MLB Player News
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Raisel Iglesias RP | ATL
Braves' Raisel Iglesias: Clean inning in 2026 debut
Iglesias worked a scoreless ninth inning in Monday's 4-0 win over the A's. He didn't record a walk or a strikeout.
Atlanta hasn't produce a save situation yet for Iglesias, but he looked good in his first action of 2026, tossing seven of eight pitches for strikes while reaching 94.5 mph with his fastball, and the only A's hitter to reach base against him did so thanks to a Mauricio Dubon error, which quickly got erased by a double play. Iglesias has averaged 32 saves for Atlanta over the last three seasons and should have plenty of job security as a closer, but if he does falter, Robert Suarez stands as a ready replacement in the ninth.
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Martin Perez SP | ATL
Braves' Martin Perez: Won't start Tuesday
Perez is expected to be available in relief for Tuesday's game against the Athletics with Jose Suarez being named Atlanta's starter, Chad Bishop of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
After Atlanta selected Perez's contract from Triple-A Gwinnett on Monday, the veteran lefty appeared to be the most likely candidate to fill the vacant fifth spot in the rotation. Instead, manager Walt Weiss will turn to Suarez, who wasn't needed out of the bullpen in the first four games of the season. Perez will take Suarez's spot in the bullpen after joining the active roster as a replacement for Didier Fuentes, who was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett on Monday.
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Zack Littell SP | WAS
Nationals' Zack Littell: Could work in bulk relief Tuesday
Littell is a candidate to pitch in bulk relief behind opening pitcher PJ Poulin in Tuesday's game in Philadelphia, Spencer Nusbaum of The Athletic reports.
According to Nusbaum, manager Blake Butera merely grinned and said, "Poulin's starting," when asked if Littell would be involved in the Nationals' pitching plan for Tuesday, but all signs point to the right-hander making his Washington debut. After signing with Washington late in spring training, Littell built up to 2.2 innings and 64 pitches in his final Grapefruit League outing, so he likely would have been under a bit of a workload restriction if the Nationals had elected to use him as a traditional starter Tuesday. He should eventually move into the rotation once he's fully stretched out.
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Noelvi Marte 3B | CIN
Reds' Noelvi Marte: Locked in platoon
Marte has started in right field in two of the Reds' first four games, both against left-handers.
Cincinnati manager Terry Francona made comments earlier this month to Mark Sheldon of MLB.com about Marte still being relatively new to the outfield, which may partially be the reason he's on the short side of platoon with Will Benson. Marte, ironically, was much better against right-handers (.821 OPS) than lefties (.562) in 2025.
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Will Benson RF | CIN
Reds' Will Benson: Delivers run in win
Benson started in right field and went 1-for-3 with a triple and an RBI in Monday's 2-0 win over Pittsburgh.
Benson delivered the Reds' second run in the fourth inning, his first extra-base hit and RBI of the season. He's started two games in right field thus far, both against right-handers. Noelvi Marte has started against lefties.
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Emilio Pagan RP | CIN
Reds' Emilio Pagan: Unavailable for Monday's save
Pagan was one of three relief pitchers unavailable in Monday's 2-0 win over the Pirates, per Mark Sheldon of MLB.com.
With the game on the line, Cincinnati manager Terry Francona turned to Connor Phillips, who walked the first two batters before converting the save. Pagan should be available if a closer is needed Tuesday.
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Ildemaro Vargas 3B | ARI
Diamondbacks' Ildemaro Vargas: Serves as DH
Vargas went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and an additional run scored in Monday's 9-6 win over Detroit.
Vargas started at designated hitter Monday after the Diamondbacks placed Pavin Smith (elbow) on the 10-day injured list. The switch-hitting Vargas got the assignment against a right-hander, although manager Torey Lovullo typically likes to rotate bodies through the DH spot. Vargas is more experienced at second and third base, but he has played 14 games at first base during his career and could be part of the rotation there along with Carlos Santana and Tim Tawa.
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Carlos Santana 1B | ARI
Diamondbacks' Carlos Santana: Benefits from teammate's injury
Santana started at first base and went 0-for-3 with a walk in Monday's 9-6 win over the Tigers.
Santana was in the lineup against a right-hander after Pavin Smith (elbow) was placed on the 10-day injured list Monday. The switch-hitting Santana, in theory, could start against pitchers of either hand, but it's uncertain how manager Torey Lovullo wants to handle first base going forward without Smith. Tim Tawa and Ildemaro Vargas are also options. Santana is 1-for-12 through four games played in the regular season.
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Carson Benge RF | NYM
Mets' Carson Benge: Swipes second bag during win
Benge went 2-for-4 with a run scored and a stolen base in Monday's win against the Cardinals.
Benge continued his fast start to the season, collecting two hits and swiping his second stolen base of the year. The 23-year-old later came around to score in the fifth inning on an RBI single from Bo Bichette. The rookie has carried over his impressive spring, where he slashed .366/.435/.439, and is quickly establishing himself as a contributor early in his MLB career.
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Taijuan Walker SP | PHI
Phillies' Taijuan Walker: Rough start to season
Walker (0-1) suffered the loss in Monday's defeat against the Nationals, allowing seven runs (six earned) on 10 hits and three hits while striking out two in 4.2 innings of work.
Things went wrong almost immediately for Walker in his first start of 2026. He was tagged for four runs in the first inning, two in the second and one in the third, and the Phillies were down 7-0 before nine outs were recorded. The 33-year-old didn't allow seven runs in one start at all last season, so it certainly wasn't the debut that he was hoping for. His next shot at a rebound will likely come at altitude against the Rockies.