MLB Player News

Lee gave up a hit and struck out one in a scoreless ninth inning Friday during a 12-4 win over the Rockies.

While it seems like a low-leverage spot, Lee was warming up to handle a save chance in the ninth after Pierce Johnson had entered the game in the fifth inning and Raisel Iglesias had collected his first hold in the eighth. Atlanta tacked on five insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth to deny Lee a shot at his second save of the year, however. The southpaw has been impressive in 2025, posting a 2.10 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and 30:8 K:BB over 30 innings, and he appears to be part of a high-leverage committee at the moment with Iglesias and Johnson. Who gets saves from that group will likely come down to matchups, and who is available for any particular game.

Iglesias gave up a hit and struck out one in a scoreless eighth inning Friday to record his first hold of the season in a win over the Rockies.

The right-hander was brought in to protect a 7-4 lead and got the job done on 12 pitches (eight strikes). Iglesias hasn't collected a save since May 16, and while Atlanta manager Brian Snitker indicated over the weekend that he was no longer the team's primary closing option, he didn't say the veteran reliever would be completely removed from the late-inning mix. If Iglesias can string together a few more sharp appearances, he could reclaim the job. Dylan Lee was in line for the save opportunity Friday before Atlanta erupted for five insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth inning.

Bernal homered for the second straight game and reached base in all four plate appearances Friday at Double-A Springfield.

Bernal is putting together a breakout season at Springfield. After collecting just a .683 OPS with one home run in April, the switch-hitting catcher is slashing .351/.407/.676 with 10 home runs and 34 RBI over 29 games since the start of May. The 21-year-old also boasts an 11.8 percent walk rate and 15.5 percent strikeout rate in his first full season at the Double-A level. Between Ivan Herrera in the majors, Jimmy Crooks at Triple-A Memphis, Bernal at Springfield and Rainiel Rodriguez at Single-A Palm Beach, the Cardinals boast an enviable collection of young catching talent.

Harris went 2-for-4 with a three-run home run and a second run scored in Friday's win over the Rockies.

The center fielder homered for the second straight game and the third time in the last six contests by taking Jake Bird deep in the sixth inning. Harris' glove has kept him in the lineup despite a brutal start to the year at the plate, but he may finally be finding a groove on offense as well -- over the last eight games he's batting .313 (10-for-32) with four runs and eight RBI.

Friedl went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's 11-5 loss to the Tigers.

Friedl briefly tied the game at 1-1 with a third-inning home run. The long ball was his eighth of the season and fourth in the last seven games. Friedl may be in Comeback Player of the Year territory after an injury-marred 2024 when he posted a .690 OPS. He has career highs in average (.294), on-base percentage (.384) and OPS (.832) through 66 games.

Olson went 3-for-4 with a double, three runs scored and three RBI in Friday's win over the Rockies.

The first baseman was at the heart of a 12-run eruption by the Atlanta offense. Olson has hit safely in 13 of his last 15 games, slashing .291/.403/.527 over that stretch with two homers, 11 runs and 13 RBI as he puts a sluggish start to the season firmly behind him.

The Nationals recalled Loutos from Triple-A Rochester on Saturday.

With Andrew Chafin (hamstring) headed for the IL, Loutos will be called upon to replenish the Nationals' bullpen depth. The 26-year-old was claimed off waivers from the Dodgers on Tuesday and has given up five runs over 5.1 innings across his MLB career.

Acuna went 3-for-4 with a walk, a double, two runs scored and a stolen base in Friday's win over the Rockies.

The 27-year-old superstar has been on fire at the plate since coming off the IL in late May, slashing .375/.458/.667 with six homers in 19 games, but Friday's pilfer came on his first steal attempt of the season. Acuna was expected to run less after recovering from his latest ACL surgery, but the lack of activity on the basepaths is still a disappointment for fantasy investors given that he swiped a league-leading 73 bags in 2023. With one successful steal under his belt and his knee holding up just fine post-surgery, Acuna might begin to pick up the pace and return to being one of the preeminent five-category assets in the game.

The Nationals placed Chafin on the 15-day injured list with a right hamstring strain Saturday, retroactive to Wednesday.

Chafin has turned in a 3.18 ERA and 2.03 WHIP across 11.1 innings since joining the Nationals in May, but he hasn't appeared in a game since Sunday due to his hamstring. He'll now be sidelined until at least late June, and Ryan Loutos will come up from Triple-A to fill the opening in Washington's bullpen.

The Cardinals plan to activate Walker (wrist) from the 10-day injured list Tuesday, at the latest, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Walker went 3-for-4 with three RBI in his second rehab game with Triple-A Memphis on Friday. The Cardinals have an off day looming Monday before starting a series in Chicago against the White Sox on Tuesday. While Walker is most likely to return to the lineup Tuesday, it sounds like the club hasn't ruled out activating him before the end of its series in Milwaukee this weekend. Walker has been sidelined since late May with left wrist inflammation.