MLB Player News

Nelson (elbow) struck out two over a scoreless inning for Single-A Visalia on Saturday.

Nelson began a rehab assignment with the Rawhide and set down the side in order in the first inning. Although he opened the season as a starter for the Diamondbacks, the club plans to have him pitch out of the bullpen over the final month of the regular season. MLB.com targets the right-hander's possible return for Friday, when the Diamondbacks begin a homestand against the Rangers.

May did not factor into the decision in Saturday's 5-3 loss to the Reds, allowing two runs on five hits and no walks with five strikeouts over 3.2 innings.

May surrendered runs in the first and fourth innings, throwing 41 of 56 pitches for strikes with an impressive 12 whiffs. The 29-year-old departed early due to a two-hour rain delay, and he's now logged just 10.1 frames over his past four starts due to a mix of poor performances and some bad luck. He'll carry a 4.69 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 127:45 K:BB across 132.1 innings with the Cardinals and Brewers into a home rematch with the Reds next weekend.

Schwarber went 2-for-3 with two walks, a home run, two runs scored and two RBI in Saturday's 4-2 win over Atlanta.

The veteran slugger gave the Phillies a 4-1 lead with a solo shot in the fourth inning that left his bat at 108.7 mph and caromed off the facing of the upper deck down the right-field line. Schwarber's 41 homers leads the majors, with the Cubs' Pete Crow-Armstrong (39) and the Rays' Junior Caminero (38) on his heels, but he also paces MLB with 199 strikeouts in 136 games as he threatens to surpass the career-high 215 Ks he piled up in 2023.

Soroka (shoulder) is expected to be activated from the 15-day injured list during Arizona's three-game series in Kansas City that begins Monday, MLB.com reports.

Soroka came out of four-inning, 59-pitch simulated game Friday without issue and is expected to join the rotation early in the week. Arizona is also expected to get Corbin Burnes (elbow) and Zac Gallen (elbow) back from the 60-day IL during the series in Kansas City, bringing the rotation back to full strength for the first time this season. Given that both Soroka and Gallen maxed out at around 60 pitches during their sim game Friday and aren't fully stretched out, the two could team up to pitch the final game of the series with the Royals on Wednesday.

Duran struck out one in a perfect ninth inning Saturday to record his 30th save of the season in a 4-2 win over Atlanta.

The right-hander hasn't blown a save chance since his last appearance in July, posting a 0.56 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 17:3 K:BB in 16 innings since the calendar flipped to August. Duran's 30 saves have him two shy of the career-high 32 he collected last season, and he's tied for third in the National League behind the Cardinals' Riley O'Brien (36) and the Padres' Mason Miller (32).

Abbott did not factor into the decision in Saturday's 5-3 win over the Brewers, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits and no walks with five strikeouts over four innings.

Abbott allowed a solo homer in the first inning but was solid through four frames before his start was shortened by a lengthy rain delay. The southpaw threw 40 of 58 pitches for strikes with six whiffs, an encouraging effort after he was tagged for seven runs by the Cubs in his Aug. 29 outing. He'll take a 4.43 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 120:70 K:BB across 152.1 innings this season into a road rematch with the Brewers next weekend.

Wheeler (12-5) collected the win in Saturday's 4-2 victory over Atlanta, allowing one run on three hits and two walks over six innings. He struck out nine.

The veteran righty made only one real mistake, which Ronald Acuna blasted 450 feet into the upper deck in left-center field during the third inning, but otherwise Wheeler was dialed in as he delivered his 14th quality start of the season. The nine Ks were Wheeler's best showing in that category since July 21, and he's won back-to-back outings after going seven straight starts without getting a W. He'll look to keep rolling in his next trip to the mound, which is set to come at home next week against the Astros.

Perez (8-9) took the loss Saturday, giving up four runs on seven hits and four walks over 3.2 innings as Atlanta was downed 4-2 by the Phillies. He struck out three.

The veteran southpaw labored through 84 pitches (49 strikes), and Perez's line could have looked a lot worse -- he left two batters aboard when he got the hook in the fourth inning, but Ray Kerr stranded the inherited runners. Perez has gone four straight starts without getting into the win column, stumbling to a 4.91 ERA, 1.96 WHIP and 14:11 K:BB in 18.1 innings with an 0-3 record during that span. He'll try to right the ship in his next outing, which lines up to come at home next weekend in a rematch with Philly as the two teams battle down the stretch for the NL East crown.

Pagan earned the save in Saturday's 5-3 win over the Brewers, allowing two hits and one walk with one strikeout in a scoreless ninth inning.

Pagan was called on to protect a two-run lead in the ninth inning and was able to work out of a bases-loaded jam to close the door. The 35-year-old has now converted 15 straight save opportunities, and he owns a 2.25 ERA over 20 second-half appearances. On the year, he's 21-for-24 in save chances with a 3.96 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 37:10 K:BB across 36.1 innings.

Stowers went 2-for-4 with a walk and a solo home run in Saturday's 6-5 loss to the Cubs.

Returning to the lineup after sitting out Friday's game as a precaution due to some hamstring tightness, Stowers took Trent Thornton deep in the seventh inning for the Marlins' final run of the night. Stowers has hit safely in his last five contests while going 8-for-20 with four extra-base hits, and over 11 games since returning in late August from a full strain of his left hamstring, he's produced a .324/.419/.649 slash line with three doubles, three homers, five runs and eight RBI.