MLB Player News

Pagan gave up two runs on two hits and a walk in the ninth inning Friday to record his 23rd save of the season in a 3-2 win over Atlanta. He struck out one.

The veteran righty almost blew a three-run lead, allowing the first three batters to reach base and watching two of them come around to score before Pagan got Jurickson Profar to ground out and end the game. Pagan has been tagged for four runs (three earned) over his last three appearances, his worst stretch since mid-May, but on the season he still sports a 3.04 ERA, 0.93 WHIP and 55:16 K:BB through 47.1 innings while converting 23 of his 26 save chances.

Singer (9-8) picked up the win in Friday's 3-2 victory over Atlanta, allowing four hits and a walk over six scoreless innings. He struck out 10.

The right-hander set a new season high in strikeouts as he generated 21 swinging strikes over 97 pitches (66 total strikes). The quality start was Singer's ninth of the year, and while he's given up three runs or fewer in five of six outings since the beginning of July, one rough start against the Nats has left him with a 4.50 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 35:8 K:BB in 30 innings over that stretch. Singer will look to stay sharp in his next trip to the mound, which is scheduled to come on the road next week in Pittsburgh.

Soto (foot) is starting in right field and batting third Friday against the Giants.

Soto was withheld from the lineup Wednesday versus the Padres after fouling a pitch off his foot during Tuesday's contest, but he's good to go for Friday's series opener versus San Francisco. The veteran outfielder has an .870 OPS this season, though he scuffled a bit at the plate in July, going 17-for-81 (.210 average) with five homers, six steals and a 28.6 percent strikeout rate.

The Phillies placed Robert on the 15-day injured list Friday, retroactive to July 30, due to a right middle finger blister.

Robert presumably suffered the injury while pitching against the White Sox on Monday, when he gave up three runs over one inning. The right-hander will be eligible to be activated in mid-August but is without an official timeline for his return.

Elder (4-8) took the loss Friday, giving up two runs on four hits and two walks over 6.2 innings as Atlanta was downed 3-2 by the Reds. He struck out five.

The right-hander pitched well and kept Cincinnati off the board until the sixth inning, though a lack of run support forced Elder to settle for his seventh quality start of the year but not a win. It was a solid rebound effort after he'd been shellacked for eight runs in 2.2 innings in his prior outing, but Elder still carries a 7.38 ERA, 1.84 WHIP and 45:24 K:BB through 50 innings since he rejoined the big-league staff at the beginning of June. Injuries will keep Elder in the rotation, but his volatility makes him a risky fantasy option heading into his next start, which lines up to come at home next week against the Marlins.

The Phillies optioned Rojas to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Friday.

The 24-year-old will unsurprisingly be the odd man out in the Phillies outfield following the acquisition of Harrison Bader on Thursday. Rojas has yet to find his footing at the plate in the big leagues this season with a .569 OPS in 172 plate appearances.

The Diamondbacks optioned English to Triple-A Reno on Friday.

The 28-year-old received a brief look as Arizona's starting first baseman after Josh Naylor was traded, but Tyler Locklear will now take over the job after being acquired Thursday in the Eugenio Suarez deal. English has gone 2-for-22 with a double and an RBI in seven MLB games this season.

The Diamondbacks optioned Garcia to Triple-A Reno on Friday.

The left-hander was called up by Arizona in late June after being acquired from Seattle in the Josh Naylor trade, and Garcia will head to Reno after giving up three runs over 1.1 frames in two appearances with the Diamondbacks. Garcia could receive another look in the big leagues down the stretch but will return to Triple-A for now.

The Diamondbacks reinstated Beeks (back) from the 15-day injured list Friday.

The left-hander landed on the shelf July 11 due to back inflammation but is ready to rejoin the Diamondbacks after one rehab outing with Triple-A Reno. Beeks has a 4.39 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 39:15 K:BB across 41 innings this season and should fill a high-leverage role for Arizona.

The Nationals recalled Ribalta from Triple-A Rochester on Friday.

The right-hander is back in the majors to fill out Washington's bullpen after the trade deadline. Ribalta has given up five earned runs with a 6:4 K:BB over 7.2 frames in the majors this season.