MLB Player News

Varland walked one and struck out one without being charged with a run in two-thirds of an inning Friday, recording his fifth hold of the season in a 3-2 win over the Orioles.

The right-hander was put in a bit of a tough spot, being brought in with nobody out and two runners on in the ninth inning to protect a 3-0 lead. Varland allowed one inherited runner to score on a sacrifice fly, and he was lifted for matchup purposes, as manager Blake Butera had southpaw Richard Lovelady face Gunnar Henderson instead, a move that nearly backfired. Varland remains the top high-leverage option in the bullpen for Washington and leads the team in both holds and saves (four), but his 4.32 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 18:6 K:BB through 16.2 innings show how much that's due to a lack of viable alternatives rather than his own performance.

Lovelady didn't allow a run but gave up a hit and a walk in one-third of an inning Friday to record his second save of the season in a 3-2 win over the Orioles. He struck out one.

Andrew Alvarez, who had already worked three scoreless innings of relief, came out for the ninth to try and complete a combined shutout, but he put the first two runners aboard before being lifted. Gus Varland then tried to close things out, but after a walk, a strikeout and a sacrifice fly, manager Blake Butera turned to Lovelady to get left-handed hitter Gunnar Henderson for the final out. Henderson instead singled home another run, but Lovelady finally fanned Adley Rutschman to escape the jam. The veteran southpaw has been more lucky than good since joining the Washington bullpen, posting a 0.82 ERA, 1.82 WHIP and 12:10 K:BB through 11 innings, but he's seen consistent high-leverage usage and has a win, two saves and three holds in 11 appearances.

Peterson is slated to pitch in bulk relief behind opener Huascar Brazoban during Saturday's game against the Yankees at Citi Field, Abbey Mastracco of the New York Daily News reports.

Peterson will work out of the bullpen for the fifth time in six appearances and for the third time in a row behind the right-handed Brazoban, who will likely work an inning or two before giving way to the lefty. The Mets have gotten far better results from Peterson while using him in relief this season and will likely continue to use him out of the bullpen when his future turns in the rotation come up. Peterson has posted an 8.10 ERA, 1.89 WHIP and 11.2 K-BB% across 23.1 innings in five starts and a 1.69 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 16.9 K-BB% across 16 innings in four relief appearances.

Littell (2-4) picked up the win in Friday's 3-2 victory over the Orioles, allowing two hits and two walks over five scoreless innings. He struck out three.

The 30-year-old right-hander put together his best performance of the season on 87 pitches (49 strikes), as Littell lasted at least five innings for the first time since April 22 and didn't serve up a homer for only the third time in nine trips to the mound. After a ghastly April, Littell has found a rhythm in May, posting a 2.13 ERA. 0.95 WHIP and 4:4 K:BB though 12.2 innings over three appearances, two of them as a bulk reliever. He'll look to keep rolling in his next turn through the rotation, which lines up to come at home next week against the Mets.

Soto was charged with his second blown save of the season Friday in an 11-9 extra-inning loss to the Phillies, giving up three runs (two earned) on two hits and two walks in the ninth inning.

With the Pirates holding an 8-5 lead, the southpaw was called in to get them across the finish line, but a Konnor Griffin error put the first batter aboard and things unraveled from there. It was the first time since April 10 that Soto has issued multiple walks, but he's been scored upon in back-to-back appearances, inflating his ERA on the season from 1.33 to 2.42 to go along with a 0.85 WHIP and 26:9 K:BB through 22.1 innings. His job security as the team's primary closing option likely didn't slip, however, as Dennis Santana failed to record an out while taking the loss in the 10th.

Lowe went 2-for-5 with two home runs and three RBI in Friday's 11-9 extra-inning loss to the Phillies.

The second baseman launched a two-run homer off Aaron Nola in the third inning before adding a solo shot off Tim Mayza in the fifth, but Kyle Schwarber and the Phillies' offense took control from there. It was Lowe's third multi-homer game of the season, and through his first 39 contests with Pittsburgh he's slashing .252/.352/.563 with 12 long balls, 26 runs and 31 RBI.

Ashcraft didn't factor into the decision in Friday's 11-9 extra-inning loss to the Phillies, giving up four runs on seven hits over 6.2 innings. He struck out five without walking a batter.

The 26-year-old righty had a quality start through six innings with the Pirates holding a 6-3 lead, but manager Don Kelly tried to coax one more frame out of Ashcraft. He got two outs after a leadoff single, but then got lifted after 100 pitches (76 strikes) and had to watch Mason Montgomery serve up a two-run shot to Kyle Schwarber, with the rest of the bullpen ultimately costing Ashcraft his third win of the year. Ashcraft will take a 3.09 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 56:14 K:BB through 55.1 innings into his next start, which is set to come on the road next week in St. Louis.

Moreno went 2-for-5 with a double, three RBI and a run scored in Friday's win over the Rockies.

Moreno kicked things off with a two-run single in the top of the first inning and later added an RBI double in the seventh. This was Moreno's second consecutive game with multiple hits, and he's beginning to show signs of ending his slump. Moreno has hit just .179 with a .522 OPS, a homer, seven RBI and 13 strikeouts across 39 at-bats this month.

Kerkering walked one and struck out one while giving up an unearned run in the 10th inning Friday to record his first save of the season in an 11-9 win over the Pirates.

With Jhoan Duran not yet pitching on back-to-back days and Brad Keller having worked Wednesday and Thursday, interim manager Don Mattingly has to get creative with his high-leverage arms. Jose Alvarado struck out the side in a scoreless ninth, and then after the Phillies rang up three runs in the top of the 10th, Kerkering got the call and allowed only the phantom runner to score. The right-hander hasn't seen much usage in key situations this season, and through 16.1 innings over 18 appearances he sports a 2.20 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 12:7 K:BB with just one win and one hold in addition to Friday's save.

Walker went 3-for-5 with a two-run home run in Friday's extra-innings win over the Royals.

Walker was one of three St. Louis players who recorded multi-hit performances, and the outfielder continues to enjoy a breakout season in 2026. This was his 13th long ball of the campaign, and he's hit safely in all but four of his 13 games in May. Walker is hitting .367 with a 1.181 OPS, four homers, 11 RBI, 11 runs scored, two stolen bases and a 7:10 BB:K across 56 plate appearances this month.