MLB Player News
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Lucas Erceg RP | KC
Royals' Lucas Erceg: Blows save Thursday
Erceg (0-1) blew the save and took the loss Thursday against the Tigers. He allowed three runs on three hits and a walk while striking out one over two-thirds of an inning.
Erceg entered the ninth inning with a two-run lead but failed to secure the victory, as a two-out double from Riley Greene tied the game at 9-9 before Colt Keith delivered a walk-off single. Erceg had converted each of his first five save opportunities prior to Thursday, but this outing bloated his ERA from 2.70 to 6.14 and his WHIP from 1.05 to 1.50 WHIP across 7.1 innings and eight appearances. The 30-year-old stepped into the closer role after Carlos Estevez (foot) was placed on the injured list following his season debut, but with the incumbent expected to begin a rehab assignment soon, Erceg's time filling the ninth-inning role may not last much longer.
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Tommy Nance RP | MIN
Blue Jays' Tommy Nance: Stuck with loss Thursday
Nance (0-1) took the loss Thursday against the Brewers, giving up one run on one hit and two walks over two-thirds of an inning. He didn't strike out a batter.
The 35-year-old right-hander gave up a couple baserunners after replacing Patrick Corbin in the sixth inning with the score tied 1-1, but he was able to escape without giving up a run. Nance wasn't so lucky in the seventh -- a leadoff walk to Garrett Mitchell wound up leading to the game-winning run after three straight bunts by Milwaukee. Nance isn't part of Toronto's usual high-leverage crew, and while he does have a 9:4 K:BB through 7.2 innings to begin the season, that comes with a 7.04 ERA and 1.83 WHIP.
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Brent Suter RP | ATL
Angels' Brent Suter: Tagged for one run in spot start
Suter did not factor into the decision Thursday against the Yankees, allowing one run on three hits and two walks while striking out two over two innings.
Making his first start of the season, Suter was punished early, when he served up an 88-mph fastball that Aaron Judge launched into the seats in the first inning. The southpaw followed up with a 30-pitch second inning that resulted in stranding two runners in scoring position to limit further damage. Despite the hiccup Thursday, Suter has been a great bullpen arm for the Angels to open 2026, maintaining a 2.40 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and a 15:6 K:BB across 15 innings.
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Peter Lambert SP | HOU
Astros' Peter Lambert: Officially starting Friday
Lambert will start Friday's series opener versus the Cardinals, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Lambert is expected to have his contract selected from Triple-A Sugar Land on Friday ahead of his Astros debut. The right-hander has appeared in three contests, including two starts, with Sugar Land this season, allowing three runs on 11 hits and three walks while striking out 12 batters over 14.2 innings.
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Justin Sterner RP | ATH
Athletics' Justin Sterner: Implodes in second loss
Sterner (0-2) blew the save and took the loss Thursday against the Rangers, allowing four runs (three earned) on four hits and one walk in the ninth inning. He struck out one.
Sterner was called upon for his first save chance of the year while the Athletics held a 6-5 advantage, but he was unable to protect the lead in the ninth inning. While the A's have a pretty wide open competition when it comes to save opportunities, Sterner isn't making much of a case for future chances. The right-hander owns a 4.66 ERA, 1.97 WHIP and 10:5 K:BB over 9.2 innings thus far.
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Jacob Lopez SP | ATH
Athletics' Jacob Lopez: Still struggling to find plate
Lopez took a no-decision Wednesday against the Rangers, allowing two runs on three hits and four walks in five innings. He struck out five.
The left-hander is making a habit of issuing free passes -- he's now walked at least three in each of his first four starts of 2026. Lopez has fanned at least five in three consecutive outings, but he's yet to give up fewer than two runs in any appearance thus far. His next start currently projects for next week in Seattle versus the division-rival Mariners, but Lopez owns a 6.38 ERA, 1.96 WHIP and an alarming 16:17 K:BB through 18.1 innings and will be tough to trust in fantasy lineups.
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Seranthony Dominguez RP | SEA
White Sox's Seranthony Dominguez: Melts down in second loss
Dominguez (1-2) took the loss and a blown save Thursday against the Rays, allowing three runs on two hits and one walk in one-third of an inning. He struck out one.
The White Sox were nursing a 3-2 advantage in the ninth inning, and Dominguez was unable to preserve the lead and blew his second save of the year. The right-hander had a hard time putting the Rays away, managing a lone out despite throwing 32 pitches, with the performance ending a stretch of four straight outings without giving up an earned run. Chicago may not have much competition for save chances in its bullpen, but Dominguez is off to a rough start to 2026 while logging a 7.50 ERA, 1.83 WHIP and 8:5 K:BB through his first six frames.
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Bryan Baker RP | TB
Rays' Bryan Baker: Locks down fourth save
Baker picked up the save Thursday against the White Sox, allowing no hits and one walk in a scoreless ninth inning.
That's now four saves already for Baker on the young campaign, which is his career-high total. The 31-year-old right-hander is establishing a rather strong grip on Tampa Bay's closer role, posting a 3.68 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 7:2 K:BB over 7.1 innings while converting four of his five save opportunities. That said, Edwin Uceta (shoulder) might present some competition to Baker once he completes his rehab assignment.
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Anthony Kay SP | CHW
White Sox's Anthony Kay: Labors in long relief
Kay took a no-decision Thursday against the Rays, allowing one run on four hits and one walk in 2.2 innings. He struck out one.
Serving as a bulk reliever behind opener Jordan Leasure on Thursday, Kay did his part to keep the White Sox in the game but wasn't particularly efficient. It was the left-hander's shortest outing of the year so far, and it was disappointing to see him get pulled at just 71 pitches after he tossed 100 his last time out. It's unclear how Chicago will choose to deploy Kay going forward -- the hurler has a pair of appearances each as a starter and reliever -- but he'll bring a respectable 2.60 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 12:3 K:BB across 17.1 frames into his next scheduled outing, which lines up to come on the road versus Arizona.
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Connor Seabold RP | KC
Tigers' Connor Seabold: Records first win Thursday
Seabold (1-0) allowed a solo home run across 1.1 innings but managed to secure the win Thursday against the Royals. He struck out two.
The game finished 10-9 in favor of Detroit, so Seabold wasn't the only pitcher to give up some hard-hit balls, but he did a good job of limiting the damage to just one run to secure his first 2026 win. The righty has been effective this year with a 2.08 ERA and nine strikeouts across 8.2 innings. He's mostly worked in middle relief, though Seabold could earn a higher-leverage role if he continues to pitch well out of the bullpen.