MLB Player News

Lovelady earned the save in the Nationals' 9-6 win over the Mets on Tuesday after striking out one batter in a scoreless ninth.

With both Gus Varland and PJ Poulin being deployed in Monday's extra-inning loss, Nationals manager Blake Butera turned to Lovelady to protect the team's three-run lead. Lovelady answered the call, needing just 10 pitches (eight strikes) to close out Tuesday's game, and capped things off by striking out Carson Benge. Lovelady has a 2.61 ERA, 1.65 WHIP and 20:14 K:BB across 20.2 innings this season.

Baker earned the save in Tuesday's 4-1 win over Baltimore, striking out one batter in a scoreless ninth inning.

Baker needed just 10 pitches (eight strikes) to close out Tuesday's game and capped things off by getting Pete Alonso to strike out swinging. It was the 13th save of the season for Baker (in 16 attempts), tied for third most in the majors behind Mason Miller and Cade Smith (15 each). Baker sports a 2.66 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 24:8 K:BB across 20.1 innings this season.

Jax did not factor into Tuesday's decision against the Orioles, allowing one run on three hits and one walk while striking out six across five innings.

Jax yielded a leadoff homer to Taylor Ward, but the former kept the Orioles off the board the rest of the way. Jax completed five innings Wednesday for a second consecutive outing, needing just 62 pitches (41 strikes) to do so. He has a 1.93 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 10:6 K:BB across 14 innings in three starts since being moved to the Rays' rotation in early May. Griffin's next start is tentatively slated for next week on the road in a rematch against Baltimore.

The Dodgers optioned Mills to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Tuesday.

After getting the call to join the active roster May 10, Mills allowed three earned runs on three hits and seven walks while striking out one batter in 3.1 innings across four appearances. He'll return to the minors to make room for Eric Lauer, though Mills will get to keep his spot on the 40-man roster for now.

The Astros reinstated Pearson (elbow) from the 15-day injured list Tuesday.

Pearson is returning from a rehab assignment after he dealt with soreness in his right elbow that stemmed from an offseason cleanup. He will likely be used primarily as a reliever for the Astros after pitching out of the bullpen during his rehab assignment. In a corresponding move, the Astros placed Lance McCullers on the 15-day injured list due to right shoulder inflammation.

Manager John Schneider said Tuesday that the outlook for Nance's forearm injury is a "best case" scenario, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.

Nance can begin throwing again later in the week to work through his forearm discomfort. The right-hander has been a valuable piece for the Toronto bullpen with a 1.99 ERA in 30 regular-season appearances in 2025 and a 3.86 across 20 appearances in 2026.

The Blue Jays recalled Lee from Triple-A Buffalo on Tuesday.

The right-hander was up with Toronto for one day in late April and gave up one run over 1.1 innings versus Boston. Lee has a 1.83 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 21:10 K:BB across 19.2 innings for Buffalo this season.

The Cubs activated Thielbar (hamstring) from the 15-day injured list Tuesday.

Thielbar wound up being sidelined for nearly a month with a left hamstring strain, but he's been cleared to return after making one scoreless rehab appearance. The left-hander had been serving as the Cubs' closer before he got hurt, but with Daniel Palencia now healthy, Thielbar will slide into a setup role.

Alexander will start Tuesday's game against the Twins, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

The right-hander was called up from Triple-A Sugar Land on Monday and was expected to provide some length out of the bullpen, but he'll instead make a start Tuesday after Lance McCullers (undisclosed) was scratched. Alexander was a decent swingman for Houston last year (3.66 ERA in 14 appearances) but has surrendered 10 earned runs across his two big-league outings this season.

The Blue Jays placed Mantiply on the 15-day injured list Tuesday, retroactive to May 18, due to left knee inflammation.

Mantiply presumably picked up the injury during his last appearance Sunday in Detroit, where he allowed a hit and a walk over a scoreless two-thirds of an inning. The left-hander is without an official timeline for his return but will be eligible to be reinstated in early June.