MLB Player News

Ferrer gave up a hit and struck out one in a scoreless eighth inning Friday to record his third hold of the season in a 7-4 win over the Marlins.

The 25-year-old southpaw has been one of the Nationals' primary setup men to begin the season, and Ferrer is already halfway to the career-high six holds he pocketed in 2024. While his 5.40 ERA and 1.80 WHIP through 6.2 innings aren't impressive, Ferrer's 8:2 K:BB might offer a better glimpse of how effective he's been. He's also been the victim of some bad luck in the early going with a .429 BABIP and 63.5 LOB%, both of which have plenty of room for regression to friendlier rates.

Sims (1-0) walked two in a scoreless seventh inning Friday to collect the win in a 7-4 victory over the Marlins.

The veteran right-hander entered the game with the Nationals down 4-2, but Sims was still the pitcher of record when Washington took the lead for good in the top of the eighth. Sims has seen a heavy workload so far, appearing in nine of the Nats' first 13 games, and he hasn't exactly impressed with a 7.11 ERA, 1.89 WHIP and 5:5 K:BB over 6.1 innings. He's also picked up a hold in addition to Friday's win, but he seems a long way from getting regular high-leverage work.

The Cardinals placed Winn on the 10-day injured list Saturday due to lower-back spasms, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Winn believed he wouldn't need to spend time on the IL after exiting Friday's game early because of his back, but evidently, the Cardinals' front office disagreed. If his injury truly is minor, he should have a good chance to be activated when eligible April 22. Until then, Thomas Saggese will start regularly at shortstop. Winn's move to the injured list opens a roster spot for Nolan Gorman (hamstring), who was activated from the IL in a corresponding move.

Lowe (illness) collected three RBI with a bases-loaded, pinch-hit double in Friday's win over the Marlins.

The first baseman was held out of the starting lineup due to an illness, but Lowe looked plenty fit when he came to the plate in the eighth inning and put the Nationals in the lead for good with a two-bagger into the left-field corner off Anthony Bender. Through his first 13 games with Washington, the 29-year-old is slashing .261/.320/.543 with three homers and 12 RBI.

Vientos went 0-for-4 with a walk and a strikeout in Friday's win over the A's.

After a breakout 2024, Vientos has stumbled out of the gates this season with a .109/.241/.152 slash line, zero homers and only one RBI through his first 54 plate appearances. The 25-year-old is showing signs of finding his timing at the plate, however -- he's reached base nine times in the last six games with six walks and three hits, although all three knocks have been singles.

Bachar walked one in a scoreless inning of relief Friday to record his third hold of the season in a 7-4 loss to the Nationals.

The 29-year-old righty continues to have trouble finding the plate consistently -- he's got a 7:6 K:BB through nine innings this season -- but Bachar has mostly avoided paying for it, posting a 2.00 ERA and 0.78 WHIP. He's appeared in seven of the Marlins' first 13 games, and the team's bullpen is enough of a mess that Bachar could work his way into the high-leverage mix despite stuff that would be better suited in middle relief.

Veneziano recorded his third hold of the season in Friday's loss to the Nationals, getting charged with two runs on one hit and one walk over one-third of an inning.

The southpaw recorded the final out of the seventh inning and then came back out for the eighth, but after putting the first two hitters aboard in the frame, Veneziano was lifted for Anthony Bender, who proceeded to let both inherited runners come around to score. As the only lefty in the Miami bullpen, Veneziano has appeared in seven of the team's first 13 games, posting a 6.23 ERA and 5:3 K:BB over 4.1 innings.

Bender (1-1) was charged with a blown save and a loss Friday as the Marlins fell to the Nationals, giving up one run on two hits and a walk in the eighth inning. He struck out one.

The Marlins' bullpen squandered a 4-2 lead over the final two frames in an eventual 7-4 loss, with Bender throwing most of the gas on the fire. After Anthony Veneziano put the first two hitters aboard to begin the eighth, Bender got the call and walked the bases loaded before serving up a one-out double to Nathaniel Lowe that cleared the bases. The run was the first charged to Bender in 6.1 innings this season, but his 3:3 K:BB has been far from dominant. Calvin Faucher hasn't pitched since Tuesday and might be in line to get Miami's next save chance, although his 8.31 ERA and 3:4 K:BB over 4.1 innings don't make him an appealing high-leverage option right now either.

Bailey isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Yankees, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Bailey will get a breather Saturday after going 1-for-3 with an RBI in Friday's series opener. Sam Huff will do the catching for Jordan Hicks instead and bat eighth.

Yastrzemski went 1-for-3 with a double, a walk and two runs scored during Friday's 9-1 rain-shortened win over the Yankees.

Yastrzemski hit leadoff for the first time this season, knocking a double into right field before coming around to score in the first inning. The veteran outfielder has recorded at least one hit in six straight games, including a double in each of his last three. Yastrzemski has been stellar to begin the season and currently ranks fifth in the National League in batting average. The 34-year-old is slashing .343/.465/.600 with three home runs, two doubles and six RBI across 43 plate appearances.