MLB Player News

Matsui (groin) may be nearing activation from the 15-day injured list, per MLB.com.

Matsui didn't get to participate in any spring contests, so San Diego has elected to keep him on his rehab assignment for an extended period. The lefty reliever has made nine rehab appearances with Triple-A El Paso, posting a 3.72 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 12:1 K:BB over 9.2 innings. Matsui's activation from the IL could be coming soon, though he may not be thrust into high-leverage work right away.

Estrada (elbow) kicked off a minor-league rehab assignment with Single-A Lake Elsinore on Friday, per MLB.com.

Estrada landed on the injured list April 10 due to tightness in his right elbow. The righty reliever resumed playing catch shortly thereafter and is now pitching in games again. Estrada tossed a clean inning with one strikeout in his first rehab appearance Friday and may not need a lengthy stint in the minors before he's brought back up to the big-league bullpen.

Vodnik struck out two in a perfect inning to earn the save in a 3-1 win over the Mets in Game 1 of Sunday's doubleheader.

Vodnik had allowed seven runs across his last 1.2 innings, so it was encouraging to see him pitch a clean frame Sunday. He has converted four of six save chances this season while pitching to a 6.94 ERA, 1.97 WHIP and 10:6 K:BB over 11.2 innings. Vodnik is operating as the Rockies' closer for now, but he can't afford to have too many more bad outings. Antonio Senzatela and Zach Agnos (two each) are the other relievers to log multiple saves so far for the Rockies this season, though both of them are capable of long-relief assignments and may not see steady late-inning work.

Through 13 appearances this season, Milner has a 2.70 ERA and 1.05 WHIP out of Chicago's bullpen.

Milner served up a solo home run across an inning of relief Sunday, but it's still been a good start to the season for the veteran lefty. He's logged 10 scoreless outings in his 13 appearances overall and has recorded two holds as well. However, Milner has tallied only three strikeouts over 13.1 innings, and his lack of swing-and-miss stuff gives him a smaller margin of error compared to other relievers.

Imanaga (2-2) took the loss Sunday, allowing five runs on six hits and three walks over 5.1 innings against the Dodgers. He struck out six.

Imanaga wasn't at his best, allowing a season-high five runs, including three in the first inning. Sunday's outing snapped a stretch of stellar pitching from the southpaw, who had allowed just three runs across 24 innings over his previous four starts. Overall, the 32-year-old owns a 3.15 ERA and 0.87 WHIP with a 38:9 K:BB across 29 innings (five starts), and his next outing is projected for Saturday against the Diamondbacks.

Schultz earned the save in the Nationals' 2-1 extra-inning win over the White Sox on Sunday, allowing one unearned run on one hit while striking out two in the 10th frame.

Gus Varland and Richard Lovelady were deployed in the eighth and ninth innings, respectively, which prompted the Nationals to turn to Schultz to protect the team's 2-0 lead. A Tristan Peters RBI single brought home the White Sox's ghost runner in the 10th inning, but Schultz shut the door by striking out the next two batters he faced to come away with the first save of his major-league career. Varland blew his save chance Saturday, and given that he pitched in the eighth inning of Sunday's game, Schultz might be in the mix for save opportunities for as long as Clayton Beeter (forearm) is on the 15-day injured list.

Miller picked up the save Sunday against the Marlins. He allowed no hits or walks while striking out one over 1.1 perfect innings.

Miller was called upon with two outs in the eighth inning and delivered a clean outing, retiring all four batters he faced to secure the victory for the Giants. It marked the southpaw's second save of the season, trailing only Ryan Walker, who leads the team with three saves, as manager Tony Vitello has deployed a closer-by-committee approach. Miller has now strung together seven consecutive scoreless outings and owns a 3.48 ERA and 1.35 WHIP with a 16:6 K:BB across 10.1 innings in 2026.

Mlodzinski (1-2) took the loss Sunday against the Brewers, allowing five runs (four earned) on five hits and one walk in 3.2 innings. He struck out four.

Following a pair of scoreless outings in his April 10 and April 15 appearances, Mlodzinski has faltered in each of his past two starts. The right-hander has now coughed up at least four runs in back-to-back outings, failing to work at least five frames in both. While Mlodzinski sports a strong 30:11 K:BB through 28.1 frames so far, his 4.13 ERA and 1.45 WHIP make him tough to trust in his next scheduled start versus the division-rival Reds.

Lopez will be utilized as a reliever going forward while working on some mechanical issues, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

The right-hander's 3.74 ERA through five starts this year looks solid, but his 1.43 WHIP and 20:11 K:BB tell a different story. Atlanta will soon be getting back Spencer Strider (oblique) from the injured list, while rookie JR Ritchie will also get a longer look in the rotation.

The Cubs selected Rios' contract from Triple-A Iowa on Sunday.

Rios joined Chicago on a minor-league contract in January and will get a look in the majors after posting a 5.06 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 8:6 K:BB over 10.2 frames with Iowa to begin the season. The right-hander last pitched in the majors in 2023 and has a 6.23 ERA in 92 career MLB appearances.