphia, the right-hander boasts a 1.72 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 15:3 K:BB.
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Janson Junk SP | MIA
Marlins' Janson Junk: Struggles in Friday's loss
Junk (2-4) took the loss against the Rays on Friday, allowing seven runs on 10 hits and three walks while striking out four across 5.2 innings.
It was a disastrous outing for Junk, who gave up two runs in three of the first four innings of Friday's game, starting with a two-run homer by Yandy Diaz in the first. The right-hander gave up a solo homer to Cedric Mullins in the sixth before being pulled, and Junk ended his day with season highs in hits, runs and homers allowed. He's allowed 11 earned runs over his last two starts and now sits at a 4.14 ERA and 1.24 WHIP across 50 innings this season. Junk is slated to take on Atlanta next week at home.