MLB Player News

Johnson threw a perfect ninth inning to earn the save in Saturday's 3-1 win over the Astros. He did not record a strikeout.

With Emilio Pagan (hamstring) expected to miss significant time and presumed replacement Tony Santillan struggling, the Reds turned to Graham Ashcraft in the eighth inning and then Johnson in the ninth. Johnson needed just 12 pitches to retire the heart of the Astros' order, and he now owns a 3.38 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 15:5 K:BB across 16 innings with two holds and a save. While the Reds' closer situation is likely still unsettled, the 34-year-old certainly helped his case for future save chances with Saturday's performance.

Miles will serve as the Blue Jays' opening pitcher for Sunday's series finale against the Angels, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.

Miles will likely work for an inning or two before turning the game over to Eric Lauer, who had been scheduled to start but will instead work in bulk relief. Across 11 appearances on the season out of the Toronto bullpen, Miles has posted a 3.50 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 16:5 K:BB over 18 innings.

Lauer will serve in a bulk-relief role in Sunday's series finale against the Angels, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.

Spencer Miles will work as the Blue Jays' opening pitcher Sunday, likely covering an inning or two before Lauer takes over. Lauer has given up at least three earned runs in four of his last five starts, and over that span he has gone 0-3 with a 6.38 ERA, 1.54 WHIP and 13:10 K:BB across 24 innings. He'll be facing an Angels team that has scored just one run over the first two games of the series against Toronto.

Cole (elbow) will make his next rehab start with Double-A Somerset on Sunday, Casey Drottar of MLB.com reports.

It will be Cole's fifth minor-league start since he embarked on a rehab assignment in mid-April. He tossed 69 pitches in his last outing Tuesday with High-A Hudson, but the veteran right-hander appears to need more reps while continuing to recover from March 2025 Tommy John surgery. Across his four minor-league starts, Cole has a 6.27 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 14:1 K:BB across 18.2 innings, yielding six home runs in that span. Yankees manager Aaron Boone relayed to reporters Saturday that he expects Cole to make at least two more rehab starts but potentially three, which means Cole might not be back with the big club until late May or early June.

Holliday (hand) will play at third base in a rehab game with Double-A Chesapeake on Sunday, Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun reports.

Orioles manager Craig Albernaz clarified Saturday that it won't be a permanent move to third base for Holliday, but it does give the big club some flexibility in the infield. Holliday resumed his rehab assignment Thursday and has gone 0-for-4 with three walks, two strikeouts and a run scored in his last two games in Double-A.

Westburg will have a follow-up appointment for his right elbow sprain Monday, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

Westburg was progressing in his recovery from a partially torn UCL in his right elbow but was shut down from throwing earlier this week after reporting discomfort. Monday's appointment should give the Orioles more clarity on Westburg's setback and a recovery timeline.

Arrighetti (4-1) took the loss against the Reds on Saturday, allowing three runs (one earned) on five hits and three walks with five strikeouts over 5.2 innings.

All of the damage against Arrighetti came in a three-run fifth inning, and he departed one out shy of a quality start at 93 pitches the following frame. The 26-year-old has yielded just one earned run in four of his five outings this season, though he's also issued at least three walks four times. He owns a 1.88 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 30:17 K:BB across 28.2 innings and lines up for a home matchup against the Mariners next week.

Burns (4-1) earned the win against the Astros on Saturday, allowing one run on four hits and three walks with two strikeouts over six innings.

Burns allowed a solo homer in the fifth inning but otherwise kept the Astros in check despite issuing more walks than strikeouts. It marked the third straight quality start for the 23-year-old, and he's now limited opponents to two earned runs or fewer in seven of eight outings this season. He'll carry a 2.11 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 48:16 K:BB across 47 innings into a road matchup against the Guardians next weekend.

The Dodgers placed Stewart on the 15-day injured list Saturday due to a left foot bone spur, Noah Camras of SI.com reports.

Stewart was cleared to make his 2026 debut Wednesday after opening the season on the 15-day IL while continuing to recover from right shoulder surgery that he underwent in September. He appeared in two games out of the bullpen for the Dodgers, tossing two scoreless and hitless innings while striking out three batters. Stewart is eligible to return from the IL in late May, though it's unclear whether he'll be ready by then. Blake Snell (shoulder) was activated from the 15-day IL in a corresponding move.

The Dodgers reinstated Snell (shoulder) from the injured list Saturday.

Snell will be making his season debut Saturday after landing on the injured list at the start of the season with a sore left shoulder. He had been originally scheduled for an additional rehab start Saturday after building up to 55 pitches during his last outing Sunday, so the Dodgers will likely limit his pitch count while he faces a tough Atlanta lineup. Brock Stewart (foot) was placed on the 15-day IL in a corresponding move.