MLB Player News

Garcia was charged with a blown save Tuesday against the Marlins, allowing two runs on three hits while striking out one batter over one inning.

Garcia entered in the bottom of the sixth inning with the Dodgers up one run, but by the end of the frame Miami had retaken the lead. The right-hander was hit pretty hard in the inning, as the Marlins managed two doubles and a single against him. Garcia pitched poorly at the beginning of the season but had been showing improvement prior to Tuesday, as he hadn't allowed a run over his previous eight innings spanning nine appearances. He's worked as a lower-leverage option for Los Angeles in his first campaign with the club.

Dunshee signed a minor-league contract with the Nationals on Tuesday.

Dunshee reached the majors for the first time in 2024, making one long-relief appearance for Atlanta in August before being quickly cast off the 40-man roster. After electing free agency in November, Dunshee caught on with Mexican League club Toros de Tijuana, but he was released last week so that he could pursue opportunities in affiliated ball. The 30-year-old righty ultimately caught on with the Nationals and will serve as organization pitching depth at the Triple-A level.

Booser (0-3) allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits and one walk while recording only one out to blow the save and take the loss Tuesday against the Royals.

Booser was brought in to protect a one-run lead in the ninth inning and suffered from a combination of poor pitching and bad luck. He walked the leadoff man, but Chase Meidroth had a pop fly bounce off his head one batter later. A subsequent pair of singles -- one of which didn't leave the infield -- gave the Royals the walk-off win. Booser started the season decently but has allowed six earned runs across his last 4.1 innings of work and doesn't look likely to continue to see save chances.

Leasure retired the only batter he faced in the eighth inning to earn a hold Tuesday against the Royals.

Leasure entered the game with the tying run at second base in the eighth inning and retired the only batter he faced on three pitches to escape the jam. He was surprisingly not brought back out for the ninth inning despite the light workload, with Cam Booser instead blowing a save chance and taking the loss. This usage suggests that Leasure is the White Sox's preferred highest-leverage reliever -- rather than designated closer -- though it's difficult to speculate on the closer role given that the team has only one save for the season.

The Guardians optioned Kent to Triple-A Columbus on Wednesday.

As expected, Kent was sent back to Columbus after he was called up Tuesday to serve as the 27th man in the Guardians' doubleheader versus the Nationals. Kent tossed a scoreless ninth inning in the Guardians' 9-1 win in Game 2, giving up one hit while striking out a batter.

Wilson allowed one earned run on one hit and one walk while striking out one over 1.1 innings to earn a hold Tuesday against the Royals.

Wilson was the first White Sox reliever to appear after Sean Burke was pulled following 6.1 innings of work. Wilson entered the game with runners on first and second base and managed to escape the jam, but he then allowed a two-out rally before being pulled with two outs in the eighth inning. He has seemingly settled into a key setup role in the Chicago bullpen but has not gotten save chances.

The Nationals optioned Brzykcy to Triple-A Rochester on Wednesday.

Brzykcy will return to the minors after he was summoned from Rochester to serve as the Nationals' 27th man for Tuesday's doubleheader with the Guardians. The righty reliever pitched the final inning of the Nationals' 9-1 loss in Game 2, giving up one earned run on two hits and one walk while striking out a batter.

The Nationals optioned Salazar to Triple-A Rochester on Wednesday.

Salazar will give up his spot on the 26-man active roster to right-hander Michael Soroka (biceps), who was reinstated from the injured list ahead of his scheduled start Wednesday against the Guardians. After securing his spot on the Opening Day roster coming out of spring training, Salazar collected two holds and allowed one earned run over six innings in his first six appearances of the season, but he's since tumbled down the bullpen hierarchy. He's given up runs in all but two of his subsequent 11 appearances and now holds a 9.77 ERA on the season.

Megill earned the save against the Astros on Tuesday, tossing a perfect ninth inning while picking up a strikeout.

Megill retired the side on just six pitches while ending with a three-pitch strikeout on Brendan Rodgers. Tuesday was his first time throwing a full inning without allowing a baserunner since April 1. He's allowed one run over his last seven appearances while converting all three of his save opportunities over that span.

Vargas allowed two hits and struck out two in a scoreless inning to earn the save in Tuesday's 5-3 win over the Athletics.

The Mariners likely wanted to avoid turning to regular closer Andres Munoz after his 28-pitch outing Monday. Vargas had 34 pitches in Monday's game, but he had not pitched for five days before that appearance, and he was able to get the job done. Vargas has a 2.60 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 12:5 K:BB over 17.1 innings this season. He's not an established reliever in the majors yet, but the Mariners have given him some high-leverage looks. Vargas has earned four holds, a 1-1 record and a blown save over 13 appearances, though he's not a serious threat to Munoz's status as the closer.