MLB Player News

The Pirates optioned Sanders to Triple-A Indianapolis on Sunday, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

The right-hander was called up from Triple-A on Friday and made his season debut Saturday against the Rays, but he'll head back to the minors after surrendering to four runs over two-thirds of an inning. Wilber Dotel will take Sanders' place in Pittsburgh's bullpen.

The Pirates recalled Dotel from Triple-A Indianapolis on Sunday, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

The 23-year-old has surrendered 10 earned runs with a 13:7 K:BB over 14.1 innings to begin the season with Indianapolis, but he'll get his first opportunity in the major leagues anyway. Dotel was working out of the rotation at Triple-A but will shift to the bullpen to provide some depth for the Pirates after Saturday's 13-inning loss to the Rays.

The Nationals recalled Alvarez from Triple-A Rochester on Sunday.

The left-hander has a 4.66 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 27:10 K:BB across 19.1 frames in four starts for Rochester and will now get a look in the big-league bullpen. The Nationals are starting PJ Poulin as an opener Sunday before turning to primary pitcher Miles Mikolas, after which Alvarez could be called upon to provide some more length.

Mikolas is scheduled to work in bulk relief behind opening pitcher PJ Poulin in Sunday's game against the Giants, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports.

The Nationals will pair Mikolas with Poulin for a second straight turn through the rotation. After turning in a 12.41 ERA, 2.35 WHIP and 11:7 K:BB in 12.1 innings over his first three starts this season, Mikolas didn't fare dramatically better coming out of the bullpen Tuesday, as the Pirates tagged him for three earned runs on three hits and two walks across 3.1 innings. Despite the favorable matchup against a weak Giants offense, Mikolas hasn't provided reason for fantasy managers to include him in lineups with any level of confidence.

Poulin will serve as the Nationals' opening pitcher for Sunday's game against the Giants, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports.

Poulin will draw his third start of the season as an opener, again working in front of Miles Mikolas. The Nationals rode the Poulin-Mikolas pairing to a win over the Pirates on Tuesday, though the two pitchers combined to allow four earned runs over 4.1 innings. Poulin is unlikely to pitch more than an inning or two Sunday before turning the game over to the veteran right-hander.

The Brewers list Harrison (wrist/knee) as their probable starter for Tuesday's series opener in Detroit.

Harrison had been lined up to make a start this weekend in Miami, but the Brewers ended up pushing the southpaw back in their pitching schedule while he continued to tend to a sore left wrist and knee discomfort coming out of his previous outing April 11. Per MLB.com, Harrison completed a bullpen session Saturday, and with the 24-year-old apparently checking out fine following the workout, he'll be cleared to rejoin the rotation. Milwaukee called up Coleman Crow to make a spot start Friday in Harrison's stead, but Crow has since been optioned back to Triple-A Nashville.

Marquez took a no-decision Saturday against the Angels, allowing no runs on two hits and two walks in 5.2 innings. He struck out eight.

The veteran right-hander put together his longest outing of the year in what was also arguably his finest effort of 2026 so far. He surrendered a season-low two hits while also matching a season high in punchouts. Marquez has worked his way back into fantasy relevance following a couple of tough seasons in Colorado, posting a respectable 3.86 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 15:6 K:BB over 18.2 innings for the Padres this year. His next start tentatively projects to come versus Arizona.

Keller walked one in a hitless and scoreless ninth inning Saturday in a loss to Atlanta. He struck out one.

Considering closer Jhoan Duran (oblique) hit the injured list Saturday, Keller's usage in the ninth inning of a 3-1 game is noteworthy. Duran will miss at least two weeks of action, and Keller appears initially to be worthy of a speculative add for fantasy managers in search of saves. Keller has four holds through his first 8.2 innings, registering a 4.15 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 9:3 K:BB.

Feltner took a no-decision Saturday against the Dodgers, allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits and one walk in 5.2 innings. He struck out five.

Considering the daunting task at hitter-friendly Coors Field, Feltner certainly held his own versus a vaunted Dodgers lineup. Despite giving up three extra-base hits (two home runs), the right-hander worked his longest outing of the campaign and fanned a season-high five. Despite the positive showing Saturday, Feltner still doesn't shape up as a recommended fantasy option in his next scheduled start at home versus the Padres while carrying a 6.00 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 14:7 K:BB over 18 frames.

Sheehan took a no-decision Saturday against the Rockies, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks in five innings. He struck out four.

Given the tough environment for pitchers at Coors Field, Sheehan managed to deliver a solid outing Saturday and kept the ball in the yard for the first time this year. After giving up eight runs over his first nine innings of the season, the right-hander is starting to find more of a rhythm while surrendering five runs across his last 11 frames. Sheehan still owns a disappointing 5.85 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 18:8 K:BB through 20 innings overall, but he'll be looking to build off Saturday's showing next weekend against the Cubs.