MLB Player News

Helsley gave up a hit in a scoreless ninth inning Saturday to record his third save of the season in a 3-1 win over the Marlins.

The right-hander needed only six pitches (five strikes) to breeze through the middle of Miami's order. Helsley has blown one save chance already, but he has a 5:0 K:BB through five innings and has reeled off four straight scoreless appearances. If he can stay healthy in 2024, he should be able to top the career-high 19 saves he produced in 2022.

Matz (1-0) picked up the win Saturday, allowing four hits and a walk over five scoreless innings in a 3-1 victory over the Marlins. He struck out three.

The veteran southpaw wasn't dominant, generating only 10 swinging strikes among his 85 pitches, but all four hits off Matz were singles as he again limited hard contact. He sports a 1.74 ERA through 10.1 innings to go with a 6:3 K:BB, and Matz lines up to make his next start on the road next weekend in Arizona.

Rogers (0-1) took the loss Saturday as the Marlins fell 3-1 to the Cardinals, giving up three runs on five hits and three walks over five innings. He struck out three.

The 26-year-old southpaw once again had a little trouble finding the plate, tossing 55 of 90 pitches for strikes before exiting, but Miami also didn't score its only run until the eighth inning. Rogers' 5.40 ERA through 10.0 innings is supported by a 9:7 K:BB, but encouragingly he has kept the ball in the park in both his outings so far in 2024. He lines up to make his next start at home against Atlanta next weekend.

Buehler (elbow) struck out six over 4.2 shutout innings in a rehab start with Oklahoma City on Saturday.

Buehler yielded just two hits, didn't walk anyone and induced 12 whiffs on 65 pitches. He averaged 93.8 mph with his four-seamer, which is down 1.4 mph from what he averaged during the 2022 season prior to Tommy John surgery. Buehler is expected to make at least two more rehab starts before rejoining the Dodgers' rotation, and hopefully he'll rediscover a little more velocity between now and then.

Steer went 2-for-3 with a three-run home run, one additional run scored and a stolen base in Saturday's 9-6 win over the Mets.

Steer seems to be emerging as a leader on this young Reds team, both in the clubhouse and on the stat sheet. He currently leads the club in batting average (.448), homers (three) and RBI (12). He also has two steals in as many attempts and several clutch hits in the early going, including two go-ahead homers this week. The 26-year-old has started in left field exclusively but will likely end up moving around as he did last season.

De La Cruz went 1-for-3 with a walk, two RBI, three runs scored and a stolen base in Saturday's 9-6 win over the Mets.

Much has been made of De La Cruz's strikeouts early on this season -- the swing-and-miss concerns are valid -- but he now has a 13-game hitting streak dating back to last season. He also has three steals in four attempts so far in 2024. The 22-year-old has been locked into the No. 6 spot in the lineup against both righties and lefties early on and looks to have some leash under manager David Bell to work out the remaining kinks in his game.

Martinez gave up five runs on eight hits and one walk while striking out six over five innings in a no-decision against the Mets on Saturday.

Martinez looks antsy on the mound with his unique, fidgety setup, and he's made fantasy managers antsy so far with eight earned runs allowed on 14 hits through two starts (10 innings). While he doesn't have overpowering stuff, Martinez has a number of different offerings in his repertoire and is willing to challenge hitters in the strike zone. The Reds are expected to get Nick Lodolo (leg) back next week, which could push Andrew Abbott out of the rotation. Another option would be to transition Martinez to a long-relief/swingman role.

Severino was charged with two runs (one earned) on three hits and two walks over five innings in a no-decision against the Reds on Saturday. He struck out seven.

A fielding error by second baseman Jeff McNeil led to the first run of the game, and Severino gave the Reds another run on a bases-loaded walk later in the same inning. However, he buckled down from there and left with a three-run lead, only for the bullpen to give it up. Severino has a 3.60 ERA, 1.60 WHIP and 13:2 K:BB through two starts spanning 10 innings. A projected matchup in Atlanta next week dings his short-term outlook, but the veteran righty will be in the streaming conversation most weeks and should remain rostered in most fantasy leagues, especially in light of the rash of pitching injuries around the league.

Abrams is considered day-to-day due to a bone bruise of his left pinky finger, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Abrams was a late scratch from Saturday's lineup with an injury that occurred on a slide into second base Friday. Fortunately, it does not appear to be anything that could keep the young shortstop out long. Expect Abrams back in there in a day or two.

Bailey isn't in the Giants' lineup for Saturday's game against the Padres, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Patrick will get a breather Saturday after going 1-for-3 during Friday's win in the series opener. Tom Murphy will instead get the nod to start behind the plate and bat eighth.