MLB Player News

Casparius earned a hold against the Mets in Friday's extra-innings contest, allowing one walk and striking out six batters in three hitless and scoreless frames.

A 98-minute rain delay in the top of the third inning caused both starting pitchers to have abbreviated outings, with Los Angeles' Clayton Kershaw tossing just two innings. Matt Sauer and Casparius absorbed three innings apiece thereafter to help preserve the team's bullpen, though LA still used eight pitchers overall due to the game lasting 13 frames. Casparius' outing was the most impressive of any of the team's hurlers -- he not only held New York hitless but also notched 13 whiffs on just 46 pitches and struck out six of the 10 batters he faced, including Juan Soto, Pete Alonso and Francisco Lindor (twice). The dominant effort was a continuation of what has been a breakthrough campaign for the right-hander. In addition to posting a 2.94 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 38:6 K:BB through 33.2 innings, Casparius ranks above the 80th percentile in almost every advanced metric, including in the 93rd percentile in pitching run value and in the 95th percentile in fastball run value.

Wilson will start Saturday's game against the Rangers, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

The 27-year-old will be taking the place of Jonathan Cannon, who was scratched from his start due to lower-back tightness. Wilson hasn't pitched in a game since May 15, and he owns a 6.00 ERA and 1.79 WHIP through 33 innings this season.

Newcomb allowed an earned run on one hit and two walks over two innings of relief Wednesday in the Red Sox's 5-1 loss to the Mets.

Newcomb claimed a spot in the Boston rotation coming out of spring training but has been working exclusively out of the bullpen since late April after turning in a 4.43 ERA, 1.93 WHIP and 27:11 K:BB in 22.1 innings over his five starts. His results over the past month as a reliever have been only marginally better (3.06 ERA, 1.53 WHIP and 14:5 K:BB in 17.2 innings over six appearances), but Newcomb could nonetheless find himself in the mix for a spot start or bulk-relief appearance in the near future. As a result of postponements Thursday and Friday, the Red Sox will begin a stretch of six games in five days Saturday and will need to break in a temporary sixth starter at some point.

Hall (lat) struck out six and allowed two hits and one walk over three scoreless innings in a rehab start Wednesday with Triple-A Nashville.

After kicking off his rehab assignment May 3 in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League and making two starts, Hall has moved up to Nashville for his most recent two outings. He's delivered scoreless appearances in both of his Triple-A appearances, though he was much more efficient Wednesday while pushing up his pitch count to 57. The left-hander looks like he'll continue to get stretched out as a starter while he works his way back from the left lat strain that has kept him on the shelf all season, but the Brewers likely won't have a spot in the rotation available for him once he returns from the 60-day injured list. Hall has a minor-league option remaining and could stick around in Nashville as a member of the rotation once his 30-day rehab window closes, or the Brewers could have him serve as a multi-inning option out of the big-league bullpen.

Scott coughed up three runs on three hits and a walk while recording just one out Friday, blowing his fourth save of the season in an eventual 7-5 extra-innings win over the Mets.

Brought in to protect a 5-2 lead in the ninth inning, Scott put two runners aboard ahead of a one-out triple by Jeff McNeil, who then came home on a Tyrone Taylor single. Scott has blown two of his last three save chances, but he'd gone eight appearances without allowing a run prior to that. The southpaw sports a 3.42 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 25:2 K:BB through 23.2 innings on the season with 10 saves and four holds in 24 games, and his spot in the Dodgers' bullpen hierarchy doesn't seem to be in immediate jeopardy, especially with Kirby Yates (hamstring), Michael Kopech (shoulder) and Evan Phillips (elbow) all currently on the injured list.

Fairbanks walked one and struck out two in a scoreless ninth inning Friday to record his ninth save of the season in a 3-1 win over the Blue Jays.

The right-hander picked up his first save since May 4, but the drought was due to a lack of opportunities rather than effectiveness -- Fairbanks has blown only one save chance all season, and that came on an unearned run. Through 9.2 innings in May, Fairbanks has produced a 1.86 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 12:4 K:BB.

Lauer (1-1) took the loss Friday as the Blue Jays were downed 3-1 by the Rays, giving up three runs on six hits and two walks over 4.1 innings. He struck out two.

The southpaw gave up plenty of hard contact among his 85 pitches (50 strikes), as five of the six hits off him went for extra bases, including homers by Brandon Lowe in the third inning and Curtis Mead in the fourth. Lauer sports a 3.31 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 16:5 K:BB through 16.1 innings over five appearances (two starts) for Toronto, and he'll continue to fill in as the team's fifth starter next week on the road against the Rangers.

Lopez (0-2) allowed a run on three hits and a walk while striking out eight over seven innings, taking the loss versus the Phillies on Friday.

Lopez deserved better, but he gave up the only run of the first seven innings of the game, a Trea Turner solo shot four pitches in. The Phillies tacked on three more runs in the ninth, and the Athletics' comeback push came up one run short, leaving Lopez with a hard-luck loss. This was his second start and fifth appearance of the season, and he threw 58 of 91 pitches for strikes in an impressive showing against a tough opponent. He has a 2.57 ERA despite a 1.57 WHIP and 17:8 K:BB through 14 innings in the majors this season. Lopez has a chance to make a positive impression while J.T. Ginn (quadriceps) is on the 15-day injured list. Lopez will look to repeat his performance from this start in his next outing, tentatively scheduled to be on the road in Toronto.

Stephenson (elbow) had his minor-league rehab assignment moved up to Triple-A Salt Lake on Tuesday, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Stephenson pitched in two games with Single-A Inland Empire prior to being bumped up to Salt Lake. He's gotten into two contests in Triple-A so far, allowing a run on two hits while striking out two batters and walking none over two innings. The righty reliever underwent UCL repair surgery in May of last year, and he appears on the brink of a return to the majors. If all goes well moving forward, Stephenson could join the Angels' bullpen as soon as early June.

Banks struck out the only batter he faced to earn the save in Friday's 4-3 win over the Athletics.

The Phillies grew their lead from 1-0 to 4-0 in the ninth inning, taking a save situation off the board for Jordan Romano, who entered the game anyway in the bottom of the ninth. He struggled, allowing a three-run home run to Nick Kurtz, and Banks entered after that, striking out Luis Urias to avoid an epic collapse. This was Banks' fourth career save and his first this season. He's mostly pitched in a middle-relief role, compiling a 3.91 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 26:5 K:BB over 23 innings. While he was successful Friday, Banks is unlikely to challenge Romano for the closer role, while Matt Strahm and Orion Kerkering have been the Phillies' primary setup options.