MLB Player News

The Phillies recalled Marte from Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Sunday.

Marte will provide the Phillies with a fresh arm out of the bullpen for Sunday's series finale with the Rockies while Cristopher Sanchez returns to Lehigh Valley after making a spot start for Philadelphia in Saturday's 4-3 loss. Over 41 career appearances in the big leagues, the 28-year-old Marte owns a 6.43 ERA and 1.59 WHIP across 49 frames.

The Twins optioned Woods Richardson to Triple-A St. Paul on Sunday, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

After starter Kenta Maeda lasted just two innings in Friday's 3-2 loss to Washington in the series opener while battling an ankle injury, the Twins summoned Woods Richardson from Triple-A on Saturday to give a fresh arm to an overtaxed bullpen. The 22-year-old right-hander ended up serving as an innings eater in relief in the Twins' 10-4 loss Saturday, covering 4.2 frames and striking out five but giving up five earned runs on seven hits and three walks. Woods Richardson will head back to St. Paul a day later with the Twins needing to open up a roster spot for Sunday's starter, Bailey Ober, who was called up from Triple-A in a corresponding move.

Nelson allowed one hit and struck out two over one scoreless inning in Saturday's 5-3 loss to San Diego.

Nelson was charged with a blown save, but he was presented with the challenge of getting out of starter Merrill Kelly's none-out, bases loaded jam in the sixth inning. After the first two batters he faced struck out, Ha-Seong Kim's single on a ball hit with a .170 XBA found its way to the outfield to plate two runs. Nelson has pitched well out of the bullpen and earned the high-leverage chance. Even when the left-hander was tagged with Thursday's loss, it was due to two unearned runs thanks to a Nick Ahmed error. Nelson has a 0.93 ERA and 1.24 WHIP with 15 strikeouts and three walks over 9.2 innings.

Puk walked one and struck out one in a scoreless ninth inning Saturday to record his fourth save of the season in the second game of a doubleheader sweep of the Guardians.

After the Marlins took the matinee 6-1. The nightcap proved to be a tighter affair, but Puk was able to preserve a 3-2 victory. Since being scored upon in his Miami debut, the southpaw reliever has reeled off seven straight appearances without allowing an earned run to lock down the closer role, and on the season Puk sports a 1.00 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 9:2 K:BB through nine innings.

Smeltzer didn't factor into the decision in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Guardians, allowing one run on three hits and a walk over four innings in a 6-1 win. He struck out three.

Making his first start of the season after a couple relief appearances, the former Twin gave the Marlins a solid outing but wasn't able to qualify for the win, exiting after 65 pitches (42 strikes). It was an impressive turnaround for Smeltzer, who served up four homers in his first five innings this year, and with the Miami rotation in tatters right now due to a rash of biceps injuries to Trevor Rogers, Johnny Cueto and Sandy Alcantara, the 27-year-old southpaw could get stretched out further to handle more than just a spot start in a twin bill.

Fujinami (0-4) took the loss Saturday, allowing eight runs on seven hits and three walks over 2.1 innings against Texas. He struck out two.

Fujinami has gotten off to a brutal start this season, posting a 14.40 ERA and 2.07 WHIP over four appearances. The rookie has plenty of time to right the ship, but he cannot be trusted in fantasy until he strings together some quality starts. The right-hander is tentatively slated to face the Angels on the road in his next appearance.

Thompson (1-1) allowed two runs on a hit and a walk while striking out one over two-thirds of an inning, taking the loss Saturday versus the Mariners.

Thompson replaced Miles Mikolas with one out in the sixth inning and finished the frame. In the seventh, Thompson put two batters aboard, and Giovanny Gallegos let them both come around to score. These were the first earned runs on Thompson's line through nine appearances this season. The southpaw owns a 1.80 ERA through 10 innings, but his 1.40 WHIP and 15:5 K:BB aren't all that encouraging. He'll likely continue to serve as a middle-relief option.

Cuas (1-0) allowed two runs on two hits and struck out two over one inning but earned the win Saturday over the Angels.

Cuas surrendered a two-run home run to Matt Thaiss in the eighth inning that put the Royals behind 8-6. They rallied for five runs in the ninth, and that allowed Cuas to back into the win. The right-hander has been far from steady so far -- he's been scored on in six of his nine outings while yielding three home runs in 9.1 innings. He has a 6.75 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 14:3 K:BB. With Scott Barlow and Aroldis Chapman seeing the bulk of the high-leverage work, Cuas is likely to remain a middle reliever.

Sewald earned a save against the Cardinals on Saturday, allowing one run on one hit while striking out two batters.

Sewald entered in the top of the ninth inning with Seattle up by two runs. He gave up a one-out homer to Tommy Edman but retired the other three batters he faced, including two by strikeout. The save was Sewald's second in as many days, and he's a perfect 6-for-6 in save chances on the campaign. Among MLB hurlers, only David Bednar, Jordan Romano and Josh Hader have more saves than Sewald at this point in the campaign.

Quijada (0-1) blew the save and took the loss against the Royals on Saturday, allowing five runs on two hits and two walks over two-thirds of an inning.

Quijada had been great this season coming into Saturday, holding opponents scoreless and notching four saves while posting an 8:1 BB:K over eight innings. However, he couldn't seal the deal in the ninth inning against Kansas City, allowing six of the eight batters he faced to reach base. The southpaw plunked two hitters and walked another two while throwing just 15 of 27 pitches for strikes, so he clearly didn't have his stuff working for him. Despite the poor outing, Quijada's strong start to the campaign should allow him to remain in contention for save chances alongside Carlos Estevez for the Angels.