MLB Player News

Santana threw a scoreless seventh inning while walking one to earn a hold Thursday against the Diamondbacks.

Santana blew a save and allowed four earned runs on April 27 and has not gotten a save chance in three appearances since. Meanwhile, Gregory Soto has earned two saves in that span, both of which have come in Pittsburgh's last two games. While the closer situation has been fluid between Soto and Santana early on this season, Santana has allowed at least one run in four of his last 10 appearances and has only a 5.4 K/9 across 16.2 innings on the campaign.

Soto earned a save against the Diamondbacks on Thursday, striking out one batter in a perfect inning of work.

Soto entered in the ninth frame with Pittsburgh up 4-2 and kept things that way, retiring the side in order on 14 pitches (11 strikes). It was the second straight day in which Soto notched a save after picking up just one save over his first 17 outings. Meanwhile, Dennis Santana, who recorded two saves in April but has given up six runs over his past four appearances spanning 3.2 frames, pitched a scoreless seventh frame in Thursday's contest. It's probably still a fluid closer situation, but for the moment it seems like Soto has jumped ahead of Santana in the pecking order.

O'Brien struck out one in a perfect inning to earn the save in Thursday's 2-1 win over the Padres.

O'Brien got the job done on 10 pitches (eight strikes) to preserve a one-run lead. He's had some shaky moments lately, allowing four runs over his last 4.2 innings, but he's still converted four of his five save chances in that span. This is O'Brien's first full season closing, and he's done well in the role with 11 saves on 13 chances while maintaining a 2.00 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 20:1 K:BB through 18 innings.

Bigge (1-0) was credited with the win Thursday against the Red Sox, striking out one in two perfect innings of relief.

Bigge is bouncing back nicely from a scary injury in 2025, which occurred when he was struck in the face by a foul ball and carted off the field. Nine of his 11 appearances have been scoreless to begin 2026, with the 27-year-old right-hander logging a 2.77 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 11:8 K:BB with four holds across 13 innings.

Banks allowed two runs on four hits and one walk in 1.1 innings Thursday against the Athletics. He struck out two.

Banks hasn't been a particularly reliable arm out of Philadelphia's bullpen in the early going. Only nine of his 15 appearances have been scoreless outings in terms of earned runs allowed, and the 34-year-old has a 6.75 ERA, 2.39 WHIP and 18:9 K:BB with two holds across 14.2 innings.

Cano threw two perfect innings of relief Thursday against the Marlins. He did not strike out any batters.

Cade Povich (forearm) left early Thursday, but Cano did his part to keep the Orioles in the game. After posting a 5.12 ERA and 1.48 WHIP over 65 regular-season appearances in 2025, Cano is enjoying a bounce-back campaign thus far in 2026. The right-hander boasts a 1.29 ERA, 0.50 WHIP and 11:1 K:BB with two holds over 14 innings.

Anderson is expected to be called up from Triple-A Worcester on Friday, Ari Alexander of 7 News Boston reports.

Anderson will join the major-league roster for the second time this season, having produced a 3.38 ERA and 1.25 WHIP with six strikeouts over eight innings in three appearances with Boston earlier this season. The right-hander pitched multiple innings in all three of his previous outings with the Red Sox, reaching 52 pitches in his longest appearance April 14 versus the Twins.

Varland secured the save Thursday against the Twins, allowing no runs on one hit and no walks in 1.1 innings. He struck out two.

Varland filled the zone for 12 strikes among his 16 offerings, permitting a lone innocuous single to Byron Buxton in the eighth inning. The 29-year-old right-hander should continue to have Washington's closer role mostly to himself until Clayton Beeter (forearm) comes off the injured list. Varland has converted four of his six save opportunities, posting a 3.07 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 16:3 K:BB over 14.2 frames overall this year.

Woods Richardson didn't factor into the decision Thursday against the Nationals, allowing five runs on four hits and two walks in 4.1 innings. He struck out two.

Washington catcher Keibert Ruiz in particular had Woods Richardson's number, plating three runs on a pair of doubles versus the hurler. It's been a struggle in 2026 so far for Woods Richardson, who has surrendered at least four runs in five of his last six starts while fanning three or fewer each time out during that period. Still winless on the campaign, the right-hander will bring a ghastly 6.92 ERA, 1.72 WHIP and 19:16 K:BB over 39 innings into his next scheduled outing versus Miami.

Jax allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits and a walk while striking out three over four innings in a no-decision versus the Red Sox on Thursday.

Jax stretched out to four innings and 59 pitches (38 strikes) as he continues to build up to being a rotation option. This was his first time allowing runs in an appearance he's started this year, and he's added a 7:3 K:BB across nine innings over his three starts. Jax has a 5.00 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 17:10 K:BB across 14 appearances spanning 18 innings overall. The right-hander is still at least two outings away from approaching a full starter's workload, and it could be longer if the Rays are cautious with him. Jax is tentatively projected for a road start versus the Blue Jays his next time out.