MLB Player News

Thielbar struck out two in a perfect ninth inning Saturday to record his first save of the season in a 4-2 win over the Mets.

Daniel Palencia (oblique) landed on the IL on Friday, and Thielbar got the call for the Cubs' first save chance in his absence with two left-handed hitters due up for the Mets in the ninth. While the veteran southpaw didn't end up facing either of them as New York emptied its bench for pinch hitters Tommy Pham and Tyrone Taylor, Thielbar still got the job done. It's not yet clear how Cubs manager Craig Counsell intends to navigate closing situations without Palencia, but Thielbar has staked a strong early claim to being the primary option. Through eight appearances and seven innings this season, he sports a 2.57 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 10:4 K:BB.

Jansen earned the save in the Tigers' 4-1 win over the Red Sox on Saturday, allowing one hit with no strikeouts or walks in a scoreless ninth inning.

Jansen gave up a single to Willson Contreras but needed just nine pitches to record the next three outs, earning the save against the team he suited up for in 2023 and 2024. Jansen has converted five of six save opportunities this season (including four straight) and has a 1.59 ERA and 0.88 WHIP over 5.2 innings.

Sands (0-1) took the loss Saturday, giving up one run on two hits in the ninth inning as the Twins were downed 5-4 by the Reds. He didn't walk or strike out a batter.

None of Minnesota's high-leverage relievers were particularly effective while trying to protect the 4-2 lead they got handed by Taj Bradley, and Sands got left holding the bag after allowing a pair of singles that were sandwiched around a sacrifice bunt. Sands headed into the season as the nominal favorite to close for the Twins and did convert his only save chance so far back on March 28, but since then he's collected three holds in eight appearances while posting a 4.91 ERA, 1.64 WHIP and 5:3 K:BB over 7.1 innings.

Santillan struck out two in a perfect ninth inning Saturday to record his first save of the season in a 5-4 win over the Twins.

Emilio Pagan was able to pitch Friday night after sustaining a minor hamstring strain earlier in the week and picked up up his sixth save, but he was held out Saturday afternoon while Santillan handled the ninth. Santillan has gotten better results in the early part of the season -- he has yet to allow a run in 10 innings with a 0.90 WHIP and 12:6 K:BB, compared to Pagan's 4.35 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 10:6 K:BB in 10.1 frames -- but as yet, there's been no suggestion the Reds are thinking about making a switch at closer as long as their incumbent is healthy.

Henry (shoulder) played catch Saturday, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports.

Saturday marks the first time Henry has done any sort of throwing since he landed on the injured list Monday with a right rotator cuff strain. He said afterward that he felt good while throwing and remains optimistic that his stay on the injured list will be brief.

Smith is not in the Rangers' starting lineup against Mariners right-hander George Kirby on Saturday.

Smith will be on the bench for the start of Saturday's game after going 1-for-11 with one RBI and a 2:5 BB:K over his last three outings. The righty-hitting Ezequiel Duran will start at the keystone and bat eighth.

The Phillies recalled Johnson from Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Saturday.

The 27-year-old will join the big-league bullpen to fill the void left by Jhoan Duran, who was placed on the IL with an oblique strain Saturday. Johnson gave up three earned runs over 1.2 innings during his first appearance with the Phillies this year and will likely be limited to low-leverage situations.

The Phillies placed Duran on the 15-day injured list Saturday with a left oblique strain, retroactive to Wednesday.

Duran has been dominant as the Phillies' closer to begin the year, posting a 1.35 ERA and 0.75 WHIP through 6.2 innings while tallying five saves. However, he hasn't pitched in a week due to his oblique injury and will now remain sidelined until at least April 30. Brad Keller and Jose Alvarado are the leading candidates to pick up saves while Duran is out, and Seth Johnson will come up from Triple-A to round out the bullpen.

Enns (foot) will embark on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Norfolk on Saturday, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

Enns landed on the 15-day injured list April 6 due to a left foot infection. He has recovered enough to go on a rehab assignment and shouldn't need more than a couple of outings before returning to the majors. Enns appeared in three games prior to his IL stint, allowing two runs on two hits and five walks while striking out seven across 4.1 innings.

The White Sox transferred Berroa (elbow) to the 60-day injured list Saturday.

The move makes room on the White Sox's 40-man roster for right-hander Osvaldo Bido, who was claimed off waivers Saturday from Atlanta. Berroa continues to recover from Tommy John surgery that he underwent in March of 2025. By being moved to the 60-day IL, the earliest he can make his 2026 regular-season debut is late May.