MLB Player News

Garcia (oblique) was activated from the 15-day injured list Saturday.

He ends up missing just over the minimum amount of IL time with a mild oblique injury. Garcia has a streak of 11 straight appearances without allowing an earned run and has 11 strikeouts and one win in 10.2 innings over that stretch.

Kuhnel was optioned to Triple-A Louisville on Saturday.

He gave up a hit and a walk with zero strikeouts in 1.1 innings Friday after getting recalled and will head right back to Triple-A. Kevin Herget was recalled to take Kuhnel's low-leverage relief role.

Herget was recalled from Triple-A Louisville on Saturday.

Herget did not pitch in a minor-league game since he was optioned Monday, but he gave up nine earned runs while striking out three in 10 innings over seven appearances in his most recent stint with the big-league bullpen. Joel Kuhnel was optioned to Triple-A in a corresponding move.

Yates (2-0) picked up the win in Friday's victory over the Nationals, striking out two in a perfect eighth inning.

The veteran righty got the call with Atlanta down 2-1, and after shutting down the Nats on 16 pitches (11 strikes) he was rewarded when the offense produced two runs in the bottom of the frame. Yates' control still comes and goes as he returns to regular duty for the first time since 2019, but he has emerged as a solid option since the beginning of May, posting a 2.84 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 19:10 K:BB over his last 12.2 innings.

Leiter pitched 1.1 scoreless innings in Friday's 3-2 win over the Giants. He allowed one hit and struck out two.

The strong effort earned Leiter his 10th hold of the season, and Adbert Alzolay closed things out in the ninth. The two pitchers seem to be in a closer committee, with Leiter recording the team's second-most-recent save on June 2. This gives Leiter some fantasy value, though his ceiling would seem to be capped by the presence of Alzolay.

Thompson gave up two hits and struck out two in a scoreless sixth inning Friday to record his third hold of the season in a loss to Atlanta.

The 25-year-old right-hander looked like he might be in line for significant high-leverage usage early in the season, but instead Thompson has fallen apart, posting a 7.62 ERA, 2.08 WHIP and 9:9 K:BB through 13 innings since the beginning of May. If he can find some consistency, however, there should be plenty of opportunities for Thompson and his mid-90s sinker to move up the ladder in a Nationals bullpen that doesn't have any truly dominant late-inning arms.

Gonzalez did not factor into the decision Friday, allowing one walk over two-thirds of a scoreless inning in a 5-4 loss against the Phillies. He didn't record a strikeout or give up a hit.

It appears the Dodgers simply wanted the left-handed Gonzales to handle Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper the first time through the order, as he faced just three batters before being replaced by Michael Grove. Gonzales has been solid as a lefty specialist this season, posting a 2.70 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and 14:5 K:BB across 17 appearances (16.2 innings).

Edwards gave up a hit in a scoreless seventh inning to record his 13th hold of the season in Friday's loss to Atlanta.

The veteran reliever has matched his hold total from 2022 in less than half the appearances, but Edwards isn't exactly dominating. He's been scored upon in three of his last six games, and his 3.38 ERA on the season doesn't match his shaky 1.50 WHIP or mediocre 21:14 K:BB through 26.2 innings. The Nationals don't have many better options for high-leverage work, however, so Edwards figures to remain in a setup role barring a total meltdown.

Iglesias struck out two in a perfect ninth inning Friday to record his ninth save of the season in a 3-2 win over the Nationals.

The right-hander breezed through the frame, firing all nine of his pitches for strikes and only missing an immaculate inning when Ildemaro Vargas managed to ground out to first base for the final out. Iglesias has turned in 12 straight appearances without an earned run, going a perfect 8-for-8 in save chances during that stretch with a 12:5 K:BB through 11.1 innings.

Finnegan (3-3) blew the save and took the loss Friday as the Nationals fell 3-2 to Atlanta, giving up two runs (one earned) on three hits in the eighth inning.

With Washington nursing a 2-1 lead, Finnegan got the call against the heart of the Atlanta order and gave up back-to-back singles to lead off the frame, eventually watching both runners come around to score. While Hunter Harvey was likely being held back for the ninth, Finnegan still appears to be manager Dave Martinez's first choice in higher-leverage spots between the two late-inning options. That arrangement may not last much longer, however -- Finnegan has blown saves in three straight appearances, and his 4.74 ERA and 1.62 WHIP on the season are a far cry from Harvey's 3.33 and 1.00 marks.