MLB Player News

Assad (3-1) tossed 3.2 scoreless innings of relief to earn the win in Friday's 7-1 victory over the Rangers. He allowed a hit and a walk while striking out one.

Ben Brown started for the Cubs and gave them four strong innings before turning things over to the bullpen. Assad stepped up with some important length and earned his third win of the year and second in relief. The righty has a subpar 6.00 ERA across 24 innings so far, but that figure is inflated by the nine runs he allowed on April 13 and the six runs he gave up on April 25. Outside of those two bad outings, Assad has a sharp 0.52 ERA.

Scott struck out one in a perfect inning to earn the save in Friday's 3-1 win over Atlanta.

Scott has allowed just two hits and one walk while striking out seven over his last five innings. The Dodgers aren't generating a ton of save chances for him, but he has pitched well enough to maintain his hold on a share of ninth-inning duties while Edwin Diaz (elbow) is out. Scott has pitched to a 1.65 ERA, 0.61 WHIP and 16:2 K:BB across 16.1 innings while adding three saves and four holds. Alex Vesia is also in the mix for saves, but he was utilized to put out a fire in the fifth inning Friday.

Mlodzinski (2-3) allowed two runs on seven hits and struck out one without walking a batter over six innings, taking the loss Friday versus the Giants.

A Rafael Devers home run and a Heliot Ramos RBI single accounted for the two runs on his line. Mlodzinski's single strikeout was a bit of a disappointment after he racked up 10 punchouts versus the Reds last Saturday. This was his first quality start of the season, and it ended a stretch of three poor outings in which he allowed a total of 15 runs (14 earned) across 13.2 innings. He's had fairly mixed results overall with a 4.50 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 41:13 K:BB through 40 innings over eight appearances (seven starts). The right-hander offers strikeout upside in a favorable projected matchup next week at home versus the Rockies.

Poulin earned the save in Friday's 3-2 win over the Marlins, allowing one walk and recording one out in the ninth inning.

Poulin was summoned with a runner on first and two outs to face lefty Joe Mack before the Marlins countered with right-handed hitter Heriberto Hernandez. Poulin walked Hernandez before inducing a game-ending groundout to earn his first save of the season. It was likely just a matchup play after current closer Gus Varland picked up a save Thursday. On the year, Poulin owns a 3.38 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 14:11 K:BB across 18.2 innings, adding three holds and serving as an opener in five of his 19 appearances.

Harvey was diagnosed with a stress reaction in his right triceps Friday, Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Harvey had progressed to throwing off a mound while working his way back from ticeps inflammation, but he reported soreness after Thursday's session. An MRI revealed a stress reaction, which will keep the 31-year-old shut down for the next month. A clearer timeline for his return may begin to emerge once he's cleared to restart his throwing program.

The Cubs optioned Hollowell to Triple-A Iowa on Friday.

The right-hander was called up from Iowa and will return there after he allowed two runs over 1.2 innings Thursday against the Reds. Ethan Roberts (finger) was reinstated off the injured list to take Hollowell's spot in Chicago's bullpen.

The Cubs reinstated Roberts (finger) from the 15-day injured list Friday.

The right-hander has been on the shelf nearly a month due to a right middle finger laceration, but he's ready to rejoin the Cubs after a five-outing rehab assignment. Roberts has made just three appearances in the majors this year and has pitched 2.2 scoreless frames.

The Marlins designated Jones for assignment Friday.

The transaction frees a spot on the 40-man roster for Robby Snelling, who has been summoned for his major-league debut Friday. Jones was just called up Thursday and did not make an appearance.

Santana threw a scoreless seventh inning while walking one to earn a hold Thursday against the Diamondbacks.

Santana blew a save and allowed four earned runs on April 27 and has not gotten a save chance in three appearances since. Meanwhile, Gregory Soto has earned two saves in that span, both of which have come in Pittsburgh's last two games. While the closer situation has been fluid between Soto and Santana early on this season, Santana has allowed at least one run in four of his last 10 appearances and has only a 5.4 K/9 across 16.2 innings on the campaign.

Soto earned a save against the Diamondbacks on Thursday, striking out one batter in a perfect inning of work.

Soto entered in the ninth frame with Pittsburgh up 4-2 and kept things that way, retiring the side in order on 14 pitches (11 strikes). It was the second straight day in which Soto notched a save after picking up just one save over his first 17 outings. Meanwhile, Dennis Santana, who recorded two saves in April but has given up six runs over his past four appearances spanning 3.2 frames, pitched a scoreless seventh frame in Thursday's contest. It's probably still a fluid closer situation, but for the moment it seems like Soto has jumped ahead of Santana in the pecking order.