MLB Player News

Manager A.J. Hinch said after Soto was pulled from a save situation Friday that Soto "will pitch the ninth tomorrow with the lead," Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.

Soto's hold on the ninth-inning job is slipping. He has had little command of his pitches lately, and Friday was no different as he plunked two batters and walked another before getting the hook. Soto has handed out four free passes in his last 1.1 innings, and if the hard-throwing lefty can't rein it in, the Tigers could eventually turn to Will Vest -- who got the save Friday -- or Michael Fulmer for save opportunities.

Scott (0-1) took the loss Friday against the Brewers, failing to record an out while giving up one run on two hits.

Entering a 1-1 game in the top of the ninth inning, Scott promptly loaded the bases on two singles and a hit batsman before being replaced by Anthony Bender, who walked in the winning run. Scott's 38.6 percent strikeout rate to begin the season is elite, but it comes with a 12.3 percent walk rate, and his 4.38 ERA and 1.38 WHIP through 12.1 innings highlight how volatile he's been. Despite seeing high-leverage work, the 27-year-old southpaw has zero wins or holds and only one save (in two chances) in 15 appearances for the Marlins.

Smith (0-1) blew the save and took the loss Friday against the Padres, giving up three runs on three hits in one inning of relief. He struck out one.

Entering the game in the seventh inning with Atlanta ahead 6-4, Smith served up a three-run shot to Ha-Seong Kim to give San Diego the lead. The southpaw has been tagged for four homers in 13.1 innings to begin the season after allowing 18 in 84 frames over the prior two years. He has zero wins, one save and one hold in 13 appearances to go along with his 4.05 ERA, 0.83 WHIP and 11:4 K:BB.

Naughton was optioned to Triple-A Memphis on Saturday.

Naughton made five appearances (one start) during his time on the major-league roster, and he posted a 3.52 ERA and 1.30 WHIP in 7.2 innings. The southpaw will head back to the minors after Drew VerHagen (hip) was reinstated from the injured list Saturday.

Smith (0-1) took the loss Friday against the Mariners, giving up one run on one hit and two walks in one inning of relief. He struck out two.

It was the first run Smith has given up all season, and the right-hander also walked multiple batters for the first time. The right-hander still has eight holds in 13 appearances while posting a 0.63 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 19:8 K:BB through 14.1 innings as a key member of the Mets' high-leverage crew.

VerHagen (hip) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list Saturday.

VerHagen spent just over three weeks on the injured list, but he recently made a pair of rehab appearances and allowed a run on a hit and a walk while striking out five in 3.2 innings. The right-hander should pitch mainly in lower-leverage situations for the Cardinals now that he's back to full health.

Soto retired just one batter in Friday's win over the Orioles, and he hit two others and issued a walk, but was also credited with his first hold of the season.

Soto was brought on in the top of the ninth inning in a save situation with the Tigers up 4-2, but the lefty struggled with his control right away. He hit the first two batters he faced before recording a strikeout. Soto then walked the bases loaded with one out, and manager A.J. Hinch turned to Will Vest, who struck out the next two batters to end the game. That left Soto with his first hold of the season, though he clearly didn't pitch well. He now has a 3.86 ERA and 1.71 WHIP for the season, and it wouldn't be surprising to see the Tigers turn to someone like Vest or Michael Fulmer for future save opportunities.

Pressly allowed one hit in a scoreless ninth inning Friday against the Nationals.

Pressly pitched in his familiar ninth-inning role, though it wasn't in a save situation. Even so, it was positive to see him turn in a scoreless effort, his second in three appearances since he was activated from the injured list. Pressly has maintained the closer role in Houston to this point, though he'll need to be effective as Rafael Montero has pitched very well to begin the campaign.

Wilson earned a hold against Atlanta on Friday by allowing no runs over two-thirds of an inning. He surrendered one hit and struck out one.

When Wilson came on in the eighth inning, the Padres were up by only one run. The right-hander retired the first two batters he faced before allowing a single and subsequently being replaced by closer Taylor Rogers, who wrapped up the frame. Wilson's scoreless outing was his fourth straight after he gave up two runs April 30 against Pittsburgh. The right-hander has compiled a 2.51 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 17:5 K:BB across 14.1 innings on the season. He has racked up three wins, five holds and one save through 14 outings.

Rogers walked one and struck out two over 1.1 scoreless innings to record his 13th save of the season in Friday's 11-6 win over Atlanta.

A four-run outburst in the top of the ninth inning gave the Padres a bigger cushion and made Rogers' job easier as he moved into a tie with Josh Hader for the league lead in saves. Rogers has proven to be a huge pickup for San Diego, posting a 0.64 ERA, 0.57 WHIP and 15:2 K:BB through his first 14 innings for the club while blowing only one save so far.