MLB Player News

Kerkering will serve as the Phillies' opening pitcher for Sunday's game against the Athletics, Tim Kelly of PhilliesNation.com reports.

Kerkering will be making the first start of his professional career, but the Phillies are unlikely to ask him to cover more than the opening frame or two, given that the hard-throwing reliever hasn't recorded more than five outs in any appearance this season. Though he's given up a hit in all but two of his last nine relief outings, Kerkering has struck out 10 batters and hasn't allowed a run during that stretch, bringing his ERA down to a shiny 1.30. Michael Mercado is expected to operate as a bulk reliever for the Phillies once Kerkering exits Sunday's contest.

Hodge (0-1) allowed two runs on two hits across 1.2 innings of relief to take the loss in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Cardinals. He walked one and struck out two.

Hodge allowed his first runs since June 6, a streak of seven appearances and 10 innings. The righty has been scored upon only twice this year in 14 appearances overall, and he has a solid 2.16 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 18 strikeouts across 16.2 innings. Veteran Hector Neris is first in line for saves at the moment, but Hodge may be next up if Neris struggles or gets hurt.

Helsley recorded his 32nd save of the season Saturday, giving up a hit and striking out one in a scoreless ninth inning during the second game of a doubleheader sweep of the Cubs.

After blowing a save July 5, Helsley got an extended rest and bounced back with a strong performance. The right-hander has hardly been struggling lately though -- he's allowed earned runs in only one of his last 12 appearances, posting a 1.38 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 16:9 K:BB over 13 innings during that stretch. Helsley's 32 saves leads the majors, three clear of the Guardians' Emmanuel Clase, and that impressive first half has earned him his second career All-Star Game berth.

Castro allowed one hit and struck out one over a scoreless inning in Saturday's 12-1 win over the Blue Jays.

Castro made his first appearance since being activated off the injured list Thursday. He pitched a scoreless eighth inning with the Diamondbacks ahead 8-1. Castro had missed nearly three months with shoulder inflammation.

Nunez earned a save against the Rockies on Saturday, striking out three batters over two perfect frames.

Nunez entered in the eighth inning in a tight situation with New York up one run and runners on first and second base with no outs. He induced a double play and a foul out to impressively escape the jam, then watched the Mets score three times in the bottom of the frame. The right-hander returned for the ninth and struck out all three batters he faced to cap his first big-league save. Nunez isn't likely to see many more save opportunities with Edwin Diaz established as New York's closer, but the rookie has nonetheless worked his way up to high-leverage work with an impressive campaign during which he's recorded a 2.35 ERA, 0.82 WHIP and 39:5 K:BB through 30.2 frames. In addition to Saturday's save, he's registered seven holds and two wins through 21 outings.

Rogers (1-3) allowed a run on two hits and struck out one in one-third of an inning, taking the loss Saturday versus the Twins.

Rogers served up a go-ahead solo home run to Carlos Santana in the sixth inning, and the Giants couldn't bounce back from it. This was Rogers' first loss in two months, and prior to Saturday he had given up just two runs (one earned) over his prior 22 innings. He's now at a 2.15 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 41:13 K:BB through 37.2 innings while adding four holds in a middle-relief role this year.

The Nationals are expected to call up Willingham from Triple-A Rochester on Sunday, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.

A 26-man roster spot opened up Saturday when Washington traded reliever Hunter Harvey to Kansas City in exchange for a minor-league infielder, and Willingham looks set to fill the vacancy in the bullpen. Although Harvey worked as a setup man, Willingham isn't likely to handle high-leverage work considering that he's logged a 4.54 ERA across 39.2 innings for Rochester this season.

Finnegan earned the save Saturday against the Brewers with one walk in a scoreless ninth inning. He didn't allow a hit and struck out one.

Washington rallied to turn a one-run deficit into a one-run lead in the top of ninth inning, and Finnegan worked around a one-out walk in the bottom of the frame to record his 25th save of the campaign. The right-hander has blown only four chances and is closing in on the career-high 28 saves he tallied last year. With just one more game before the All-Star break, Finnegan has a 2.45 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 42:13 K:BB over 39.1 innings.

Megill (0-2) was charged with a blown save and the loss Saturday versus the Nationals after he allowed two runs on two hits over 1.1 innings. He struck out two and walked none.

The right-hander entered with two outs in the eighth inning and stranded a pair of runners with a strikeout, but he was unable to maintain a one-run lead in the ninth as CJ Abrams clubbed a two-run homer. The blown save ends a stretch of 12 straight conversions for Megill, who also hadn't given up a run in his previous 10 outings. The 30-year-old remains locked in as Milwaukee's closer for now, but Devin Williams (back) began a rehab assignment Saturday and should reclaim the job early in the second half.

Wesneski (3-6) took the loss in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Cardinals, surrendering 11 runs (four earned) on 10 hits and a walk over four innings. He struck out four.

The right-hander's own errors during a nightmarish nine-run first inning prevented more damage to his ERA, but it was still a poor outing for Wesneski at the worst possible time, as it put extra pressure on the Cubs' bullpen ahead of the nightcap. In four starts since rejoining the rotation in late June, he's posted a 5.59 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 20:6 K:BB in 19.1 innings while serving up five homers, including a three-run blast by Alec Burleson on Saturday.