MLB Player News
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Grant Anderson RP | MIL
Brewers' Grant Anderson: Scoreless inning in loss
Anderson went three up and three down in his one inning Monday in the 8-6 win against the Red Sox. He did not record a strikeout.
Anderson appeared in 66 games out of the bullpen for the Brewers last season and went 2-6 with a 3.23 ERA. Milwaukee has put Anderson on the mound six times already this season and he has posted a 2.70 ERA. The Brewers' bullpen has right-handers Abner Uribe and Trevor Megill to pitch in high-leverage situations, but a lack of other options beyond them opens the door for Anderson to be used often in middle relief.
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Isaac Mattson RP | PIT
Pirates' Isaac Mattson: Pitches scoreless inning in loss
Mattson allowed two hits while striking out two in one inning Monday in a 5-0 loss to the Padres.
Mattson was a revelation out of the bullpen for the Pirates last season, posting a 2.45 ERA in 44 appearances after being called up in May. The right-hander has had a heavy workload so far this season, pitching in six out of Pittsburgh's 10 games and posting a 3.00 ERA and seven strikeouts. The Pittsburgh bullpen does not have many proven right-handers other than Dennis Santana, which means Mattson should continue appearing in many games this season.
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Joel Kuhnel RP | ATH
Athletics' Joel Kuhnel: Officially called up
The Athletics selected Kuhnel's contract from Triple-A Las Vegas on Tuesday.
The right-hander delivered two scoreless outings for Las Vegas and will replace Luis Morales on the Athletics' active roster. Kuhnel last pitched in the majors in 2024, when he made 10 regular-season appearances between the Rays and Astros and gave up five earned runs with a 5:0 K:BB over 10 innings.
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Paxton Schultz RP | WAS
Nationals' Paxton Schultz: Returns from injured list
The Nationals activated Schultz (elbow) from the 15-day injured list Tuesday, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports.
Schultz missed much of spring training and the start of the season while recuperating from right elbow inflammation, but he's ready to go after making three rehab appearances. He was claimed off waivers by the Nationals over the offseason and is likely slated for a middle-relief role.
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Cionel Perez RP | WAS
Nationals' Cionel Perez: Credited with win Monday
Perez (1-1) picked up the win Monday, allowing one hit in a scoreless ninth inning to close out a 9-6 victory over the Cardinals.
Despite pitching the ninth inning with a three-run lead, Perez was officially credited with a win and not a save as the Nationals' other relievers hadn't exactly been effective -- between them, Ken Waldichuk and Andre Granillo coughed up five runs in three innings. It's still intriguing high-leverage usage for Perez given the unsettled nature of the Washington bullpen, but the 29-year-old southpaw has only avoided allowing any runs himself in two of his five appearances to begin the season, stumbling to a 14.73 ERA and 3:2 K:BB in 3.2 innings.
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Rob Zastryzny RP | MIL
Brewers' Rob Zastryzny: Dealing with intercostal strain
Zastryzny (shoulder) was diagnosed with an intercostal strain and will be sidelined until at least late April, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.
The 34-year-old lefty sustained the injury during his rehab assignment over the weekend while working his way back from a shoulder strain. Zastryzny will be sidelined for at least a couple more weeks as he contends with the new injury.
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Orion Kerkering RP | PHI
Phillies' Orion Kerkering: Activated from injured list
The Phillies activated Kerkering (hamstring) from the 15-day injured list Tuesday, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.
Kerkering got a late start to the season after straining his right hamstring during spring training, but he's ready to roll after four rehab appearances. The 25-year-old will settle into a setup role for the Phillies, though he could be eased back into high-leverage situations following the layoff.
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Kyle Backhus RP | PHI
Phillies' Kyle Backhus: Sent down to minors
The Phillies optioned Backhus to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Tuesday, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.
He's clearing out to make room on the active roster for Orion Kerkering (hamstring), who is returning from a stint on the 15-day injured list. Backhus has yielded three runs with a 4:1 K:BB over three innings out of the Phillies' bullpen this season.
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Robert Garcia RP | TEX
Rangers' Robert Garcia: Used in eighth inning
Garcia retired the side in order in the eighth inning and earned a hold in a 2-1 win over the Mariners on Monday.
The left-handed Garcia, who is part of a committee of closers, entered the eighth inning with a string of lefties due up. He worked a 1-2-3 inning to record his second hold of the season. Jakob Junis followed him in the ninth inning to record his first save. Garcia has a 2.25 ERA through five outings, having allowed three runs (one earned) on two hits and four walks while striking out three over four innings.
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Jhoan Duran RP | PHI
Phillies' Jhoan Duran: Nails down fourth save
Duran earned a save against the Giants on Monday, allowing one hit in a scoreless inning.
Duran entered in the ninth frame tasked with protecting a two-run lead. He allowed a two-out double to Willy Adames but ended the game by getting Luis Arraez to ground out. Duran is a perfect 4-for-4 on save opportunities this season and has given up just one run while posting a 7:0 KBB through 5.2 innings spanning six appearances.