MLB Player News

Bender walked one and struck out one in a scoreless ninth inning Saturday during a 4-0 win over Atlanta.

While it wasn't a save situation, it was still another sign that the right-hander is viewed as the best high-leverage option in the bullpen right now by the Marlins. Calvin Faucher, Bender's main competition for closing duties, recorded the final two outs of the eighth Saturday. Bender hasn't given up a run in four appearances to begin the season, but his 2:2 K:BB in 3.2 innings has been far from dominant.

The Pirates recalled Shugart from Triple-A Indianapolis on Sunday.

He'll join the big-league bullpen as a replacement for Colin Holderman (knee), who was placed on the 15-day injured list Sunday. Shugart, who made his big-league debut with Boston in 2024, is likely to work in lower-leverage spots.

The Pirates placed Holderman on the 15-day injured list Sunday due to a right knee sprain, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Pittsburgh recalled right-hander Chase Shugart from Triple-A Indianapolis to replace Holderman in the bullpen. After the Pirates surprisingly optioned David Bednar to Triple-A on Tuesday, Holderman looked like a candidate to factor into the mix for saves, but his knee injury likely leaves Dennis Santana as the top choice for any closing situations that emerge in the short term. Holderman had struggled through his first five appearances before getting injured, yielding five earned runs on six hits and four walks over 4.2 innings.

The Rockies optioned Blalock to Triple-A Albuquerque on Sunday.

With Austin Gomber (shoulder) on the shelf to begin the season, Blalock headed into Opening Day as the Rockies' presumptive No. 5 starter. However, a few off days early on in the team's schedule allowed the Rockies to get by with a four-man rotation, and Blalock ended up making a pair of relief appearances over the team's first eight games. The Rockies will break in a fifth member of the rotation for Sunday's game against the Athletics, but it won't be Blalock who gets the nod. Instead, he'll head to Triple-A to clear room on the active roster for prized pitching prospect Chase Dollander, whose contract was selected from Albuquerque. Blalock will get stretched back out as a starter at Albuquerque after covering two innings Saturday in his most recent relief appearance.

Cantillo struck out two over 2.1 scoreless and hitless innings in Saturday's 10-4 loss to the Angels.

Cantillo had his best outing of the season, retiring all seven batters he faced in a low-leverage situation. The 25-year-old left-hander, who was moved to the bullpen after losing out on a bid for the rotation, had allowed five runs (one earned) on five hits and three walks over his first three innings.

Casparius notched a hold against the Phillies on Saturday, striking out one batter in two perfect innings.

Casparius entered the game in the sixth frame and breezed through two perfect innings on 23 pitches (15 strikes). The 26-year-old has taken up a prominent place in the Dodgers' bullpen early in the season -- he leads the team's relievers with seven innings of work and is tied for the club lead with three holds. Casparius has excelled in his role thus far, as he has yet to allow an earned run and has a 7:2 K:BB while surrendering just three hits.

McKenzie allowed three runs on three hits, four walks and a wild pitch Saturday while striking out three over 1.2 innings in a 10-4 loss to the Angels.

Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt hoped the right-hander could provide some length after starter Tanner Bibee was chased with none out in the fifth inning, but McKenzie did nothing to quiet the Angels. The Guardians have been waiting for the 27-year-old to rediscover his 2022 form (2.96 ERA as a starter), but to no avail. He was moved to the bullpen after a rocky Cactus League season in which he allowed 10 runs, 15 hits and eight walks over 13 innings.

Banda (3-0) picked up the win against Philadelphia on Saturday, pitching one perfect inning.

Roki Sasaki logged another short outing (four-plus innings) for Los Angeles, and Banda took over in the fourth with a pair of runners on base and nobody out. He managed to escape the jam with the help of some poor Phillies baserunning -- after J.T. Realmuto advanced to third on a flyout, Bryson Stott was thrown out at first for a double play on another flyball that would have easily scored Realmuto. Still, it was another effective performance for Banda, who has pitched five scoreless frames over five outings to begin the campaign. He leads MLB with three wins, though given the unpredictable nature of reliever victories, that doesn't mean much for fantasy purposes.

Walker earned a save against the Mariners on Saturday, allowing one hit and striking out one batter in one scoreless inning.

Walker was called upon to protect a ninth-inning, three-run lead, and he did so successfully while working around a one-out single. A back injury kept the right-hander out of action for a few days just after Opening Day, but Walker has bounced back nicely by picking up two saves so far in April. Camilo Doval has registered two saves of his own for San Francisco this season, but Walker remains the team's primary closer, with Doval filling the ninth-inning role on days when Walker is unavailable.

Jackson allowed one hit across a scoreless ninth inning to record the save Saturday against the Rays.

Jackson was called upon to maintain a two-run lead, and he did so comfortably. The only hit he allowed was an infield single with two outs, and he has now successfully converted five consecutive save chances. Jackson has also maintained a 5:2 K:BB across 5.1 frames on the season.