MLB Player News

Leiter pitched 1.1 scoreless innings in Friday's 3-2 win over the Giants. He allowed one hit and struck out two.

The strong effort earned Leiter his 10th hold of the season, and Adbert Alzolay closed things out in the ninth. The two pitchers seem to be in a closer committee, with Leiter recording the team's second-most-recent save on June 2. This gives Leiter some fantasy value, though his ceiling would seem to be capped by the presence of Alzolay.

Thompson gave up two hits and struck out two in a scoreless sixth inning Friday to record his third hold of the season in a loss to Atlanta.

The 25-year-old right-hander looked like he might be in line for significant high-leverage usage early in the season, but instead Thompson has fallen apart, posting a 7.62 ERA, 2.08 WHIP and 9:9 K:BB through 13 innings since the beginning of May. If he can find some consistency, however, there should be plenty of opportunities for Thompson and his mid-90s sinker to move up the ladder in a Nationals bullpen that doesn't have any truly dominant late-inning arms.

Gonzalez did not factor into the decision Friday, allowing one walk over two-thirds of a scoreless inning in a 5-4 loss against the Phillies. He didn't record a strikeout or give up a hit.

It appears the Dodgers simply wanted the left-handed Gonzales to handle Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper the first time through the order, as he faced just three batters before being replaced by Michael Grove. Gonzales has been solid as a lefty specialist this season, posting a 2.70 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and 14:5 K:BB across 17 appearances (16.2 innings).

Edwards gave up a hit in a scoreless seventh inning to record his 13th hold of the season in Friday's loss to Atlanta.

The veteran reliever has matched his hold total from 2022 in less than half the appearances, but Edwards isn't exactly dominating. He's been scored upon in three of his last six games, and his 3.38 ERA on the season doesn't match his shaky 1.50 WHIP or mediocre 21:14 K:BB through 26.2 innings. The Nationals don't have many better options for high-leverage work, however, so Edwards figures to remain in a setup role barring a total meltdown.

Iglesias struck out two in a perfect ninth inning Friday to record his ninth save of the season in a 3-2 win over the Nationals.

The right-hander breezed through the frame, firing all nine of his pitches for strikes and only missing an immaculate inning when Ildemaro Vargas managed to ground out to first base for the final out. Iglesias has turned in 12 straight appearances without an earned run, going a perfect 8-for-8 in save chances during that stretch with a 12:5 K:BB through 11.1 innings.

Finnegan (3-3) blew the save and took the loss Friday as the Nationals fell 3-2 to Atlanta, giving up two runs (one earned) on three hits in the eighth inning.

With Washington nursing a 2-1 lead, Finnegan got the call against the heart of the Atlanta order and gave up back-to-back singles to lead off the frame, eventually watching both runners come around to score. While Hunter Harvey was likely being held back for the ninth, Finnegan still appears to be manager Dave Martinez's first choice in higher-leverage spots between the two late-inning options. That arrangement may not last much longer, however -- Finnegan has blown saves in three straight appearances, and his 4.74 ERA and 1.62 WHIP on the season are a far cry from Harvey's 3.33 and 1.00 marks.

Pressly blew his second save of the season in Friday's 10-9 extra-innings loss to the Guardians, giving up a run on a hit and a walk in the ninth inning. He struck out one.

The Astros had already seen a 5-4 lead slip away, but after they re-took the lead in the top of the eighth inning, Pressly got the call to try and secure his 12th save. Instead, Cleveland tied it up again, something the Guardians would do twice more in extra innings before finally taking their first and only lead of the night in the 14th. Pressly has been tagged for a run in three of his last four appearances, but the stumble seems to be more a product of bad luck than bad performance -- over his last 12 games, the veteran closer has an 18:2 K:BB in 12 innings.

Duran (2-2) picked up the win in Friday's 3-2 extra-inning victory over the Blue Jays, allowing one hit and two walks over two scoreless innings. He struck out two.

With the score tied 2-2, Duran was brought in to face the bottom of the Toronto order in the ninth inning and nearly made a mess, plunking Santiago Espinal to lead off the frame and eventually loading the bases with two outs before escaping the jam. After Minnesota took the lead in the top of the 10th, however, the team's closer looked a little more comfortable as he finished things out. Duran has struck out multiple batters in nine of 11 appearances since the beginning of May, a stretch of dominance that has seen him post a 0.63 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 20:6 K:BB through 14.1 innings, but circumstances have let him record only two saves during that time. If the Twins can get him more opportunities, expect the 25-year-old to have few issues converting them.

Jansen picked up the save in Friday's 3-2 victory over the Yankees. He allowed two hits and no walks while striking out one over a scoreless inning.

Jansen made things quite interesting after getting two quick outs, allowing back-to-back singles before getting Anthony Volpe to fly out to end the game. The veteran hurler has been spectacular so far on the road this season, striking out 12 batters in 11.2 innings while not allowing a run. Jansen has settled down after hitting a bit of a rough patch, allowing just two runs over his last seven appearances.

Hendriks (1-0) pitched a scoreless inning without allowing a baserunner to earn the win Friday against the Marlins.

Hendriks entered the game with the score tied in the ninth inning and set down the Marlins in order. Given the White Sox were playing at home, his usage suggests that he was being treated as the team's closer. In addition, Kendall Graveman pitched the eighth inning, and he appears to be Hendriks' top competition for saves. The White Sox could use a committee in the ninth frame for the time being to ease Hendriks back into action, but it certainly appears that he's trending toward a majority of the save chances moving forward.