MLB Player News

Jarvis allowed two runs on three hits and two walks while striking out four batters over three relief innings in Saturday's 9-4 loss to the Rockies.

Jarvis fulfilled his role as a multi-inning reliever, working the sixth through eighth innings. He allowed traffic in all three frames and was eventually stung for a two-run home run by Brenton Doyle during his final inning. Jarvis competed for a spot in the rotation during spring training but was bypassed in favor of Tommy Henry after Eduardo Rodriguez (shoulder) opened the season on the injured list. Henry was rocked Saturday before Jarvis entered the game, and that the two are currently on the same schedule could make it convenient for manager Torey Lovullo to make a change. Eventually, Rodriguez and Jordan Montgomery are expected to enter the rotation, which will obviate the need for either Jarvis or Henry as starters.

Suarez went 2-for-3 with a walk and solo home run in Saturday's 9-4 loss to Colorado.

Suarez is off the a nice start for his new team, hitting safely in all three games thus far and going 6-for-11 with four RBI and three runs scored. Third base was an unsettled position for the Diamondbacks in 2023, which is why the organization moved to solidify the hot corner during the offseason when it signed Suarez. The 32-year-old has remained productive and durable into his thirties. Suarez played in all 162 games (22 HR, 96 RBI) in 2023 and in 150 games (31, 87) the previous season.

Realmuto went 2-for-3 with a walk, a solo home run and a second run scored in Saturday's 12-4 loss to Atlanta.

The 33-year-old catcher tagged Jesse Chavez for his first long ball of the season in the third inning, but the Phillies were already in a 7-3 hole before he'd even stepped into the batter's box. Realmuto's .762 OPS last year was his lowest mark since 2015, his first full season in the majors, while his 25.7 percent strikeout rate was a career worst. Even so, he still delivered 20 homers and 16 steals in 135 games, and unless the bottom completely falls out for him in 2024, Realmuto should be one of the top fantasy options behind the plate.

Nola (0-1) took the loss Saturday as the Phillies fell 12-4 to Atlanta, coughing up seven runs on 12 hits and a walk over 4.1 innings. He struck out three.

Five of the hits off Nola went for extra bases, including homers by Ozzie Albies and Matt Olson. The 30-year-old right-hander threw 83 pitches (54 strikes) before exiting, and while it was far from an ideal start to the campaign, Nola has still been one of the most reliable pitchers in the game since emerging as a regular part of the Philadelphia rotation, striking out more than 200 batters in each of his last five full seasons. Nola will look to bounce back against a much less dangerous opponent next weekend on the road against the Nationals.

Harris went 3-for-4 with a walk, a double, a solo home run and two additional runs scored in Saturday's 12-4 win over the Phillies.

He capped the scoring for Atlanta with his first homer of the season in the ninth inning off Connor Brogdon. Harris has six hits in two games to begin the 2024 campaign and has batted sixth in both games while facing right-hander pitchers, both excellent signs that the 23-year-old center fielder could be poised to take his fantasy production to another level after slugging 37 homers and stealing 40 bases through his first 252 big-league games with a .295/.334/.494 slash line.

Albies went 3-for-5 with a home run, two runs scored, three RBI and a stolen base in Saturday's 12-4 win over the Phillies.

The 27-year-old second baseman got the barrage started for Atlanta by socking a two-run homer off Aaron Nola in the first inning for his first long ball of the season. Albies has seen his steals totals dwindle over the last couple years, as he's gone 16-for-22 on the basepaths in 212 games while registering a sprint speed in the 55th percentile in both 2022 and 2023, but even if he never becomes a reliable stolen base threat again, his power and prime placement in one of the league's most potent offenses keep his fantasy floor high.

Fried recorded only two outs Saturday against the Phillies before being lifted, giving up three runs on two hits and three walks while striking out one. He came away with a no-decision.

The southpaw had a disastrous start to his 2024, throwing 23 of 43 pitches for strikes before getting the hook, but he avoided a loss after Atlanta hung seven runs on Aaron Nola in an eventual 12-4 win. Fried struggled with injuries last year but was effective when he was on the mound, posting a 2.55 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 25.7 percent strikeout rate over 77.2 innings, so while this performance was a little shocking, it did come against a tough opponent. He'll try to shake it off in his next start, which lines up to come at home next weekend against the Diamondbacks.

Betts went 3-for-4 with a solo home run, a double, two walks and three total runs in Saturday's extra-inning loss to the Cardinals.

Betts is on an absolute heater to begin the campaign, as he's homered in four straight contests and has reached base an absurd 18 times through 25 plate appearances. His long ball Saturday came in the clutch, pulling the Dodgers to within one run in the ninth inning against Cardinals closer Ryan Helsley. Betts is already paying huge dividends for fantasy managers who made a big investment in him in fantasy drafts -- he leads all players in homers (four), RBI (10) and walks (seven) while posting an astronomical 2.109 OPS through the Dodgers' first five games.

Gallegos earned a save against the Dodgers on Saturday, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out two batters over one scoreless inning.

Ryan Helsley got a chance to close Los Angeles out in the ninth inning, but he gave up two runs to allow the game to move to an extra frame. After St. Louis posted a run in the top of the 10th, the Cardinals turned to Gallegos to try to hold the lead. He struck out the first two batters he faced before yielding an infield single and a walk to load the bases, but Gallegos then got Shohei Ohtani to pop out to shortstop to end the threat and emerge with the save. Helsley is likely to remain the team's primary closer despite Saturday's blown save, but if he were to struggle early in the campaign, Gallegos would probably be next in line for the ninth-inning role given that he recorded double-digit saves in each of the past three campaigns.

Helsley (1-0) blew a save but earned the win over the Dodgers on Saturday, allowing two runs on four hits and no walks while striking out two batters over one inning.

The Cardinals turned the ball over to Helsley while holding a 5-3 lead heading into the bottom of the ninth inning, but the closer couldn't slam the door on the Dodgers. He gave up a one-out solo homer to Mookie Betts, then surrendered three straight two-out singles to allow the tying run to cross the plate. Helsley did manage to move the game to extra innings by striking out Teoscar Hernandez for the third out, and he ended up as the winning pitcher when the Cardinals pulled out the victory in the 10th frame. Helsley has pitched well enough in a closing role over the past two campaigns to have some grace despite Saturday's blown save, but it's worth noting that Giovanny Gallegos -- who has also worked as a closer for the Cardinals in recent years -- eventually secured the save Saturday and looms as a viable ninth-inning alternative should Helsley struggle early.