MLB Player News

Kontos (1-2) allowed one run on two hits and one walk in one inning Friday in Philadelphia.

The Pirates have trusted Kontos in late-inning, high-leverage situations, but he hasn't pitched very well, registering a 5.00 ERA and 1.44 WHIP through nine outings (nine innings). Although the 32-year-old has collected one save and two holds, he'll need to pitch better to remain the bridge to closer Felipe Vazquez.

Boxberger failed to retire any of the three batters he faced in the ninth inning and was charged with three runs (one earned) on three hits to take the loss Friday against the Padres.

Though the box score paints an ugly picture, Boxberger wasn't quite as disastrous as the results indicate, as all three of the hits he surrendered were groundball singles. Nonetheless, the three consecutive hits late in a tied ball game were all the Padres needed to pull away, resulting in Boxberger dropping to 0-2 on the season. With Friday's appearance marking Boxberger's third in as many days -- the first time he has pitched on three consecutive days since the 2015 season -- expect the right-hander to be unavailable for the second game of the series Saturday. If that's the case, Archie Bradley or Yoshihisa Hirano would likely be deployed as closer for the day.

Richards (0-2) lasted just 3.2 innings in Friday's loss to the Brewers, giving up six runs (five earned) on five hits while picking up five strikeouts against six walks.

Through four starts, Richards has made it out of the fifth just once. Friday's outing was his shortest, and the six walks he issued were more than he had allowed in his previous three starts combined. He now has a 6.16 ERA and 1.68 WHIP and lines up to face the Dodgers in Los Angeles next week. However, with Dan Straily and Wei-Yin Chen expected to return from the disabled list soon, Richards may not find himself in the rotation to make that start.

Hand (1-2) got the win against the Diamondbacks on Friday, allowing one walk, no hits and bagging four strikeouts over 1.1 innings in San Diego's 4-1 victory.

Hand had converted six straight save opportunities coming into this game, and he added his first win of the season for good measure against Arizona in relief of a dominant outing from Tyson Ross. Hand got a loss and a blown save in his first appearance of the season, but he hasn't given up an earned run since and now has a 1.59 ERA in 11.1 innings.

Koch didn't factor into the decision against the Padres on Friday, giving up just two hits and one earned run over six innings while striking out four and walking two as Arizona eventually fell to San Diego 4-1.

With Taijuan Walker lost for the season due to an elbow injury, Koch got a crack at filling the spot in Arizona's rotation and while he pitched well in his first MLB start since 2016, he was out-dueled by counterpart Tyson Ross, who flirted with a no-hitter. It was a solid effort, but it will be hard to get a gauge on what type of fantasy value Koch could have at the big-league level until he's assembled a larger body of work.

Reyes (elbow) is progressing well in extended spring training according to Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak, Steve Overbey of MLB.com reports.

Reyes was sidelined for all of last season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in February, robbing him of the opportunity to build on an impressive 2016 rookie campaign in which he'd generated a 4-1 record and 1.57 ERA across 12 appearances. Mozeliak added that if Reyes continues free of setbacks, he'll likely be ready for a rehab assignment sometime around mid-May.

Neris gave up a hit and struck out one in a scoreless ninth inning Friday to collect his third save of the season in a 2-1 win over the Pirates.

The right-hander's ERA remains an unsightly 4.70 thanks to a rough first outing of the season, but Neris has only been scored upon in one of his last seven appearances, and his 9:3 K:BB in 7.2 innings is strong. His spot in the ninth inning for the Phillies seems secure as he looks to top last year's 26 saves in a full campaign with the closer job.

Webb was optioned to Triple-A El Paso on Friday.

Webb made just two appearances during his brief tenure in San Diego, getting shellacked for three runs in the first outing and tossing three scoreless innings in the second. He'll head back to the minors until the Padres need more bullpen help, allowing Wil Myers to return from the disabled list ahead of Friday's contest.

Torres' contract was purchased from Triple-A Syracuse on Friday, Dan Kolko of MASN Sports reports.

The veteran reliever has a wealth of major-league experience, sporting a career 4.00 ERA in 491 innings pitched. Torres' strikeout rate and control leave much to be desired, so he provides little fantasy intrigue. A.J. Cole was designated for assignment in a corresponding move.

Wittgren was recalled from Triple-A New Orleans on Friday, Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald reports.

Wittgren was expected to make the Marlins' roster out of spring training, but a slow recovery from an offseason elbow procedure derailed those plans. He'll now head to the big leagues to replace the injured Odrisamer Despaigne (forearm), who was placed on the DL in a corresponding move.