MLB Player News

O'Brien (2) earned the save Sunday against the Tigers, striking out one over a perfect ninth inning.

Entering the ninth with a two-run lead, O'Brien was efficient in closing this one out. The 31-year-old retired the heart of Detroit's order on just 13 pitches to secure his second save of the season. The right-hander has yet to allow a run through his first five appearances (5.1 innings), an encouraging sign after he blew three of nine save opportunities in 2025. Ryne Stanek handled a hitless eighth inning, but it now appears O'Brien has taken control of the main closer role after opening the season still ramping up from his calf injury from the spring.

Leahy (1-1) earned the win Sunday against the Tigers, allowing two runs on five hits and three walks while striking out four over five innings.

Leahy worked through traffic all afternoon, allowing at least one baserunner in every inning he worked and needing 97 pitches (54 strikes) to complete five frames. The right-hander was especially inefficient early, laboring through 48 pitches over the first two innings. However, the only damage on the scoreboard came in the third inning on a two-run homer that Kerry Carpenter lifted over the center field wall. While Leahy limited the runs Sunday, he'll need to be more efficient moving forward, especially with a matchup scheduled against Boston for his next start.

Loaisiga blew a save chance, allowing one run on three hits while striking out one over one inning Sunday against Atlanta.

Loaisiga earned another save opportunity as he entered the ninth inning with a one-run lead but immediately ran into trouble, allowing three consecutive singles, including a game-tying RBI knock from Drake Baldwin. The 31-year-old managed to regroup from there, retiring the next three batters to send the game to extra innings. The run was Loaisiga's first allowed of the season across five appearances, but the flamethrowing righty should still be trusted in high-leverage situations despite the slip-up.

Scott earned a hold against the Nationals on Sunday, allowing one hit and striking out one batter in a scoreless eighth inning.

Scott opened last season as the Dodgers' closer but had a disappointing campaign, posting a 4.74 ERA and blowing 10 of 33 save chances during the regular season. He was eventually moved out of the ninth-inning role and did not pitch during the postseason due to injury. Los Angeles brought in Edwin Diaz to close ahead of the 2026 campaign, and Scott has settled well into a setup role, as he's given up just one run while compiling a 6:0 K:BB through 4.2 frames spanning six appearances. Diaz has also performed well and has a stranglehold on save opportunities as long as he stays healthy, so the expectation is that Scott will remain a setup option throughout the campaign.

Bachman blew the save Sunday against the Mariners, allowing one run on two hits while striking out two over two innings.

Bachman entered in the eighth inning with a one-run lead and was dominant early, retiring the side on just seven pitches before returning for the ninth. The right-hander was one out away from securing the save but allowed Seattle to rally with back-to-back hits that brought in the tying run. It marked the first earned run Bachman's allowed this season across four appearances (5.2 innings), but he's now blown all three save opportunities since being recalled in July of last year.

Brash blew the save Sunday against the Angels, allowing one unearned run while striking out one in one inning.

After entering the 10th inning with a one-run lead, Brash was charged with a blown save in his first opportunity of the season, as the Angels capitalized on the extra-innings automatic runner. Following a successful bunt that moved the runner over, Logan O'Hoppe lifted a sacrifice fly to bring home the tying run. The 27-year-old has yet to allow an earned run this season and has recorded four strikeouts across his first four appearances, and though the blown save Sunday won't look good on his stat sheet, it's hardly a concern given how the run against him came about.

Baker (1-0) was credited with the win Sunday against the Twins, striking out two in a clean ninth inning.

The Rays have a pretty wide open closer competition during the early going of the season. Griffin Jax has an 11.25 ERA through his first four innings, while both Garrett Cleavinger (calf) and Edwin Uceta (shoulder) are on the injured list. That said, the door is open for Baker, who has tossed three scoreless innings with a 4:0 K:BB thus far, to at least claim more high-leverage work.

Imanaga didn't factor into the decision Sunday against the Guardians, allowing one run on three hits and one walk in five innings. He struck out four.

The left-hander found a rhythm in his second start of the season, considering he was coming off a poor season debut that saw him cough up four runs to Washington. Imanaga fired five shutout frames before coming out for the sixth inning but was pulled after giving up a leadoff double to Steven Kwan, who eventually came around to score. Imanaga sports an 11:3 K:BB over his first 10 frames of 2026, and a favorable home matchup versus the Pirates is on tap for his next start.

Williams earned his second save of the season in Sunday's 5-2 win over the Giants, allowing two hits with one strikeout in a scoreless ninth inning.

Williams has yet to allow a run this season, though he flirted with trouble Sunday by allowing a couple of ninth-inning singles. Williams struck out Jung Hoo Lee to end the game. Through four innings this season, Williams owns a 5:2 K:BB.

Abreu (0-1) took the loss Sunday against the Athletics, allowing three runs (two earned) on two hits and one walk across one-third of an inning.

Abreu came on in the bottom of the ninth with the game tied 9-9 and was able to get the final out to send it to the 10th inning. Houston scored one in the top half of the inning, and Abreu stayed on to try to close out his own win. He walked Tyler Soderstrom before allowing a three-run, walk-off homer to Brent Rooker. Abreu has allowed at least one run in all four of his appearances to open the season and now owns a hideous 23.63 ERA and 6:5 K:BB across 2.2 innings. He's already served up three home runs after allowing four all of last season. With Josh Hader (biceps) still on the injured list, Abreu appears to still be the favorite for saves in Houston, but his hold on the job has got to be loosening after four rough outings.