MLB Player News
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Jose Alvarado RP | PHI
Phillies' Jose Alvarado: Can't shake off rough start Sunday
Alvarado (0-1) was charged with the loss and a blown save Sunday against Arizona, giving up two runs on two hits and no walks in one-third of an inning.
Brought on to safeguard a 3-2 lead in the eighth inning, Alvarado recorded just one out on a bunt attempt by Geraldo Perdomo. After taking over as Philadelphia's closer at one point a year ago, the hard-throwing left-hander has struggled mightily in a setup role so far in 2026. Though he does have three holds, Alvarado has permitted eight runs (seven earned) on nine hits and three walks over his first five innings (eight appearances).
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Jake Junis RP | TEX
Rangers' Jakob Junis: Secures third save
Junis picked up the save in Sunday's 5-2 victory over the Dodgers. He allowed no hits and a walk while striking out two over a scoreless inning.
Junis was called upon to close Sunday's contest and did so successfully, allowing just a one-out walk to Will Smith en route to securing his third save of the season. It's been a stellar start to the campaign for the veteran right-hander, who has yet to allow a run through eight innings of work. The Rangers have been operating with a closer-by-committee approach, but Junis is emerging as a top ninth-inning option, converting a save in each of his past three appearances.
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Josh Fleming RP | TOR
Blue Jays' Josh Fleming: Inks minor-league deal with Toronto
Fleming and the Blue Jays agreed on a minor-league deal Sunday, Mitch Bannon of The Athletic reports.
Fleming elected free agency after being designated for assignment by the Blue Jays on Tuesday, but he has now returned to Toronto's organization. The southpaw tossed five scoreless innings with Triple-A Buffalo on Sunday, allowing four hits while striking out four in the team's 3-2 loss to Syracuse.
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Mason Englert RP | TB
Rays' Mason Englert: Earns first career save
Englert earned the save in Sunday's 5-4 win over the Yankees, allowing two earned runs on three hits and one walk while striking out one over one inning of relief.
With the Rays up by three and normal high-leverage relievers Griffin Jax and Bryan Baker likely unavailable after both pitched Friday and Saturday, Englert was tasked with trying to wrap up the win. Things got dicey two batters in, as Aaron Judge cut the deficit to one with a home run. Later, the tying run reached second base and the go-ahead run was on first, but Englert was able to slam the door en route to earning the first save of his career. In five appearances this season, the 26-year-old has a 10.57 ERA and a 2.22 WHIP in 7.2 innings.
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Daniel Palencia RP | CHC
Cubs' Daniel Palencia: Picks up win against Pittsburgh
Palencia (1-0) picked up the win over the Pirates on Sunday, allowing one walk with two strikeouts in a hitless and scoreless ninth inning.
With the game tied 6-6 in the top of the ninth, Palencia came on and struck out Konnor Griffin, got Joey Bart to ground out, walked Oneil Cruz and struck out Brandon Lowe. The Cubs walked it off in the bottom half of the inning to get Palencia his first win of the 2026 campaign. Chicago's closer has pitched in five games to this point and has yet to allow a run with a 5:2 K:BB across five innings. He's recorded just one save.
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Andre Pallante RP | STL
Cardinals' Andre Pallante: Hit hard in loss to Boston
Pallante (1-1) took the loss Sunday against the Red Sox, allowing seven runs on 10 hits and one walk with two strikeouts across five innings.
The entire afternoon was a struggle for Pallante, who was hit early and often in this one. Lacking swing-and-miss stuff, Pallante also struggled a bit with his command, as he hit a pair of batters across the first two innings. He also served up a two-run homer to Willson Contreras in the top of the first. Pallante then loaded the bases in the fourth with two singles and a walk before Jarren Duran hit a bases-clearing double. Pallante now owns a 5.40 ERA and 7:8 K:BB across 15 innings. His next start is tentatively lined up for Saturday in Houston.
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Cody Bolton RP | HOU
Astros' Cody Bolton: Set for additional imaging
Bolton (back) will undergo additional imaging in the near future, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Bolton was forced to exit his outing Sunday against Seattle in the second inning with mid-back tightness, which is now understood to be related to his previous back issue from earlier in the week. The 27-year-old explained following the team's 6-1 loss to Seattle that the tightness occurred in the same area that he took a line drive off his back Monday in Colorado. Bolton attempted to pitch through it in an effort to give Houston some much-needed length on the mound Sunday, but the Astros now appear to be dealing with yet another injury to their pitching staff.
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Paul Sewald RP | ARI
Diamondbacks' Paul Sewald: Earns fifth save
Sewald earned the save in Sunday's 4-3 win over the Phillies, striking out two in a perfect ninth inning.
Sewald was summoned to protect a one-run lead in the ninth and retired the bottom of the Phillies' lineup in order on just 11 pitches. He's kept opponents scoreless in six of eight appearances this season while converting all five of his save opportunities. Overall, the 35-year-old owns a 2.84 ERA, 0.63 WHIP and 9:0 K:BB through his first 6.1 innings.
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Jose Soriano RP | LAA
Angels' Jose Soriano: Incredible start continues in win
Soriano (4-0) earned the win Sunday against the Reds, allowing no runs on two hits and three walks in seven innings. He struck out 10.
Soriano continues to deal for the Angels, having now fired at least six innings while yielding one run or zero during his four-start win streak to open the new campaign. The right-hander has piled up 10 strikeouts in consecutive outings, and he threw a season-high 106 pitches Sunday. Soriano is in possession of a sterling 0.33 ERA, 0.67 WHIP and 31:9 K:BB over 27 innings across his first four appearances, and he'll be aiming to keep the good times rolling his next time out versus the Padres.
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Nick Pivetta RP | SD
Padres' Nick Pivetta: Dealing with right elbow issue
Pivetta exited Sunday's start versus Colorado in the fourth inning with right elbow stiffness.
Pivetta was cruising through three innings before he was suddenly unable to continue. The 33-year-old's injury was initially unspecified, but it is now understood to be an issue with his pitching elbow. It certainly doesn't sound like a positive outcome for Pivetta, who has now strung together 13 innings of two-run ball while striking out 20 batters in his last three outings. The Padres will likely have the right-hander undergo additional testing in the near future to determine the severity of his elbow issue.