MLB Player News

Junk allowed a run on six hits and a walk while striking out four over five innings to earn the save in Saturday's 6-2 win over the Angels.

Junk was called up from Triple-A Jacksonville earlier in the day to provide reinforcements in the bullpen. He delivered with a lengthy outing after Cal Quantrill was curiously pulled after just 3.1 innings (46 pitches). Junk threw 48 of his 68 pitches for strikes and was credited with a five-inning save in his season debut at the major-league level. He has worked as a starter with Jacksonville this season, but barring a severe run of injuries to Miami's starters, Junk doesn't have a clear path to a starting role in the majors any time soon. Between the Brewers and Athletics last season, he made six relief appearances, posting a 14.62 ERA over eight innings.

Diaz earned a save against the Dodgers on Saturday, striking out three batters in 1.1 perfect innings.

Diaz entered in the eighth inning with a runner on first base and New York holding a 4-2 lead. He struck out Mookie Betts to end the threat, then fanned both Teoscar Hernandez and Freddie Freeman en route to retiring the side in order in the ninth to close out the contest. Diaz extended his stretch of appearances without allowing an earned run to 11, and during that span he's posted a 15:4 K:BB across 11.1 frames while picking up four saves. The veteran right-hander is a perfect 11-for-11 in save opportunities on the campaign, once again cementing himself as one of MLB's best closers.

Pagan earned the save in Saturday's 6-4 win over the Cubs, allowing one run on two hits while striking out two in the ninth inning.

Pagan entered the ninth with a 6-3 lead and closed out the win despite surrendering a leadoff homer to Carson Kelly. The veteran right-hander has allowed runs in four of nine May appearances but has converted five straight save opportunities. He ranks third in the National League with 13 saves and owns a 3.75 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and 28:6 K:BB across 24 innings on the season.

Reynolds (0-1) took the loss against Atlanta on Saturday, allowing three runs on six hits and no walks with one strikeout over 2.2 innings.

Reynolds tossed 35 of 57 pitches for strikes but was hit around in his first major-league start. The 27-year-old owns a 7.45 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 10:3 K:BB across 9.2 innings and should return to the bullpen after making a spot start in place of Michael King (shoulder).

Bednar picked up the save in Saturday's 2-1 win over the Brewers. He allowed one hit, no walks and a hit by pitch while striking out none over a scoreless inning.

Bednar didn't spare the dramatics Saturday, plunking Caleb Durbin and giving up a base hit to Joey Ortiz before inducing a Brice Turang double play to close out the game. The right-hander faltered in a non-save situation Friday, surrendering a solo home run and issuing two walks before being pulled after recording only one out. The 30-year-old has struggled mightily this season, pitching to a 5.17 ERA and 1.60 WHIP across 15.2 innings in 19 appearances. Bednar has recorded two of Pittsburgh's past three saves, but he still appears to be splitting closer work with Dennis Santana.

Lopez struck out one in a perfect ninth inning Saturday to record his first save of the season in a 3-0 win over the Giants.

With Kyle Finnegan battling shoulder fatigue, Lopez stepped up in the ninth for the Nationals and fired eight of nine pitches for strikes to get the job done. The 32-year-old right-hander has had some rough stretches this season, but Lopez has reeled off five straight scoreless appearances while collecting a win and two holds, plus Saturday's save. It's not clear how long Finnegan might be unavailable, but the Nats haven't yet placed him on the injured list. If the team's regular closer does end up needing a lengthier absence, Jackson Rutledge -- who had pitched Thursday and Friday -- might join the ninth-inning mix given Lopez's 6.00 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 16:6 K:BB through 24 innings on the year.

Harrison (0-1) took the loss Saturday as the Giants fell 3-0 to the Nationals, giving up two runs on five hits over four innings. He struck out four without walking a batter.

The 23-year-old southpaw pitched well in his first big-league start of the season, tossing 43 of 57 pitches for strikes, but Harrison served up a two-run homer to James Wood in the first inning and the Giants' offense never woke up. With Justin Verlander (pectoral) on the shelf, Harrison will get at least one more turn through the rotation, and he should get stretched out enough to potentially qualify for a win next weekend in Miami. Through 9.1 MLB innings in 2025, Harrison has a 3.86 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 11:3 K:BB.

Helsley (2-0) was credited with the win in Saturday's 6-5 victory over the Diamondbacks, giving up a hit and a walk while striking out two in a scoreless ninth inning.

The official scorer elected to give Helsley the win and not the save, despite the fact that he entered the game with the Cardinals ahead by a run, after both Kyle Leahy and Steven Matz were ineffective in the eighth trying to protect a 4-1 lead. Helsley hasn't been as sharp in 2025 as he was last season, and he sports a 3.50 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 19:11 K:BB through 18 innings while converting 10 of 12 save chances.

Finnegan was unavailable for Saturday's game against the Giants due to shoulder fatigue, Spencer Nusbaum of The Washington Post reports.

Finnegan hasn't pitched since blowing a save against Atlanta on Thursday. He reported soreness in his shoulder following his last outing, but manager Dave Martinez said that imaging on his shoulder came back negative, and the 33-year-old righty is considered day-to-day for now.

Martinez (1-2) was charged with his first blown save of the season and took the loss Saturday against the Cardinals, coughing up two runs on two hits and a walk in one inning. He struck out two.

Brought on in the bottom of the eighth inning to protect a 4-3 lead in his first action since coming off the IL on Friday, Martinez struck out the first batter he faced but quickly ran into trouble before giving up a two-out, two-run single to Jordan Walker. The usage suggests Shelby Miller would have been used in the ninth if Arizona still held the lead, but it might only take a couple clean appearances for Martinez to regain the closer role. Arizona manager Torey Lovullo told Joe Harris of MLB.com upon Martinez's activation off the injured list Friday that he would be eased back into closing duties. That's easier said than done, however -- he's been tagged for a run in four straight games dating back to late April, prior to being shut down with shoulder inflammation. On the bright side, Martinez showed his usual elite velocity Saturday as he hit triple digits on the radar gun with six of his 23 pitches.