MLB Player News
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Gregory Soto RP | PIT
Pirates' Gregory Soto: Misses out on save again
Soto struck out two in a perfect ninth inning Wednesday during the Pirates' 8-3 win over the Reds.
For the second straight day, Soto was warming up to handle a save situation in the bottom of the ninth, only for Pittsburgh's offense to churn out insurance runs in the top of the frame and erase the save chance. The veteran southpaw has a 0.00 ERA through 4.1 innings to begin the season with an 8:2 K:BB, and he currently appears to be the favorite for save chances ahead of Dennis Santana.
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Dodgers' Jake Cousins: Moved to 60-day IL
The Dodgers transferred Cousins (elbow) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Wednesday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
The transaction clears a spot on the 40-man roster for righty Jake Eder, who was acquired from the Nationals on Wednesday. Cousins is recovering from Tommy John surgery and will be sidelined until after the All-Star break.
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Jake Eder RP | LAD
Dodgers' Jake Eder: Acquired by Dodgers
The Dodgers acquired Eder from the Nationals on Wednesday in exchange for cash considerations, Spencer Nusbaum of The Athletic reports.
Eder had been designated for assignment by the Nationals and is now headed to a new organization. The left-hander has minor-league options remaining and is likely to be assigned to Triple-A Oklahoma City. Eder has made nine relief appearances at the big-league level, allowing 11 runs with a 16:10 K:BB over 20.1 innings.
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Orion Kerkering RP | PHI
Phillies' Orion Kerkering: Back-to-back rehab appearances
Kerkering (hamstring) will make the second of back-to-back rehab appearances Wednesday at Triple-A Lehigh Valley, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.
Kerkering is eligible for activation from the 15-day injured list April 6, and making back-to-back appearances points to him being ready to go on that date. He's been working his way back from a strained hamstring that knocked out most of his spring training.
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Janson Junk RP | MIA
Marlins' Janson Junk: Inefficient in no-decision
Junk didn't factor into the decision in Tuesday's 9-2 win over the White Sox, allowing two runs on five hits and a walk over 4.1 innings. He struck out five.
The 30-year-old right-hander was comfortably sitting 94-96 mph with his four-seam fastball while mixing in a curve, changeup, slider and sweeper, but Junk threw just 50 of his 79 pitches for strikes and couldn't last long enough to quality for the win, despite getting plenty of support from the Marlins' offense. He's just keeping a spot in the rotation warm for a younger arm like Braxton Garrett or Robby Snelling, but there's been no suggestion he's getting replaced just yet. Junk lines up to make his next start at home early next week against the Reds.
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Jhoan Duran RP | PHI
Phillies' Jhoan Duran: Collects second save
Duran gave up a hit and struck out two in a scoreless ninth inning Tuesday to record his second save of the season in a 3-2 win over the Nationals.
The right-hander fanned Jose Tena and Joey Wiemer while touching 99.9 mph with his fastball. Duran is 2-for-2 in converting save chances with a 3.38 ERA and 5:0 K:BB through 2.2 innings and three appearances as he begins his first full season as the Phillies' closer.
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Gregory Soto RP | PIT
Pirates' Gregory Soto: Works ninth in Tuesday's win
Soto allowed a hit and a walk in a scoreless ninth inning during Tuesday's 8-3 win over the Reds. He struck out one.
The veteran lefty was getting ready to handle a save situation when Oneil Cruz added some insurance with a two-run homer in the top of the ninth. Soto has a 0.00 ERA and 6:2 K:BB through 3.1 innings to begin the season, while presumed closer Dennis Santana -- who worked a scoreless eighth against the bottom of the Reds' order to record his first hold of the year -- also has a 0.00 ERA in four innings, albeit with a less dominant 2:2 K:BB. Neither pitcher has a save yet in 2026, but the scales seem to be tipping in Soto's favor as the top high-leverage option in the Pirates' bullpen.
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A.J. Puk RP | ARI
Diamondbacks' A.J. Puk: Amassing bullpen sessions
Puk (elbow) has thrown multiple bullpen sessions since late March, Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports reports.
Puk is coming back from an internal brace procedure he underwent last June. Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said Tuesday that his best guess is that Puk returns to the team at some point in June.
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Tony Santillan RP | CIN
Reds' Tony Santillan: Velocity down early
Santillan's velocity is down so far this season, Charlie Goldsmith of Charlie's Chalkboard reports. "You'll see them pitch into their velocity," manager Tito Francona said. "They did last year. They had more outings in spring training than they did this year. You'll see it climb."
Santillan's average fastball velocity in his first two outings has been 93.8 mph, after he averaged 96.3 mph while pitching in 80 games last season. The Reds eased Santillan and Emilio Pagan into spring training in light of their heavy workloads last season.
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Paul Sewald RP | ARI
Diamondbacks' Paul Sewald: Secures save No. 2
Sewald earned the save by striking out the side in order during Tuesday's 7-5 win over the Tigers.
The 35-year-old was called upon for the ninth inning after Arizona turned a 5-1, eighth-inning deficit into a two-run lead, and he dispatched the middle of Detroit's lineup on 13 pitches. Sewald now has two saves through three scoreless appearances this year, already matching his saves total from a bumpy 2025 regular season with Cleveland and Detroit. Things can change fast this early in the season, but Sewald has quickly established himself as Arizona's top option for saves.