MLB Player News

Bednar was charged with the blown save Saturday against the Orioles after allowing one run on two hits in the ninth inning. He struck out one batter.

Bednar struck out the first batter he faced but then allowed back-to-back singles and uncorked a wild pitch to put the tying run at third base. Cedric Mullins then tied the game on a fielder's choice. While it wasn't a disastrous outing, and the Pirates would go on to win the game in extras, it was Bednar's second blown save already this season and there are some lingering questions about his health after the right-hander battled a lat injury in spring training. Aroldis Chapman has been pitching the eighth and is still throwing in the upper 90s, so he's presumably next in line behind Bednar for closing duties.

Iglesias didn't allow a hit or a walk in a scoreless inning Saturday to notch his first save of the season in a 9-8 win over the Diamondbacks.

Iglesias put the tying run on with one out when he hit Eugenio Suarez with a pitch, and a pinch runner moved up to second base with two outs on a sac bunt. However, Iglesias escaped the threat by getting Gabriel Moreno to ground out to end it. Though he has managed just the one save on a five-win Atlanta team, Iglesias has been sharp in the early going with three scoreless outings.

Helsley gave up a hit in a scoreless ninth inning Saturday to record his third save of the season in a 3-1 win over the Marlins.

The right-hander needed only six pitches (five strikes) to breeze through the middle of Miami's order. Helsley has blown one save chance already, but he has a 5:0 K:BB through five innings and has reeled off four straight scoreless appearances. If he can stay healthy in 2024, he should be able to top the career-high 19 saves he produced in 2022.

Middleton received a platelet-rich plasma injection in his right forearm Saturday, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

Middleton had to be pulled off his recovery program after suffering a setback earlier in the week, and he will now be shut down from all activity for another three days. The Cardinals will re-evaluate his progress in a week, at which point a decision will be made on whether or not to resume his throwing program. As a reliever, Middleton's ramp-up process will likely be relatively short, but a late-April return seems to be the best possible outcome for the 30-year-old righty.

The Brewers placed Junis on the 15-day injured list Saturday, retroactive to Wednesday, with a right shoulder impingement.

Junis first reported a problem with his shoulder shortly after his start Tuesday against the Twins. The 31-year-old righty underwent imaging Friday, and although the results came back clean, the Brewers won't risk pushing it. The plan is for him to rest for a couple days before ramping back up, so an extended stay on the IL doesn't seem likely. Aaron Ashby was recalled from Triple-A Nashville in a corresponding move and will presumably take Junis' spot in Milwaukee's rotation.

The Phillies traded Brogdon to the Dodgers on Saturday in exchange for Benony Robles, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

Brogdon was designated for assignment Tuesday, but he will remain on a 40-man roster as he moves to the Dodgers organization. The 29-year-old righty turned in a 4.03 ERA across 29 innings last season but has struggled to begin 2024, allowing six earned runs across two innings over three appearances. Dinelson Lamet was designated for assignment to clear space on the Dodgers' 40-man, and Brogdon will join the big-league bullpen as he does not have any minor-league options remaining.

The Dodgers recalled Varland from Triple-A Oklahoma City on Saturday, Eric Stephen of SBNation.com reports.

Varland will come up from the minors to provide a fresh arm to the Dodgers' bullpen. He owns a 6.53 ERA and 2.08 WHIP across 20.2 career big-league innings and will likely be limited to low-leverage situations. Dinelson Lamet was designated for assignment in a corresponding move.

Emanuel cleared waivers Saturday and was sent outright to Triple-A Jacksonville, Daniel Alvarez-Montes of ElExtraBase.com reports.

Emanuel was DFA'd by the Marlins on Thursday after giving up four runs across three innings Wednesday. He will remain in the Marlins organization, but he no longer holds a spot on the 40-man roster. The 31-year-old lefty turned in a 6.19 ERA and 1.56 WHIP across 84.1 frames with the Pirates' Triple-A affiliate last season, and he will have to turn things around at Jacksonville in order to have a shot at pitching in the majors again this year.

Smith (1-0) collected the win Friday in a 3-2 victory over the Reds, giving up two hits and striking out one in a scoreless inning.

The right-hander entered a 1-1 tie with two outs and two on in the sixth inning and got Luke Maile to pop up, before running into trouble himself in the seventh and getting bailed out by Brooks Raley. Smith has made an appearance in four of the Mets' first seven games, posting a 4:2 K:BB over four innings without getting charged with an earned run, and he's picked up a win and a hold along the way. The 30-year-old hasn't recorded more than 14 holds in a season, but he could easily top that number in 2024 given his fairly high-leverage role for New York.

Manager Oliver Marmol said Saturday that Middleton (forearm) has yet to resume his throwing program, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

Middleton had been scheduled for mound work earlier in the week, but a setback prevented him from throwing. He will meet with the Cardinals' staff Saturday to discuss the next steps of his rehab process, but it appears the right-hander's absence will extend further into the season than originally expected.