MLB Player News

Bednar (save) picked up the save against the Marlins on Friday in a 4-3 win but allowed two runs on one hit and one walk. He recorded one strikeout.

Bednar took the loss on Opening Day for Pittsburgh and nearly cost his club again. The 30-year-old entered the ninth inning with a comfortable 4-1 lead but immediately walked Matt Mervis before Otto Lopez took the first pitch he saw and redirected it 418 feet over the center field wall to get the Marlins within one run. Bednar then retired the next three batters, preserving the 4-3 win. It's indeed been a rough start to 2025 for the two-time All-Star, who struggled to a 5.77 ERA last season. If he can't find his way, he may be in jeopardy of losing save opportunities.

Gillispie (0-1) surrendered four runs (three earned) on four hits in five innings, with four punchouts and four walks while taking the loss to the Pirates on Friday.

Making his first career start in the show, Gillispie kept the Pirates off the board through three innings and was pitching well, but the tide turned in the fourth inning. The 27-year-old issued back-to-back walks to Oneil Cruz and Joey Bart before veteran Andrew McCutchen delivered an RBI double to left, which scored Cruz. Bart would come around to score on a sacrifice fly a few batters later, and the righty allowed a two-run homer to Cruz an inning later. Gillispie had just eight career innings under his belt before this outing and is filling in for injured Marlins starters Edward Cabrera (finger) and Ryan Weathers (forearm). He is tentatively scheduled to pitch next week against the Mets.

Keller (1-0) picked up the win Friday against the Marlins, striking out four over six innings of work while allowing five hits, one walk and one run.

Keller was in control for the most part and picked up a quality start. The 28-year-old retired 10 Marlins in a row at one point before allowing his only run of the outing, an RBI double off the bat of Graham Pauley. Keller posted a respectable 4.25 ERA to go with a 1.30 WHIP in 2024 and begins 2025 as Pittsburgh's No. 2 starter. The right-hander is lined up for a road start against the Rays his next time out.

McMahon went 3-for-3 with a double, two singles and a walk in a 3-2 loss to the Rays on Friday.

The third baseman was a problem for Tampa pitching and should benefit from hitting behind Brenton Doyle and Ezequiel Tovar in the Colorado lineup. McMahon has hit 20-plus homers every year since 2019 -- except for the pandemic-shortened 2020 season in which he hit nine in 52 games.

Vodnik (0-1) allowed a solo home run over one inning and took the loss Friday against the Rays as the Rockies fell 3-2. He struck out one.

Vodnik is a candidate to close games out for the Rockies, but his 2025 debut will do him no favors in winning that role. Outfielder Kameron Misner jumped on the first pitch he saw from Vodnik and sent it over the fence in right for a walk-off winner for the Rays in their first game at Steinbrenner Field. Vodnik had nine saves in 2024 but also blew six save chances.

Freeland didn't factor into the decision Friday against the Rays, striking out seven and giving up two hits across six scoreless innings.

Freeland needed just 67 pitches to record 18 outs but was pulled after six innings as he builds up his pitch at the start of the season. The left-hander attacked the strike zone with 53 of his 67 offerings going for strikes. Freeland would like to forget his 2024 campaign in which he produced a bloated 5.24 ERA (his highest since 2019), and this was a great way to begin. His bullpen let him down late, however, costing him the win as the Rockies fell 3-2. Freeland is tentatively lined up for a tough matchup on the road at Philadelphia next week.

Amaya is not in the Cubs' starting lineup against the Diamondbacks on Friday.

Amaya drove in five runs during Thursday's 10-6 win over Arizona. He'll get a break Friday while Carson Kelly serves behind home plate and bats ninth against Diamondbacks right-hander Merrill Kelly.

Allen is starting at shortstop and batting eighth against the Padres on Friday.

Allen didn't see the field on Opening Day, but he'll get his first start of the 2025 season Friday while Orlando Arcia retreats to the dugout. Allen appeared in 41 regular-season games for the Athletics in 2024 and slashed .175/.216/.247 with one home run and four RBI across 105 plate appearances before being traded to Atlanta in November.

Kershaw (toe/knee) will face live hitters Saturday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Saturday will mark the first time Kershaw has thrown against a live opponent since undergoing surgeries on his left knee and left big toe during the offseason. The Dodgers are going to progress the veteran lefty through his rehab slowly, but if all goes according to plan, he'll be able to head out on a rehab assignment by the end of May.

Arcia is not in Atlanta's starting lineup against San Diego on Friday.

Arcia started at shortstop on Opening Day and went 1-for-4 with two strikeouts. He'll begin Friday's contest in the dugout while Nick Allen gets the start at shortstop and bats eighth against Padres right-hander Dylan Cease.