MLB Player News

Kimbrel (1-1) took the loss in Wednesday's 10-6 loss against the Dodgers. He allowed four runs on two hits and two walks while striking out one over one-third of an inning.

Kimbrel could record only one out in the bottom of the ninth before Max Muncy hit a walkoff grand slam, handing the Phillies a 10-6 loss and a sweep at the hands of the Dodgers. The veteran right-hander has struggled in his last two outings, allowing six earned runs on four hits (including two homers), following a stretch of eight consecutive scoreless appearances. His ERA is up to an unsightly 8.25 with a 1.75 WHIP and 17:9 K:BB. Jose Alvarado should be the preferred option for saves moving forward.

Graterol (1-1) blew the save but picked up the win in Wednesday's 10-6 victory over Philadelphia. He allowed a run on two hits and a walk while striking out one over two-thirds of an inning.

Graterol entered with one out in the ninth and coaxed a ground out from Trea Turner. However, he'd surrender two hits and a walk with two outs, allowing the Phillies to tie the game 6-6. After striking out Alec Bohm to end the inning, Graterol would pick up the win after Max Muncy's walkoff grand slam in the bottom of the frame. Wednesday's outing snapped a stretch of 8.1 consecutive scoreless innings for Graterol. He has a 2.77 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 11:2 K:BB and two saves through 13 innings this season.

Lange walked one and struck out one in a scoreless ninth inning to record his fourth save of the season in the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader sweep of the Mets.

The Tigers didn't need Lange's services in the nightcap, winning 8-1, but he got the call in the matinee after Detroit rallied in the bottom of the eighth to take a 6-5 lead. Lange has converted four straight save chances after blowing his first opportunity of the year, and a 10-appearance scoreless streak has left him with a stellar 1.32 ERA and 0.95 WHIP through 13.2 innings. His 29.6 percent strikeout rate is still a touch below his 2022 mark, but the 27-year-old is locking down the closer job in Motown, though Jason Foley also remains in the mix.

Finnegan picked up the save in Wednesday's 2-1 win over the Cubs, tossing a scoreless ninth in which he gave up two hits. He didn't strike out or walk any batters.

Finnegan allowed back-to-back singles to lead off the ninth, but he was able to secure his seventh save after inducing a double play. It was the second night in a row the right-hander was called upon to shut down the Cubs, and he's now converted six consecutive chances after giving up five runs versus Tampa Bay on April 4. Overall the numbers still don't look pretty (6.00 ERA and 1.58 WHIP), but Finnegan has allowed just one run over his past 10 outings (9.2 innings) and holds a 10:2 K:BB during that stretch.

Ottavino (0-2) blew the save and took the loss in the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Tigers, giving up two runs on two hits and a hit-by-pitch in an inning of relief. He struck out two.

Entering the game in the bottom of the eighth inning with the Mets ahead 5-4, Ottavino couldn't get the job done as Eric Haase smacked a two-run single to right-center with two outs. It's the first blown save the veteran right-hander has been charged with this season, although he was being used to set up David Robertson on Wednesday. Through 12 appearances and 11 innings, Ottavino has a 4.09 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 13:4 K:BB, and while he remains in the high-leverage mix, he's clearly the second option for saves in the bullpen behind Robertson.

Leclerc allowed two runs on two walks and one hit over a one-third of an inning in Wednesday's 12-7 loss to the Diamondbacks.

On the day manager Bruce Bochy anointed Will Smith the team's sole closer, Leclerc had the kind of effort that reinforced the manager's decision. He walked the first two batters faced, the second of which produced the go-ahead run charged to Josh Sborz. A couple of batters later -- a sacrifice fly and a single -- and Leclerc's night was done. Leclerc has issued a passel of walks to start the season -- nine over 10 innings -- but until Wednesday, they hadn't hurt him.

Estevez picked up the save Wednesday against the Cardinals. He struck out two over a perfect inning.

Estevez is now tied for fourth in MLB in saves with seven. The right-hander also hasn't allowed a run over his last eight outings, and sports a 0.96 WHIP.

Pivetta (2-2) earned the win over Toronto on Wednesday, allowing three runs on five hits and one walk while striking out six batters over six innings.

Pivetta was dinged for a solo home run in each of the second and third innings, but he gave up only one additional run and completed a season-high six innings to notch his first quality start of the campaign. The right-hander racked up 14 swinging strikes and punched out six batters, marking the fourth time in six starts that he's reached the latter total. Pivetta was tagged for six runs in a start against the Angels on April 15, but he's given up four runs or fewer in each of his other outings this season.

Alexander (1-0) retired the lone batter he faced and earned the win in Game 1 of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Mets.

Alexander was the ultimate vulture in this one, as he only threw a single pitch but escaped as the pitcher of record in Detroit's 6-5 comeback victory. The lefty hasn't been much of a fantasy factor this season out of the bullpen with a 5.17 ERA across 15.2 innings and he's yet to make any spot starts after starting 32 times the last two years.

The Tigers returned White to Triple-A Toledo after Wednesday's doubleheader against the Mets.

Detroit chose not to use White out of the bullpen in either of Wednesday's games, so he will have to wait a bit longer for his first major-league appearance. However, the 24-year-old reliever holds a 2.08 ERA and 1.23 WHIP across 13 innings over nine appearances in Toledo, so it may not be long before he gets another chance on the big-league roster.