MLB Player News

Soto walked two but turned in a scoreless eighth inning to earn a hold Friday against the Cubs.

Soto worked the eighth inning with the Pirates up 2-0, setting up Dennis Santana for the save. While Soto has allowed five walks across 8.1 innings, he has allowed only one earned run while racking up 13 strikeouts. Though it looked like he could challenge Santana for saves to begin the season, Soto has now worked in a setup role in consecutive appearances.

Manager Dave Roberts said Friday that Graterol (shoulder) has begun throwing bullpen sessions, Sonja Chen of MLB.com reports.

Graterol began playing catch during the late stages of spring training, and he's now been cleared to throw off a mound for the first time since undergoing surgery on his right shoulder in November 2024. He still has several hurdles to clear before being deemed ready to make his season debut, but he's starting to make significant progress.

O'Brien picked up his fourth save Friday against the Red Sox, striking out one in a hitless and scoreless ninth inning.

O'Brien entered in the ninth with a 3-2 lead and set the Red Sox down in order on eight pitches, six of which he threw for strikes. After Ryne Stanek opened the season as St. Louis' closer, O'Brien has recorded four straight saves for the Cardinals. He's yet to allow a run and owns a perfect 8:0 K:BB across 8.1 innings.

Megill (0-2) took the loss Friday against the Nationals, allowing four runs on two hits without recording an out.

With the game tied 3-3, Megill came on for the top of the ninth inning. He hit CJ Abrams with a pitch, allowed a bunt single to Joey Wiemer, surrendered an RBI single to Luis Garcia, threw the ball away on a sacrifice bunt by Jorbit Vivas and then Milwaukee was unable to get an out on a safety squeeze by Drew Millas. After five batters and nine pitches, Megill's night was over. Megill entered play Friday with a 2.25 ERA but now will take an 11.25 ERA and 5:3 K:BB across four innings into his next appearance.

The Padres placed Estrada on the 15-day injured list Friday with right elbow tendinitis.

After logging five straight shutout appearances, Estrada gave up two earned runs on two hits and two walks over 1.1 innings during his outing Thursday. He had been working as a setup man in front of closer Mason Miller, but Jason Adam will presumably take over in that role after being activated from the IL in a corresponding move.

The Padres reinstated Adam (quadriceps) from the injured list Friday.

Adam began the season on a rehab assignment at Triple-A El Paso while finishing up his recovery from offseason quad surgery. He made four appearances in the minors, allowing two hits and two walks while striking out one batter across five shutout innings. The 34-year-old righty has turned in a sub-2.00 ERA in each of the past two seasons but will work mostly in a setup role in front of closer Mason Miller. Jeremiah Estrada (elbow) was placed on the 15-day IL in a corresponding move.

Holmes was removed from his start Friday against the Athletics with left hamstring tightness, Max Goodman of NJ.com reports.

Holmes had been pitching well Friday, allowing just one earned run on five hits and three walks while striking out three batters over 5.1 innings, but the Mets' trainers saw something they didn't like and made the call to pull the 33-year-old. More details on his injury will likely come after the team takes a closer look at him.

Imanaga came away with a no-decision Friday as the Cubs fell 2-0 to the Pirates, striking out nine and walking one over six scoreless, no-hit innings.

The southpaw was dominant, firing 68 strikes on 100 pitches while generating 30 called or swinging strikes, but Chicago's offense couldn't push any runs across against Carmen Mlodzinski. Once Imanaga left the mound, Pittsburgh immediately struck for two runs in the top of the seventh. Imanaga will take a 2.81 ERA, 0.81 WHIP and 20:4 K:BB through 16 innings into his next outing, which is set to come on the road next week in Philadelphia.

Santana struck out two in a perfect ninth inning Friday to record his first save of the season in a 2-0 win over the Cubs.

The right-hander got Dansby Swanson and Michael Busch to chase sliders for third strikes as Santana converted his first save chance of the year. Gregory Soto worked the eighth and was less efficient, walking two batters without striking anyone out, and the closer battle in Pittsburgh seems to be tipping back in Santana's favor. He sports a 0.00 ERA through seven innings with two wins, two holds and a 6:2 K:BB.

Mlodzinski didn't factor into the decision during Friday's 2-0 win over the Cubs, allowing six hits and three walks over 5.1 scoreless innings. He struck out two.

The 27-year-old right-hander wasn't particularly efficient, throwing 48 of 81 pitches for strikes, but he got locked in a 0-0 pitchers' duel with Shota Imanaga until exiting the mound in the sixth inning. Mlodzinski is still looking for his first win of 2026, but he'll take a 2.51 ERA, 1.60 WHIP and 15:6 K:BB through 14.1 innings into his next start, which lines up to come at home next week against the Nationals.