MLB Player News

Smith went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Saturday's 3-2 win against Arizona.

It was a big day for the All-Star catcher, who not only celebrated his 31st birthday but also was the subject of a bobblehead giveaway at Dodger Stadium. After failing to reach base in his first three plate appearances, Smith came through in the clutch, smacking a two-run homer with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning to flip a one-run deficit into a one-run lead. Smith's 2025 campaign concluded with a game-winning homer in Game 7 of the World Series, and he's off to a fast start in 2026, slashing .273/.273/.818 with two long balls and five RBI through three games.

Rodriguez allowed one unearned run on four hits and two walks while striking out five batters over five-plus innings in a no-decision against the Dodgers on Saturday.

Rodriguez faced a loaded Dodgers lineup and didn't back down, getting through five frames without being scored upon. He faced one batter in the sixth and was let down by his defense, as Kyle Tucker reached on a fielding error and later came around to score following Rodriguez's exit. Though the veteran hurler wasn't able to secure the win, this was nonetheless a very promising 2026 debut on the heels of a strong finish to the 2025 campaign, when he posted a 4-1 record with a 2.80 ERA and 1.22 WHIP over his final six starts. It's far too early to tab Rodriguez as having a career resurgence, but after he registered an ERA north of 5.00 both of the past two campaigns, fantasy managers who remember his strong 2023 regular season (3.30 ERA, 1.15 WHIP over 26 starts) may want to keep an eye on his next few outings.

Diaz earned the save against the Diamondbacks on Saturday with a perfect inning of work.

The Dodgers took their first lead with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning, giving Diaz an opportunity for his second save. The star reliever wasn't overpowering -- all three of the outs he recorded came on flyouts, and Diaz didn't get any swinging strikes -- but he was nonetheless able to slam the door shut on 10 pitches. With Los Angeles humming to a 3-0 start and Diaz the team's clear-cut closer, he's a logical pick to be among MLB's save leaders throughout the campaign.

Glasnow allowed two runs on four hits and one walk while striking out six batters over six innings in a no-decision against Arizona on Saturday.

Glasnow was a little shaky early in the outing, yielding two runs on four hits over his first three innings. However, he settled down after that, allowing just one baserunner (on a walk) across his final three frames. The Dodgers were unable to generate much offense while he was in the game, but a late Will Smith two-run homer took Glasnow off the hook for the loss. Overall, the veteran right-hander threw 57 of 90 pitches for strikes and was able to give fantasy managers a quality start. He's lined up to next face the Nationals on the road.

Miller earned a save against the Tigers on Saturday, striking out two batters and walking one over a scoreless and hitless inning.

Miller inherited a 3-0 lead in the ninth inning, though he may have felt a bit more pressure than usual under such circumstances with San Diego chasing its first victory of the season. The right-hander issued a two-out walk, but he otherwise looked dominant, throwing 12 of 18 pitches for strikes and recording two punchouts. Miller posted a combined 50 saves and averaged a robust 14.8 K/9 over the past two regular seasons, so it's no surprise that he's considered one of baseball's (and fantasy's) top closers.

Vasquez (1-0) earned the win over Detroit on Saturday, pitching six scoreless innings and allowing two hits and three walks while striking out eight batters.

San Diego's offense remained mostly stagnant, but Vasquez made sure that didn't matter by blanking the Tigers over his six frames. The right-hander also had his swing-and-miss stuff working, notching 13 whiffs and eight punchouts. The latter total was more than Vasquez had in all but one of his 28 outings last season, and he promisingly averaged 95.0 mph on his fastball after averaging 93.4 mph on the pitch last year. If he's able to maintain the uptick in velocity and build on Saturday's excellent start, Vasquez could prove to be a fantasy steal for managers who selected him near the end of drafts or plucked him off the waiver wire.

Soto walked one and struck out three across 1.1 scoreless innings Saturday against the Mets.

Soto has appeared in each of Pittsburgh's first two games of the season and has racked up five strikeouts across 2.1 innings of work. He entered the game with two outs in the seventh inning and also worked around a leadoff walk to complete the eighth frame. Soto could figure into save chances this season, though Dennis Santana did follow him into the game in the ninth inning on Saturday.

Santana allowed one walk but no hits across one scoreless inning in Saturday's game against the Rockies.

Santana has pitched in both of Pittsburgh's games to begin 2026, and he has yet to allow an earned run. His usage Saturday was particularly notable, as he entered the game in the ninth inning with the score knotted at 0-0. Manager Don Kelly noted shortly before the new season began that Santana may not get every save chance, though Santana's clearly still a high-leverage arm for the Pirates and should work in plenty of save situations.

Doyle went 0-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base Saturday against the Marlins.

Doyle didn't have a remarkable day at the plate, and he's now 0-for-7 in his first two games of the season. However, he did manage a free pass in the second inning, and he also went on to notch his first stolen base of the campaign. Doyle has hit seventh for both of Colorado's first two contests.

Tovar went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run Saturday against the Marlins.

Tovar pulled an offering from Eury Perez over the left-field fence in the fourth inning for his first home run of the season. He's hit cleanup in each of Colorado's first two games, collecting two hits in eight plate appearances.