MLB Player News

Vest has logged 4.1 scoreless innings across four appearances to start the season. He's struck out four.

The veteran righty has picked up where he left off last season. Vest recorded a 2.98 ERA and 1.10 WHIP while striking out 56 batters across 48.1 innings in 2023. It looks like he'll once again post good ratios with a decent amount of strikeouts if he keeps up his current form. Vest could also see some save opportunities in a fluid Detroit bullpen, though he's likely behind Alex Lange, Jason Foley and Shelby Miller in the pecking order.

Pagan (1-0) picked up the win in a 9-6 comeback victory over the Mets on Saturday. He allowed one hit over a scoreless eighth inning.

Pagan benefitted from Cincinnati's five-run uprising in the bottom of the eighth to earn his first win of the season. It's been a rocky start for Pagan, who is expected to serve as the primary setup reliever. He's still working off the impact of giving up two runs on Opening Day and has allowed two home runs through 4.2 innings. Pagan allowed just five homers in 69.1 innings last season for Minnesota.

Heasley (0-1) allowed an unearned run on one hit over one-third of an inning to take the extra-innings loss in a 5-4 defeat against the Pirates on Saturday.

The Orioles pretty much depleted the bullpen Saturday -- Heasley was the seventh reliever to pitch in the game. He logged two scoreless and hitless innings in his season debut Tuesday, but he gave up a walk-off single to Oneil Cruz in the 11th inning Saturday. Heasley joined the Orioles' bullpen when Cionel Perez (oblique) landed on the injured list, but it's unlikely Heasley sees much work beyond appearances late in extra innings and multi-inning relief assignments.

Sandlin (2-0) struck out two and didn't allow a hit or a walk over a scoreless inning to earn the win Saturday over the Twins.

Starter Carlos Carrasco labored through three innings, and Sandlin relieved him in the fourth. Sandlin did well in that frame, but he hit a batter and allowed another to reach on a fielder's choice in the fifth before exiting for Cade Smith, who escaped the jam. Sandlin is through 4.2 scoreless and hitless innings to open the year while adding an 8:3 K:BB and two hit batsmen. The right-hander has served in more of a fireman capacity so far, and his lack of high-leverage opportunities gives him little fantasy appeal.

Estevez earned a save over the Red Sox on Saturday, striking out one batter in a perfect inning.

Estevez had only a one-run lead to work with when he entered to face the heart of Boston's order in the ninth frame, but he handled the pressure with aplomb, retiring all three batters he faced on 15 pitches. That earned him his third save of the campaign, and so far he's been excellent with just one baserunner and zero runs allowed over three frames. Estevez struggled in the second half of last season but appears to have the closer role locked up for the Halos in 2024 given how he's performed so far.

Miller fired two scoreless relief innings in a win over the Tigers on Saturday, allowing two hits and recording three strikeouts.

Save chances continue to be few and far between in Oakland, so Miller is being afforded work in alternate situations. The flamethrowing right-hander had last seen action Tuesday, and his arm was particularly lively while throwing six pitches of at least 101 mph during Saturday's outing, per Martin Gallegos of MLB.com. Miller now has back-to-back two-inning appearances, but that should be the exception much more than the norm if and when there is an extended stretch of ninth-inning opportunities.

Poche picked up a save against the Rockies on Saturday, striking out one batter in a perfect inning.

Poche came on in the ninth inning with the Rays up by two runs and retired the side in order on 10 pitches. This was a nice bounce-back performance for the southpaw after he allowed three runs in one inning in the first game of the series in Coors Field on Friday. Interestingly, regular closer Pete Fairbanks didn't get the save opportunity Saturday despite throwing fewer pitches than Poche on Friday following two days of rest. However, per Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times, Fairbanks was unavailable Saturday, so it shouldn't be assumed that Poche is going to get consistent save chances moving forward.

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.

Alexander completed 4.1 innings against Colorado on Saturday, allowing four runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out four batters in a no-decision.

Alexander worked in bulk relief in his first game of the campaign last Sunday versus Toronto, but he was tabbed to start in Coors Field on Saturday. The left-hander pitched poorly enough to take the loss, allowing 10 baserunners while getting just 13 outs, but he was rescued from that fate when Tampa Bay's offense mounted a comeback in the late innings. It remains to be seen how he'll be used moving forward, but Alexander isn't an appealing fantasy target given that he has allowed nine runs and has served up four homers over 9.1 frames on the campaign while posting an 8:4 K:BB.

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.