MLB Player News
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Ryan Pressly RP | CHC
Cubs' Ryan Pressly: Earns second win Friday
Pressly (2-1) worked around a hit to toss a scoreless inning of relief and earn the win in Friday's 13-11 victory over the Diamondbacks.
The Cubs led 7-1 in this one, and then allowed 10 straight Arizona runs in the eighth inning before rallying back in the bottom of the frame for the wild win. While Pressly worked the ninth and preserved a two-run lead, the scorer credited him with a win rather than a save due to ineffective Chicago relief work in that eighth inning as the lead evaporated. The veteran righty had some hiccups earlier in the season, but he's now strung together seven straight scoreless appearances, and he's a perfect 4-for-4 in save opportunities.
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JoJo Romero RP | STL
Cardinals' JoJo Romero: Still not getting strikeouts
Romero has just a 3:5 K:BB through his first 7.1 innings this season.
Romero boasted a 28.6 percent strikeout rate in his first full season with the Cardinals in 2023, but that number fell to 21 percent in 2024 and sits at just 10 percent through his first eight appearances in 2025. The southpaw still induces lots of grounders (54.5 percent this season) and remains manager Oliver Marmol's primary left-handed setup man ahead of closer Ryan Helsley, but Romero might see his responsibilities decrease if he can't rediscover some swing-and-miss.
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Alexis Diaz RP | TEX
Reds' Alexis Diaz: Secures Friday's win
Diaz struck out one over a scoreless ninth inning in Friday's 8-3 win over the Orioles.
Diaz needed 15 pitches (nine strikes) to retire the heart of Baltimore's order. It wasn't a save situation nor was it a close game, but it was the former closer's first time pitching in the ninth inning since being activated off the injured list. Diaz was used in the sixth and seventh innings in his first two appearances. This could be the first tentative steps by manager Terry Francona to get Diaz back into the closer's role.
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Trevor Megill RP | MIL
Brewers' Trevor Megill: Converts second save
Megill recorded the final two outs to earn the save in Friday's 5-3 win over the Athletics.
Bryan Hudson began the ninth inning but allowed three of the first four batters to reach base. Megill allowed an inherited runner to score on a sacrifice fly before inducing a groundout from Shea Langeliers to end the threat. This was Megill's second save in three chances this season, though his last opportunity ended in disaster when he blew a save versus the Diamondbacks last Saturday. Megill is now at a 4.26 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 8:4 K:BB over 6.1 innings this season. He has a loose grip on the closer job for the Brewers, in large part due to an ongoing issue with his knee.
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Ryan Fernandez RP | STL
Cardinals' Ryan Fernandez: Gives up walk-off homer
Fernandez (0-2) took the loss after giving up a home run in the ninth inning Friday against the Mets.
Before Fernandez was able to record an out, Francisco Lindor took him deep to walk it off for the Mets. Ryan Helsley last pitched in Wednesday's win over the Astros, so he likely would have been called upon had it been a save situation as opposed to a tie game. Fernandez remains miles from fantasy relevance in the majority of formats to begin the season, holding a 9.00 ERA, 2.14 WHIP and 4:4 K:BB over seven innings.
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Tanner Scott RP | LAD
Dodgers' Tanner Scott: Locks down seventh save
Scott allowed two hits in a scoreless inning to earn the save in Friday's 3-0 win over the Rangers.
Scott made things a little interesting by putting two runners on base with one out, but he induced a double-play grounder from Josh Jung to end the threat. Scott is up to seven saves in eight opportunities, and he's added two holds. The 30-year-old southpaw has a 2.45 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 10:0 K:BB over 11 innings this season. He's not overwhelming with velocity, but he is one of the Dodgers' most trusted relievers, so he should remain the primary closer as long as he's getting the job done.
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Raisel Iglesias RP | ATL
Braves' Raisel Iglesias: Converts third save
Iglesias pitched a perfect inning to earn the save in Friday's 6-4 win over the Twins.
Atlanta's five-run rally in the eighth inning created a save situation, and Iglesias took care of business. The closer hadn't pitched since Saturday -- Atlanta went 1-3 over its previous three games entering Friday, and the one win didn't yield a save opportunity. He's allowed a run in three of his seven appearances this season while converting three of four save chances. The right-hander is at a 3.86 ERA, 0.71 WHIP and 7:1 K:BB across seven innings.
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Colin Rea SP | CHC
Cubs' Colin Rea: Fans five in no-decision
Rea didn't factor into the decision in Friday's 13-11 win over the Diamondbacks, giving up one run on five hits while striking out five batters across 4.2 innings. He did not issue a walk.
At 4.2 innings, Friday marked Rea's longest outing of the season as he continues to re-adjust to life as a starter after opening the year in the bullpen. He carried a shutout into the fifth inning but was pulled shortly after allowing an RBI single to Corbin Carroll -- well before the Diamondbacks' bats erupted for 10 runs in the eighth. With Javier Assad (oblique) nearing a return from the IL, it's unclear if Rea will get another chance to start or return to the bullpen, but his place in the rotation is due up again next Friday against the Phillies.
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Porter Hodge SP | CHC
Cubs' Porter Hodge: Struggles badly Friday
Hodge allowed six runs on four hits and two walks while retiring only two batters in Friday's 13-11 win over the Diamondbacks.
Hodge entered in a tough spot, as he came on in the top of the eighth inning after Jordan Wicks allowed three straight hits to load the bases with no outs. Hodge proceeded to give up a Eugenio Suarez grand slam as part of a nightmare outing. The second-year righty saw his ERA spike from 2.00 to 7.45 in the process. Hodge has the talent to turn things around, though it may take him some time to drop his ERA back to a more respectable level.
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Evan Phillips RP | LAD
Dodgers' Evan Phillips: Expected to return next week
Phillips (shoulder) is expected to return to the Dodgers during their series against the Cubs starting April 22, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.
Phillips has been battling through a right shoulder strain since October, which prevented him from being on the Dodgers' World Series roster. He started the season on the 15-day injured list and embarked on his rehab assignment at Triple-A Oklahoma City on April 3, allowing six runs (four earned) on nine hits and one walk while striking out nine across 5.2 innings since. Barring any setbacks, Phillips should return to the Dodgers' bullpen next week.