MLB Player News

Perez will start Wednesday's game against the Mariners in Seattle.

Grant Holmes had initially been listed as Atlanta's starter for Wednesday, but the team will instead pivot to Perez after the veteran southpaw wasn't needed in relief in the first two games of the series. According to Mark Bowman of MLB.com, the change doesn't necessarily mean that Perez will be a regular in the rotation moving forward, or that Holmes will be headed to the bullpen on anything more than a short-term basis. Whether he's been used as a starter or reliever, Perez has been excellent this season; he'll take a 2.22 ERA and 0.99 WHIP over 28.1 innings into Wednesday's outing.

Sanchez (3-2) picked up the win Tuesday in a 9-1 rout of the A's, allowing three hits and a walk over eight scoreless innings. He struck out 10.

The southpaw tied his season high in Ks in his best performance of the season, as Sanchez racked up 22 swinging strikes among his 97 pitches (69 total strikes) en route to his fifth quality start of the year. Sanchez has given up more than two runs only once in eight trips to the mound, and he'll take a 2.42 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 60:14 K:BB through 48.1 innings into his next start, which is scheduled to come at home this weekend against the Rockies.

Bleday went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Tuesday's 3-2 extra-inning loss to the Cubs.

Bleday got the scoring started by sending an 84-mph changeup from Jameson Taillon over the wall in right field for his fourth home run in eight games since being recalled from Triple-A Louisville. Bleday has been in the starting lineup in eight of nine contests since joining the big club and is slashing .292/.414/.833 with one double, four homers, five RBI, six runs scored and a 5:5 BB:K across 29 trips to the plate. He's hit in the second spot in the lineup the past four games and can be a source of power in fantasy.

Abbott didn't factor into the decision Tuesday against the Cubs, allowing four hits and four walks with four strikeouts across 5.2 shutout innings.

Abbott set the Cubs down in order the first three innings, allowing just one single that was erased when Matt Shaw tried stretching it into two bases. Abbott battled his control over his final 2.2 frames, issuing a season-high four walks. He still managed to escape with no damage, throwing his first scoreless outing since Opening Day against Boston. Following a career year in 2025, Abbott owns a 5.13 ERA, 1.64 WHIP and underwhelming 28:19 K:BB over 40.1 innings this season. He's gone six innings just twice in eight starts and is lined up to next face the Astros at home Sunday.

Palencia allowed one hit in a scoreless ninth inning Tuesday against the Reds.

With the game tied 2-2 in the top of the ninth, Palencia came on for his first appearance since returning from a lat strain that sidelined him for three weeks. He topped out at 101 mph with his fastball Tuesday. Palencia has yet to allow a run this season and owns a 5:2 K:BB across six innings, notching one save.

Taillon didn't factor into the decision Tuesday against the Reds, allowing two runs on five hits and one walk with five strikeouts across 5.2 innings.

Both runs allowed by Taillon came on a pair of solo homers by lefties JJ Bleday and Nathaniel Lowe, and Taillon has now surrendered 11 home runs across 40.1 innings this season. Only Zack Littell (13) has allowed more long balls. Taillon threw 100 pitches against Cincinnati but generated just eight whiffs. On the season, he owns a 4.24 ERA and 36:14 K:BB over seven starts. A flyball pitcher, Taillon is also giving up plenty of hard contact, while his 6.02 FIP suggests he's been lucky. Taillon's 91.7 mph fastball velocity is a career-low mark.

Lowe went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Tuesday's 3-2 loss to the Cubs.

Lowe gave the Reds a 2-0 lead in the sixth inning with a solo homer, his sixth in the last 11 games. He's swallowed up many of the starts at designated hitter since Eugenio Suarez (oblique) landed on the 10-day injured list; however, the injured infielder/DH began baseball activities this week. Suarez has fielded grounders and began hitting in an indoor cage. A rehab assignment should follow, which means Lowe's window could be closing within the next week.

Santillan is the likely candidate to replace injured closer Emilio Pagan (hamstring), who was removed from Tuesday's 3-2 loss to the Cubs, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

Santillan has been the preferred eighth-inning arm for manager Terry Francona and has produced nine holds thus far in 2026. Although he didn't fare well Tuesday -- the right-hander was taken deep by Michael Busch -- Santillan is a logical choice to serve as the closer in Pagan's absence. Santillan a trusted late-game arm, sporting a 2.87 ERA over 15.2 innings this season, and his 12 career saves are more than any other relievers in line to get save opportunities for the Reds.

Santana (thigh) is continuing to rehab at Triple-A Reno and will be evaluated by the end of the week, Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports reports.

Santana is three games into the assignment and is 2-for-11 with two walks, two RBI and two runs scored for the Aces. He's been used at first base (twice) and designated hitter (once), with his last two appearances lasting all nine innings.

Smith (elbow) will take dry swings next week, Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports reports.

Smith underwent surgery April 16 to remove loose bodies from his left elbow. He's currently on the 60-day injured list and can return May 29 at the earliest.