MLB Player News

Soto (2-0) earned the win in relief Saturday against the Brewers after tossing a scoreless ninth inning, striking out one.

Soto needed 14 pitches (nine strikes) to get the job done in the bottom of the ninth inning, and he was credited with the win after the Pirates scored three runs in the top of the 10th. It was a bounce-back performance after the lefty surrendered two earned runs in his previous outing Wednesday Soto has posted eight scoreless outings over his last nine appearances and owns an excellent 1.98 ERA over 13.2 innings in 2026. He and Dennis Santana should continue to split closing duties for Pittsburgh.

Cruz (2-0) earned the win over the Astros on Saturday after not allowing a run over two-thirds of an inning, walking one and striking out two.

Cruz recorded the final two outs of the sixth inning. Even though he walked Jose Altuve as soon as he entered the game, he bounced back by striking out Christian Walker and Yainer Diaz. Cruz had given up at least one run in his previous two relief appearances, so this was a nice bounce-back performance for the right-hander. Still, given his recent inconsistencies and the role he's filling in the bullpen right now, his fantasy upside is limited.

Ragans (1-4) earned the win Saturday against the Angels, striking out 11 and allowing one run on five hits and no walks over six innings

Ragans earned his first win of the season Saturday while posting his third quality start of the campaign, and he achieved this by punching out a season-high 11 batters. Ragans has a 5.00 ERA in 27 innings this year, although that ERA is inflated by his previous start, during which he allowed seven runs across 4.1 innings against the Yankees. Ragans will try to keep it rolling in his next start, which should be scheduled for next weekend on the road against the Mariners.

Varland blew the save Saturday against the White Sox, allowing no runs on one hit and no walks in the eighth inning. He struck out one.

Although it was Varland who was charged with the blown save, both of Chicago's two runs scored in the eighth frame went against Mitchell Parker, who allowed back-to-back baserunners to open the inning. Varland has been working his way into a tandem at closer with Clayton Beeter, and Saturday's showing shouldn't affect his status in the Nationals' bullpen. Through 10.1 innings, Varland has a 3.48 ERA, 1.55 WHIP and 12:3 K:BB while converting two his four save chances.

Latz earned the save in Saturday's 4-3 win over the Athletics, striking out one in a perfect ninth inning.

Latz was called upon to protect a one-run lead in the ninth inning and did so on 14 pitches. Jakob Junis, who had appeared to be the Rangers' preferred option for saves, was used in the eighth. The 30-year-old Latz owns a 1.23 ERA, 0.48 WHIP and 13:3 K:BB across 14.2 innings with one save and two holds, and it appears manager Skip Schumaker will operate with a ninth-inning committee for the time being.

Miller threw a perfect ninth inning to earn the save in Saturday's 6-4 win over the Diamondbacks. He did not record a strikeout.

Miller was summoned to protect a two-run lead in the ninth and did so on 13 pitches. According to AJ Cassavell of MLB.com, the right-hander now holds the Padres' record for the longest regular-season scoreless streak at 34.2 innings, which ranks eighth in major-league history among relievers. Of that stretch, 13.1 frames have come in 2026, and Miller is a perfect 10-for-10 in save chances with a 0.38 WHIP and a ridiculous 27:2 K:BB to open the campaign.

Scholtens will operate in a bulk-relief role in Sunday's series finale against the Twins, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

The Rays will opt to use Griffin Jax as the opening pitcher for the contest, with Jax likely to work the first inning or two before turning the ball over to Scholtens. Scholtens made his first start of the season against the Reds this past Monday, when he took the loss after allowing five runs while striking out six across 5.2 innings without issuing a walk. The 32-year-old right-hander has a 2.93 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 13:3 K:BB across 15.1 innings with Tampa Bay this season.

Jax will serve as the Rays' opener for Sunday's series finale against the Twins, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Jesse Scholtens was originally slated to start in Sunday's game, but he'll instead follow Jax in bulk relief. Jax has given up at least one earned run in two of his last three outings and has an 8.00 ERA, 1.89 WHIP two holds and a 10:7 K:BB across nine innings this season.

O'Brien (3-1) blew the save and took the loss Saturday as the Cardinals fell 11-9 to the Mariners, giving up two runs on four hits and a walk in an inning of work. He struck out one and also hit a batter with a pitch.

There weren't many St. Louis pitchers who had success Saturday, and O'Brien wasn't immune to the malaise. The right-hander entered the game in the eighth inning with one out and runners on second and third to protect a 9-7 lead, but a Connor Joe single tied things up and stuck O'Brien with his second blown save of the year in nine chances. He then came back out for the ninth and loaded the bases before a Leo Rivas single put Seattle in front for good. The earned runs on O'Brien's ledger were his first of 2026, and despite the stumble he still boasts a 1.26 ERA, 0.77 WHIP and 16:1 K:BB through 14.1 innings.

Munoz walked one and struck out one in a scoreless ninth inning Saturday to record his fifth save of the season in an 11-9 win over the Cardinals.

The right-hander fired only seven of his 14 pitches for strikes, but Munoz escaped taking any damage after a leadoff walk by getting Nathan Church to ground into a double play. Munoz has blown only one save chance so far this season, but a couple shaky appearances have left him with a 6.55 ERA and 1.45 WHIP through 11 innings despite an 18:6 K:BB. Should he falter enough as Seattle's closer, Matt Brash -- who picked up the win Saturday -- has yet to allow an earned run in 2026 and would be the next man up.