MLB Player News
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Reed Garrett RP | NYM
Mets' Reed Garrett: Gets win in season debut
Garrett (1-0) picked up the win in the second game of Thursday's doubleheader against the Tigers, giving up two hits and a walk over three scoreless innings of relief. He struck out four.
After Jose Butto tossed one-run ball over six innings, Garrett saved a Mets bullpen that had been taxed in the matinee by working the rest of the game, and he got rewarded for his efforts when New York finally pushed two runs across in the ninth. It's only the second big-league win of Garrett's career in 32 appearances, and his 6.65 ERA and 1.90 WHIP in 47.1 innings don't make a strong case for anything more than a low-leverage role. Despite Thursday's performance, the 31-year-old seems likely to get booted off the 26-man roster when the Mets next have a need for a fresh arm.
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Anthony Bender RP | MIA
Marlins' Anthony Bender: Picks up second hold
Bender gave up a hit and struck out one in a scoreless sixth inning Thursday to collect his second hold of the season in a loss to the Cardinals.
The right-hander has been arguably the Marlins' most reliable reliever so far, posting a 6:1 K:BB through 3.2 innings and getting scored upon in only one of his four appearances. By contrast, closer Tanner Scott has a 5:6 K:BB in 3.0 innings, and Andrew Nardi has an ERA of 21.60 and has given up multiple runs in three of his four appearances. Bender's usage Thursday doesn't suggest he's in the closing mix at the moment, but if Scott and Nardi continue to struggle, that could change by the time Miami -- 0-8 to begin the season -- starts having late leads to protect.
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Ian Gibaut RP | CIN
Reds' Ian Gibaut: Slated for rehab assignment
Gibaut (forearm) will begin a rehab assignment with High-A Dayton on Friday.
Gibaut missed all of spring training with a strained forearm but has been cleared for game action. He is eligible for activation April 9, but he might not be ready by then.
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David Bednar RP | NYY
Pirates' David Bednar: Nabs first save of 2024
Bednar earned a save against the Nationals on Thursday, striking out two batters in a perfect inning.
Bednar got a slightly late start to the season due to a lat injury, and he faltered in his first save opportunity Sunday, though he ended with the win in that outing. The right-hander had no problem with Washington in earning a save Thursday, throwing 14 of 19 pitches for strikes and finishing the contest by fanning Lane Thomas and Joey Meneses. Bednar cemented himself as one of the league's elite closers last year with 39 saves (tied for second in MLB), and though he's just 1-for-2 in save opportunities to begin this campaign, he's looked good overall, allowing just one run on one hit while posting a 5:0 K:BB over three innings.
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Giovanny Gallegos RP | LAD
Cardinals' Giovanny Gallegos: Picks up first win
Gallegos (1-0) retired the only batter he faced to earn the win Thursday over the Marlins.
Gallegos got the last out in the top of the seventh inning, and the Cardinals rallied from a two-run deficit to take an 8-5 lead by the end of the frame. While he's allowed five baserunners (three hits, two walks) over four innings, Gallegos has also struck out six batters while collecting a save, a hold and a win through four appearances. Manager Oliver Marmol still looks to be using a flexible approach to late-inning assignments, though Ryan Helsley is the Cardinals' top closing option. Gallegos will be in the mix for save opportunities, along with Andrew Kittredge and JoJo Romero, when Helsley is unavailable.
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Ryan Helsley RP | BAL
Cardinals' Ryan Helsley: Locks down second save
Helsley struck out one in a perfect ninth inning against the Marlins on Thursday to earn his second save of the season.
After allowing a pair of runs in a blown save versus the Dodgers in his first outing this year, Helsley's now delivered three straight scoreless appearances while earning a pair of saves. Helsley should have a fairly firm grasp on the closing job in St. Louis after he went 14-for-19 in save chances with a 2.45 ERA and 52:17 K:BB last season.
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Josh Simpson RP | SEA
Marlins' Josh Simpson: Starting rehab assignment
Simpson (elbow) will begin a rehab assignment with Single-A Jupiter on Saturday, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.
The left-handed reliever has been working his way back from an elbow issue and is finally ready to test himself in a game setting. Simpson missed all of spring training, so he'll likely require a handful of rehab appearances before becoming an option for the Marlins bullpen.
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Hunter Harvey RP | CHC
Nationals' Hunter Harvey: Dazzles in second hold
Harvey struck out four batters over 1.2 perfect innings to record his second hold of the season in Wednesday's win over the Pirates.
Entering the game with one out in the seventh inning, the right-hander carved up the heart of Pittsburgh's order, with a soft liner back to Harvey from Jack Suwinski being the only ball put into play against him. Harvey got tagged for two runs in his first appearance of the season but has settled down quickly after that, and he sports a 6:1 K:BB through 3.2 innings. Kyle Finnegan is 2-for-3 in save chances so far, but Harvey could be pushing for ninth-inning work before long if he keeps dominating.
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Jordan Weems RP | LAD
Nationals' Jordan Weems: Nabs first hold of season
Weems (illness) struck out a batter and worked around a walk while allowing no runs over two-thirds of an inning en route to notching his first hold of the season in Wednesday's 5-3 win over the Pirates.
Weems battled an illness earlier in the week that left him unavailable for the Nationals' series opener versus Pittsburgh, but he looks to be in the clear on the health front. After turning in a 3.62 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 60:28 K:BB in 54.2 innings over his 51 appearances with Washington in 2023, Weems should be a key part of the bridge to the ninth inning this season.