MLB Player News

Johnson gave up a hit and struck out one in a scoreless ninth inning Tuesday to record his first save of the season in a 5-2 win over the Nationals.

Raisel Iglesias was unavailable after pitching Sunday and Monday, but he's also been struggling badly of late and hasn't successfully converted a save chance since May 4. Johnson, on the other hand, reeled off his 10th straight scoreless appearance Tuesday, a stretch in which he's posted a 0.20 WHIP and 10:0 K:BB in 10 innings. While manager Brian Snitker hasn't yet indicated he's contemplating a change in the ninth inning, Johnson is making a strong case for a spot in the closing mix, at least until Iglesias rights the ship.

Schwellenbach (2-3) picked up the win Tuesday, giving up two runs on four hits and two walks over seven innings in a 5-2 victory over the Nationals. He struck out three.

He served up a leadoff homer to CJ Abrams and gave up another run before Atlanta's offense woke up in the bottom of the fourth inning, but Schwellenbach ended up cruising to a fairly comfortable win. The 24-year-old righty has produced seven quality starts in nine trips to the mound this season, and he'll take a 3.31 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 46:11 K:BB through 54.1 innings into his next outing, which is scheduled to come on the road this weekend in Boston.

Pagan (0-2) took the loss Tuesday against the White Sox, allowing four runs (three earned) on three hits and a walk while striking out one in 1.2 innings.

Pagan worked a scoreless ninth and came back out for the 10th to try and do the same. He got two quick outs to put himself in a favorable spot but couldn't quite seal the deal, as the White Sox walked, singled and homered to go up 5-1. Pagan has now given up a run in three of his last four outings and has just one save in his last five appearances. He needs one more save to reach double digits for the first time since 2019.

Abrams went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Tuesday's 5-2 loss to Atlanta.

The shortstop belted the first pitch he saw from Spencer Schwellenbach over the fence in right-center field, the 10th leadoff homer of Abrams' career. The blast snapped a 19-game power drought for the 24-year-old, but Abrams has mostly been locked in at the plate since returning from a hip injury in late April. Over his last 18 games, he's slashing .351/.415/.514 with eight extra-base hits, four steals, eight RBI and 11 runs.

Abbott allowed one run on four hits and no walks while striking out seven in six innings Tuesday against the White Sox. He did not factor into the decision.

Despite allowing just one run over six innings, Abbott exited on the hook for the loss after the Reds got blanked through eight innings. He posted his second quality start of the year and his fourth start of at least five innings. His command has been stellar of late, as he's posted a 15:0 K:BB in 11 innings over his last two starts. Abbott owns a 2.10 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 38:12 K:BB in 30 innings this season.

Soroka didn't factor into the decision in Tuesday's 5-2 loss to Atlanta, giving up two runs on four hits and a walk over four innings. He struck out four.

The right-hander made his big-league debut with Atlanta in 2018, but his first career start against his former club wasn't exactly a triumph as Soroka managed only six swinging strikes among 81 pitches (53 total strikes) before getting the hook with the score tied 2-2. In two starts since recovering from a biceps strain and returning to the Nats' rotation, Soroka has been tagged for six runs in nine innings with a 12:3 K:BB. He lines up to take the mound again this weekend on the road in Baltimore.

De La Cruz went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Tuesday's loss to the White Sox.

De La Cruz led off the bottom of the ninth with a solo home run to tie the game. That's now two home runs in the last three games for De La Cruz, who had previously gone 18 straight games without leaving the yard. Tuesday marked just the third time in his last 13 games that De La Cruz did not strike out, as his above-average strikeout tendencies have carried over from prior seasons thus far.

Baty went 2-for-3 with a solo home run in Tuesday's 2-1 win over the Pirates.

Getting the start at second base and batting eighth, Baty broke a 1-1 tie in the seventh inning when he drove a Mitch Keller changeup just over the fence in left field. Baty has been getting consistent playing time against right-handed pitching since returning to the majors earlier this month, and he's rewarded the Mets' confidence in him by going 6-for-17 (.353) with four homers and seven RBI over the last six games. The team isn't using Baty and Mark Vientos in a strict platoon at third base, but instead both players have been in the lineup in three of the last four games with Vientos getting two nods at DH. That arrangement will likely continue as long as both young hitters are swinging hot bats.

Diaz walked one and struck out one in a scoreless ninth inning Tuesday to record his ninth save of the season in a 2-1 win over the Pirates.

The final frame was more nervous than it appears from a glance at Diaz's line, as a Francisco Lindor error and stolen bases by Adam Frazier and Isiah Kiner-Falefa put runners on second and third with one out. The Mets closer was able to buckle down though, fanning Bryan Reynolds before getting Joey Bart to ground out to second base. Diaz has yet to blow a save this season despite some bumpy appearances and a career-low 96.6 mph average fastball, posting a 3.18 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 24:8 K:BB through 17 innings.

Senga came away with a no-decision in Tuesday's 2-1 win over the Pirates, allowing one run on six hits and two walks over 5.2 innings. He struck out seven.

The right-hander didn't give up a run while he was on the mound, but Senga exited the game just shy of his fourth quality start of the year after 102 pitches -- including 32 called or swinging strikes -- and saw a win slip away as well when Reed Garrett walked in the tying run after Senga exited the game. Senga still has yet to be tagged for more than two earned runs in an outing this season, and he'll take a 1.22 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 42:19 K:BB through 44.1 innings into his next start, which is scheduled to come on the road early next week in Boston.