MLB Player News

Ashby improved to 10-0 on the season in Tuesday's 2-1 win over the Guardians after striking out two batters while allowing one earned run on one hit and two walks across one inning of relief.

Despite being charged with the Guardians' only run of the night when he surrendered a game-tying RBI single to Gabriel Arias in the top of the seventh inning, Ashby was credited with the win after the Brewers recovered the lead with a Garrett Mitchell home run in the bottom of the frame. Despite making just one start as an opener and not typically pitching in the highest-leverage spots out of the bullpen, Ashby has been a fantasy asset by virtue of racking up an MLB-leading 10 wins. He's also turned in a 2.86 ERA to go with 61 strikeouts over 44 innings, though a high walk rate has played a part in inflating his WHIP to 1.36.

Mariners general manager Justin Hollander said Tuesday that Vargas (lat) recently began a throwing program and could be ready to return from the 60-day injured list around the Aug. 3 trade deadline, Zac Hereth of 710 AM Seattle Sports reports.

Vargas has been on the shelf all season while recovering from a right lat strain, which he sustained in spring training. Even though Vargas projects to serve as a middle reliever and won't need to get stretched out for more than an inning or two, the Mariners are content to have him move through his throwing program slowly. A more definitive target date for his return should become available once he's ready to head out on a rehab assignment.

Gaddis (1-2) was tagged with the loss Tuesday against the Brewers after allowing a run and a hit over one inning of work. He didn't record a strikeout.

Gaddis has been a reliable bullpen arm for the Guardians all season long, but he was tagged with the loss in this one after giving up the game-winning homer to Garrett Mitchell in the bottom of the seventh inning. Gaddis has allowed runs in two of hs last four outings, but he should remain a top setup option in Cleveland's bullpen. Over his last 13 appearances and 12.2 innings, Gaddis has a 1.42 ERA and 0.87 WHIP while recording eight holds and a save.

Varland gave up a hit and a walk over 1.1 scoreless innings Tuesday to record his 13th save of the season in a 6-1 win over the Red Sox. He struck out three.

The right-hander fanned Mickey Gasper to end the eighth inning with the Blue Jays ahead 4-1 before they tacked on insurance runs in the top of the ninth. Varland has yet to blow a save chance this season, and while he's been showing some signs of fatigue lately after appearing in 35 of Toronto's first 73 games, he still sports a 3.38 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and 10:2 K:BB over eight innings in June. His brother Gus also notched a save for the Nationals on Tuesday, making them the fourth set of brothers in MLB history to pick up saves on the same day, with Edwin Diaz and Alexis Diaz having most recently accomplished the feat May 17, 2022.

O'Brien earned the save Tuesday against the Padres after tossing a scoreless ninth inning while allowing a walk.

O'Brien has converted his last five save opportunities and has gone 18-for-22 so far in 2026. One of the most reliable ninth-inning relievers in the National League this season, O'Brien owns a 3.73 ERA and 1.21 WHIP across 31 appearances (31.1 innings) in 2026.

Phillips (1-2) took the loss Tuesday, surrendering eight runs on six hits -- including three home runs -- and three walks over four innings as the Marlins fell 8-2 to the Phillies. He struck out four.

The Phillies put up three runs off the right-hander in the first inning without leaving the yard, but even that small grace note on the outing was quickly spoiled as Brandon Marsh, Alec Bohm and Kyle Schwarber all launched homers before Phillips got the hook after 79 pitches (48 strikes). The eight earned runs allowed were more than Phillips had given up in his prior 11 appearances and 31.1 innings combined, spiking his ERA on the season from 1.86 to 3.10, while the three long balls were more than he'd served up all year. He'll try to shake off this disaster in his next start, which lines up to come at home this weekend against the Giants.

Megill earned the save in Tuesday's win over the Guardians after pitching a perfect ninth inning, striking out two.

Megill needed just 12 pitches (eight strikes) to earn his ninth save of the season in 11 chances. He's bounced back nicely after blowing a save against the Rockies at Coors Field on June 5, when he allowed two runs on three hits and a walk over an inning of work. Since then, he's posted three straight scoreless outings around a brief absence due to side tightness. Once again the top endgame option in Milwaukee, Megill has allowed just two runs in his last 11 appearances -- a stretch in which he owns a 1.64 ERA, 0.82 WHIP and 13.9 K/9.

Pagan (hamstring) threw a bullpen session Tuesday and is scheduled to pitch in a simulated game/live batting practice session at Yankee Stadium on Friday, MLB.com reports.

Pagan, who threw a bullpen session over the weekend, has stacked up a few sessions and is moving on to live batting practice. The next step for the Reds' closer will be a rehab assignment. Pagan could rejoin the team by the end of June.

Johnson (elbow) is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Louisville on Thursday, MLB.com reports.

Johnson threw a simulated game/live batting practice session Monday and is ready for the next step. The reliever isn't expected to need much time in the minors and could be activated Friday.

Perkins allowed three runs on six hits and two walks while striking out six batters over five-plus innings in a no-decision against Pittsburgh on Tuesday.

The A's staked Perkins to a 4-0 lead in the first inning, and he limited the Pirates to just one run through five frames. However, the right-hander began the sixth by serving up a solo homer to Bryan Reynolds followed by a Ryan O'Hearn double before being pulled. O'Hearn eventually came around to score, and a late Pittsburgh comeback removed Perkins from factoring into the decision. The plus side is that Perkins completed five frames for the first time this season, and he reached 85 pitches for the second straight start. It hasn't been the smoothest of transitions for Perkins after he worked out of the bullpen until the beginning of June, but Tuesday's outing was at least a step in the right direction.