MLB Player News

Robertson picked up a hold in Monday's 4-1 victory over the Reds, allowing one hit and one walk in a scoreless inning with one strikeout.

The grizzled veteran averaged 90.7 mph on his cutter, down 2.6 mph from 2024, in his first big-league appearance this season after joining the Phillies on Sunday. Robertson tallied his 197th career hold, as he worked the eighth inning to set up Orion Kerkering for the save. The 40-year-old will likely work as a bridge to Kerkering and Jhoan Duran, so Robertson is worthy of consideration in leagues that value holds.

Kerkering picked up the save in Monday's 4-1 win against the Reds, pitching a clean inning with one strikeout.

The Philadelphia righty smoothly collected his first save since June 19 in this 10-pitch outing. The Phillies' usual closer, Jhoan Duran, did not appear in Monday's contest after pitching consecutive games on Saturday and Sunday. Kerkering is likely the preferred backup saves option to Duran, as Jordan Romano pitched the seventh Monday (and collected the win) while David Robertson handled the eighth. Across 44.2 total innings, Kerkering sports a 2.62 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 47:19 K:BB while tallying three saves.

Scott (elbow) could be cleared to face live hitters at some point next week, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

The Dodgers have yet to reveal a timetable for Scott's activation, but if all goes according to plan, he could take another step forward within the next week. The southpaw was placed on the 15-day injured list July 22 due to left elbow inflammation and looks to be trending toward a late-August return.

Kopech (knee) threw a live batting practice session Monday and could be sent on a rehab assignment soon, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

It sounds like the team may wait a day or two to make sure Kopech made it out of Monday's live BP session without any setbacks before sending him on a rehab stint. The right-hander was originally placed on the 15-day injured list July 1 and then transferred to the 60-day IL due to a torn right meniscus, and he appears on track for a late-August return if all continues to go well in his rehab.

The Pirates activated Shugart (knee) from the 15-day injured list Monday.

Left knee inflammation had sidelined Shugart since early July, but he's been cleared to return after making three rehab appearances. The righty reliever holds a 3.69 ERA and 1.15 WHIP over 39 innings this season, but a 22:15 K:BB is less than ideal.

The Pirates optioned Moreta to Triple-A Indianapolis on Monday.

Moreta has permitted two runs with a 7:1 K:BB over 4.2 innings during his time with the Pirates this season. He's clearing out to make room on the active roster for the return of Chase Shugart (knee).

The Diamondbacks claimed Varland (undisclosed) off waivers from the White Sox on Monday and optioned him to Triple-A Reno.

Varland hasn't pitched since June 28 due to an undisclosed injury but will give the Diamondbacks some experienced relief depth once he's available to pitch. The righty has put up a 4.82 ERA and 47:24 K:BB over 46.2 innings in parts of two major-league seasons.

The Diamondbacks recalled Morillo from Triple-A Reno on Monday.

Morillo has made 31 appearances out of the Diamondbacks bullpen this season, posting a 4.94 ERA and 28:16 K:BB over 27.1 innings. The 26-year-old could work his way into high-leverage appearances as part of an unsettled bullpen, although he's unlikely to be in the mix for save chances right away.

The Reds returned Gibaut (shoulder) from his rehab assignment Monday, Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati reports.

Gibaut remains on the 15-day injured list, so he must have encountered a setback while on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Louisville, where he allowed four runs in two-thirds of an inning in his most recent appearance Wednesday. The righty reliever has been out since late June with a right shoulder impingement.

Diaz (5-2) took the loss Sunday against the Brewers, giving up one run on one hit in one-third of an inning.

The Mets headed into the eighth inning with a 6-5 lead, but Ryan Helsley blew the save and needed to be replaced by Diaz to get the final out of the frame. The team's closer had his own struggles in the ninth however, as Isaac Collins took him deep to walk it off. It was the first earned run Diaz had been tagged with since April 21, but both his losses on the season have come in three August appearances, as he allowed the phantom runner to score in an extra-inning loss to the Giants on Aug. 1. Despite those recent setbacks, the 31-year-old right-hander has a stellar 1.60 ERA, 0.93 WHIP and 67:17 K:BB through 45 innings in 2025, converting 23 of 25 save chances.