MLB Player News
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David Bednar RP | NYY
Yankees' David Bednar: Converts sixth save
Bednar earned the save in Friday's 4-2 win over the Royals, allowing one walk and striking out two in a scoreless ninth inning.
Bednar was summoned to protect a two-run lead in the ninth and worked around a leadoff walk to slam the door on 17 pitches. It marked his second straight scoreless outing after he blew his first save of the season Saturday. On the year, the 31-year-old is 6-for-7 in save opportunities with a 4.15 ERA, 1.85 WHIP and 12:5 K:BB over 8.2 innings.
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Zack Littell SP | WAS
Nationals' Zack Littell: Lit up by San Francisco
Littell (0-2) took the loss against the Giants on Friday, allowing eight runs on 11 hits and one walk while striking out four across four innings.
It was another tough outing for Littell, who has given up two home runs or more in three of his first four starts of the season. Six of the eight runs he yielded Friday came in the third inning, including a three-run homer off the bat of Heliot Ramos, and Littell was dinged for two more runs in the fourth, including a solo shot from Drew Gilbert. Littell posted a sub-4.00 ERA in each of the last two seasons, but he's opened 2026 with a 7.11 ERA and 1.74 WHIP over 19 innings. He's slated to start next week at home against Atlanta.
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Cam Schlittler SP | NYY
Yankees' Cam Schlittler: Logs quality start in no-decision
Schlittler did not factor into the decision in Friday's 4-2 win over the Royals, allowing one unearned run on three hits and two walks with six strikeouts over six innings.
Schlittler opened with five scoreless frames before allowing an unearned run in the sixth. He generated 16 swinging strikes on 93 pitches to notch his second quality start of the season in a strong rebound after yielding six combined runs over his previous two outings. The 25-year-old will carry a stellar 1.95 ERA, 0.76 WHIP and 36:3 K:BB across 27.2 innings into a road matchup against the Red Sox next week.
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Nick Martinez RP | TB
Rays' Nick Martinez: Takes tough loss vs. Pittsburgh
Martinez (0-1) took the loss against the Pirates on Friday, allowing two runs on eight hits and three walks while striking out three across 5.1 innings.
It wasn't exactly smooth sailing for Martinez, who allowed 11 baserunners during Friday's loss. He did limit the Pirates to just one run through five innings before being pulled with one out in the sixth, but he was tagged for another run after Griffin Jax yielded a two-run to Oneil Cruz. Martinez has given up two earned runs or fewer in each of his four outings this season for a 2.45 ERA and 1.23 WHIP across 22 innings, though he has yet to record a win. He's slated to take on the Reds next week.
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Lazaro Estrada RP | TOR
Blue Jays' Lazaro Estrada: Option reversed, placed on IL
The Blue Jays placed Estrada on the MLB 15-day injured list April 5 with a right shoulder impingement, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
Estrada was originally optioned to Triple-A Buffalo, but the team later discovered a shoulder issue that he suffered while playing in the big leagues, so he'll land on the major-league IL. He'll be eligible to return to action Monday, and when he is ready to return the Blue Jays will likely send him back down to Buffalo.
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Brandon Lowe 2B | PIT
Pirates' Brandon Lowe: Doubles twice against Tampa Bay
Lowe went 3-for-5 with two doubles and two RBI during the Pirates' 5-1 win over the Rays on Friday.
Lowe gave the Pirates insurance runs in the eighth after his double to center field brought home both Billy Cook and Konnor Griffin. It was the seventh multi-hit game of the season for Lowe, four of which have come over his last six games. In that six-game span, he has gone 11-for-25 (.440) with four home runs and 14 RBI.
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Oneil Cruz SS | PIT
Pirates' Oneil Cruz: Belts two-run homer
Cruz went 1-for-4 with a walk and a two-run home run during the Pirates' 5-1 win over the Rays on Friday.
Cruz put the Pirates up for good in the sixth inning after taking Griffin Jax deep to right-center field for a two-run long ball. It was Cruz's sixth home run of the season and fourth in 15 games. He's off to a terrific start to 2026, slashing .313/.382/.588 with nine steals (on 10 attempts), six home runs and 19 RBI across 89 plate appearances.
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Bubba Chandler P | PIT
Pirates' Bubba Chandler: First win of 2026
Chandler (1-1) earned the win against the Rays on Friday, allowing one run on three hits and one walk while striking out three across six innings.
Chandler punched out only three batters while generating eight whiffs, but he was incredibly efficient with his pitches, tossing 62 strikes on 90 pitches. He retired 15 of the first 16 batters he faced, and he limited the damage in the sixth inning to one run after allowing three baserunners. Not only was it Chandler's first win of the season, it was also his first quality start and the first time he has completed six frames. He has yielded three earned runs or fewer in each of his first four outings of the season and has a 3.15 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 17:13 K:BB across 20 innings. Chandler is lined up to face the Rangers on the road next week.
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Graham Pauley 3B | MIA
Marlins' Graham Pauley: Exits early Friday
Pauley was removed from Friday's game against the Brewers with oblique discomfort, Craig Mish of FanDuel Sports Network Florida reports.
Pauley took a pitch high and tight in the seventh inning, and although it didn't hit him, he tweaked his oblique while moving out of the way of the ball. The severity of his injury remains unknown, but if Pauley ends up having to miss time, Javier Sanoja would be an option to start at third base for Miami.
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Royce Lewis 3B | MIN
Twins' Royce Lewis: Beginning assignment Saturday
Lewis (knee) will begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A St. Paul on Saturday, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
Lewis has been on the injured list since last Saturday due to a sprained left knee. The Twins haven't revealed how long they plan to keep the 26-year-old in the minors, but the fact that he's been cleared to play in games just a week after suffering the injury could point to him returning when eligible Tuesday.