MLB Player News

Woods Richardson did not factor into the decision in Sunday's 4-1 extra-inning loss to the Rays, allowing one run on five hits and two walks with four strikeouts over 6.2 innings.

Despite throwing just 51 of 88 pitches for strikes, Woods Richardson turned in a quality start and kept the Rays in check aside from a solo homer by Junior Caminero in the fourth inning. While he's posted a modest 6:3 K:BB through two starts, the 25-year-old owns a 2.31 ERA and 1.11 WHIP across 11.2 innings. He lines up for a road matchup against the Blue Jays next weekend.

Lopez (0-1) didn't factor into the decision Sunday against the Astros, allowing three runs on three hits and five walks with six strikeouts across 4.1 innings.

After walking five batters in his first start of the season last Monday against Atlanta, Lopez again struggled badly with his command Sunday, throwing just 51 strikes on 92 pitches. Lopez worked around a walk to strike out the side in the first inning. He later served up a two-run home run to Yordan Alvarez in the fifth. Lopez will carry a 6.48 ERA and 6:10 K:BB across 8.1 innings into his next start Saturday against the Mets.

Martinez did not factor into the decision in Sunday's 4-1 extra-inning win over the Twins, allowing one run on one hit and one walk with four strikeouts over six innings.

Martinez surrendered a solo homer in the second inning but was extremely efficient, throwing 52 of 81 pitches and retiring 10 straight batters at one point. Though he's generated just seven strikeouts over 12 innings this season, the veteran has allowed just one earned run in each of his two starts while yielding only eight total baserunners. He's slated for a tough home matchup against the Yankees next weekend.

Webb (0-1) allowed three runs on three hits and a walk while retiring only one batter to take the loss in the second game of Sunday's doubleheader against the Guardians.

Webb has now made four appearances so far this season, and he's been scored on in half of them. The righty is sitting with an ugly 7.36 ERA, and he's nothing more than a low-leverage option for the Cubs at the moment, which limits his fantasy ceiling. Webb did pitch better for the Rangers last year, however, posting a 3.00 ERA and 58 strikeouts across 66 innings of relief, which suggests that better performances could be ahead after a middling start to 2026.

Kelly earned the save in Sunday's 4-1 extra-inning win over the Twins, striking out one in a perfect 10th inning.

Kelly was summoned after the Rays scored three runs in the top of the 10th and closed the door on 19 pitches. The two pitchers presumed higher in the ninth-inning pecking order, Griffin Jax and Bryan Baker, combined for three scoreless frames before he got the call. Despite yielding six runs (five earned) in Friday's outing, it's now Kelly who owns both of the club's saves this season.

Palencia tossed a scoreless ninth inning with a strikeout to earn the save in a 1-0 win over the Guardians in the first game of Sunday's doubleheader.

Palencia has been sharp so far this year with three scoreless appearances, though Sunday marked his first save opportunity and conversion. The hard-throwing righty led the Cubs with 22 regular-season saves in 2025, and that was after not beginning the year as the team's closer. Palencia was the Opening Day closer this year, and the save chances should start to stack up as the season progresses, giving him a fairly high ceiling as a fantasy option.

Bender picked up the save in Sunday's 7-6 win over the Yankees despite allowing two runs on a hit and three walks over one inning. He struck out two.

With Pete Fairbanks serving as the opener Sunday, the Marlins turned to Bender in the ninth inning with a three-run lead. After issuing a pair of walks, Bender gave up a two-run double to Jazz Chisholm before ultimately striking out J.C. Escarra to escape with a 7-6 win and his first save this season. After two scoreless appearances to open the year, Bender has given up four runs in just 1.1 innings in his last two outings. The right-hander logged four saves in 2025 while posting a 2.16 ERA with a 1.06 WHIP across 50 innings.

Vodnik secured his first save in Sunday's 4-1 win over the Phillies, allowing two hits with three strikeouts in a scoreless ninth inning.

Vodnik blew his first save opportunity of the season last Sunday against the Marlins but worked around a pair of singles in the ninth inning to eventually strike out the side. Vodnik has a 4.50 ERA and 4:0 K:BB across four innings early on in the 2026 campaign.

Bolton is slated to start Monday's game against the Rockies at Coors Field, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Bolton will be tasked with making a spot start Monday after Hunter Brown (shoulder) was placed on the 15-day injured list Sunday, leaving a significant void in the rotation. The start will be the first of Bolton's major-league career, and it'll be his first appearance since he tossed three innings while allowing one run on three hits and a walk while striking out five in his season debut last Tuesday against Boston. The three innings marked the longest outing of his major-league career, so he likely won't be asked to work deep into his start against the Rockies.

Murphy earned the save in Sunday's 3-0 win over the Blue Jays, allowing no hits and one walk with one strikeout in a scoreless ninth inning.

With closer Seranthony Dominguez unavailable after throwing 46 pitches over back-to-back games, Murphy got the call with a three-run lead in the ninth inning. He worked around a leadoff walk and ended the contest with a three-pitch strikeout. While Sunday was a step in the right direction, the 27-year-old has struggled through five appearances to open the season, yielding six earned runs over 5.1 innings with a 6:4 K:BB.