MLB Player News

Soriano (5-0) allowed two hits and four walks while striking out eight over 5.2 shutout innings to earn the win Friday over the Padres.

Soriano fell short of a quality start for the first time this season, but he's still picked up a win in all five outings so far. The four walks matched his season high from Opening Day versus the Astros, but that's about the only complaint to be had with his performance. The right-hander has a tiny 0.28 ERA, 0.73 WHIP and 39:13 K:BB across 32.2 innings so far. The walk rate is a concern in the long run, but he's consistently shown an ability to limit home runs as a groundball pitcher. He'll see his luck fade at some point, but he looks like the Angels' clear ace early in 2026. Soriano is tentatively projected to make his next start at home versus the Blue Jays.

Waldron (0-1) allowed six runs on eight hits, a walk and a hit batsman over 3.2 innings Friday, taking the loss versus the Angels. He struck out four.

Waldron missed time due to hemorrhoid surgery in late February. The knuckleballer didn't have success in his major-league season debut as the Angels got to him in the second and fourth innings. The right-hander was limited to just one big-league start in 2025, allowing four runs over 4.2 innings, and he pitched to a 6.67 ERA over 82.1 innings across 18 starts with Triple-A El Paso last year. There's an opening in the Padres' rotation with Nick Pivetta (elbow) on the shelf, but it's not yet clear if Waldron will be the one to fill it on a permanent basis.

Arenado went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and a second RBI in Friday's 6-3 win over the Blue Jays.

Arenado has recorded a trio of multi-hit efforts over his last four games, a span that also includes all three of his homers this season. The third baseman is still batting just .224 on the year, adding a .605 OPS, 11 RBI, seven runs scored and a double over 18 contests. Arenado is handling a starting role at the hot corner but is not off to a particularly strong start in 2026, which suggests he may struggle to rebound from his career-low .666 OPS from 2025 with the Cardinals.

Sewald struck out one in a perfect inning to earn the save in Friday's 6-3 win over the Blue Jays.

Sewald's been excellent in save situations this season, pitching seven scoreless innings to come away with seven saves in as many attempts. He's struggled outside of closing duties, allowing three runs (two earned) over 1.1 innings across his three other appearances this season, two of which have resulted in him taking a loss. Overall, he still looks locked in as the Diamondbacks' closer with a 2.16 ERA, 0.48 WHIP and 11:0 K:BB through 8.1 innings.

Soroka (4-0) allowed two runs on five hits and struck out five without walking a batter over seven innings to earn the win Friday over the Blue Jays.

Soroka had his longest outing of the season so far, throwing 67 of 94 pitches for strikes. The 28-year-old gave up a solo home run to light-hitting Myles Straw in the sixth inning but still had enough in the tank to finish strong. Soroka's start to his Arizona tenure couldn't be going much better -- he's at a 2.78 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 28:6 K:BB over 22.2 innings across four starts. He'll look to keep rolling next week in a start projected to come against the White Sox, one of his former teams.

The Dodgers are expected to recall Ward from Triple-A Oklahoma City on Saturday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Ward first reached the Triple-A level in 2023 and has seen his OPS increase in every season he's been at Oklahoma City. After beginning the 2026 campaign by slashing .324/.432/.588 through 81 plate appearances, the 28-year-old will finally get the call to join the big-league roster for the first time. He's spent most of his time in the outfield throughout his professional career but has primarily played at first base this season. It's unlikely he sees regular playing time with the Dodgers, but he could make an occasional start if Freddie Freeman, Teoscar Hernandez or Kyle Tucker need a day off.

Sugano (1-1) took the loss Friday against the Dodgers, allowing five runs on nine hits and two walks with three strikeouts across four innings.

Sugano entered Friday with a 2.16 ERA across his first three starts with the Rockies, but the Dodgers' potent offense was able to tag him early and often in this one. Los Angeles scored in all four innings Sugano pitched Friday. Max Muncy's solo shot in the second was the fifth homer Sugano has surrendered this season, and three of those have come away from Coors Field. Sugano's numbers are still overstating his case, as his 5.39 FIP coming into Friday suggested some regression was coming for the right-hander. Sugano now owns a 3.92 ERA and 15:5 K:BB across 20.2 innings. He's slated to face the Padres at Coors next week.

Freeman went 2-for-4 with a double, a walk and a run scored in Friday's 7-1 win over the Rockies.

A doubles machine, Freeman doubled in the top of the first inning for his seventh two-bagger of the young season. Freeman has led the league in doubles four times in his career. The 36-year-old is now slashing .282/.341/.487 with three home runs, 14 RBI, nine runs scored and a 6:10 BB:K across 85 plate appearances.

Smith went 2-for-4 with two RBI and one run scored in Friday's 7-1 win over the Rockies.

Smith drove Shohei Ohtani home with a sacrifice fly in the top of the first and then singled in his next two trips to the plate. Smith has now hit safely in seven of his last eight games, though he has just one extra-base hit this month and hasn't homered since the third game of the season. Smith is slashing .300/.377/.417 with two home runs, 10 RBI, nine runs scored and an 8:11 BB:K across 69 plate appearances.

Muncy went 3-for-4 with two solo home runs, a double, three RBI and two runs scored in Friday's 7-1 win over the Rockies.

Muncy took Tomoyuki Sugano deep in the second inning before tagging Zach Agnos for another solo shot in the top of the fifth. It was Muncy's second multi-homer games in the last six days, and the veteran now has six long balls on the year. Muncy is slashing .254/.338/.556 with seven RBI, 14 runs scored and an 8:24 BB:K across 71 plate appearances. Muncy has homered or struck out in 42.3 percent of his trips to the plate.