MLB Player News

Puk picked up the save in Sunday's 5-2 victory over Milwaukee, pitching a scoreless inning with three strikeouts and a walk.

The flamethrowing southpaw required 24 pitches to polish off the Arizona win, as he allowed two baserunners to reach via a walk and a hit-by-pitch. Puk last completed a save April 2, with Justin Martinez, a right-hander, picking up a pair in between. Puk and Martinez are likely set to continue sharing save opportunities based on matchups against opposing lineups.

Matz appears to be lined up to enter the St. Louis rotation Thursday against the Mets at Citi Field.

Earlier Sunday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reported that Matz was slated to start Wednesday's game against the Astros, but with Andre Pallante now being listed as the Cardinals' probable starter for that day, St. Louis looks set to wait until the series with the Mets to expand its rotation to six men. The Cardinals are likely electing to push Matz back an extra day after he tossed 2.1 innings of one-run ball in relief during Saturday's 4-1 loss to the Phillies. The left-hander has made five appearances out of the bullpen so far in 2025, surrendering four runs (three earned) on 11 hits and two walks while striking out six batters over 11.2 innings.

Henry allowed one hit while striking out two in a scoreless eighth inning during Sunday's 11-4 loss to the Marlins.

Henry was recalled from Triple-A Rochester on Sunday after Orlando Ribalta (biceps) was placed on the 15-day injured list. Henry got the call in the eighth frame for his major-league debut, striking out two while tossing 14 pitches (11 strikes) without being tagged for a run despite giving up an RBI single to Griffin Conine. Henry spent most of his minor-league career as a starter, but he shifted to a bullpen role this season and could be deployed as a long man for Washington.

Rea will start Sunday's game against the Dodgers in Los Angeles.

After covering 5.1 scoreless innings across his three relief appearances to begin the season, Rea will pick up his first start of the season Sunday and could be in line for an extended stay in the rotation. Manager Craig Counsell announced Sunday that Justin Steele -- who was placed on the injured list earlier in the week -- would require season-ending elbow surgery, creating a permanent opening in the rotation that will at least temporarily fall to Rea until Javier Assad (oblique) completes his rehab assignment and is activated from the IL. Since Rea maxed out at 65 pitches over his three relief appearances and three Cactus League appearances, he'll likely be slightly limited from a workload perspective Sunday, but he should be capable of handling a traditional starting role in any additional outings that follow.

Megill is set to receive a second opinion on his knee this week after recently undergoing an MRI, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

Megill got his knee checked out a few days earlier, but he wasn't shut down after the MRI came back clean, and he proceeded to pitch in both of the Brewers' first two games of their series in Arizona this weekend. Though he struck out two and allowed one walk in a scoreless inning in Friday's 7-0 win, Megill unraveled in Saturday's 5-4 loss, blowing a save chance and recording just one out while giving up three earned runs on two hits and three walks. After the disastrous performance, Megill is getting examined again as a precaution, but the right-hander didn't use the injury as an excuse for the blown save while speaking to the media Sunday. He'll presumably remain available for Sunday's series finale, though the Brewers will probably look to stay away from him after he tossed 37 pitches over the past two days.

Faucher struck out one in a perfect ninth inning Saturday to record his first save of the season in a 7-6 win over the Nationals.

Anthony Bender threw 24 pitches Friday en route to his first loss of the season, so Faucher got his turn to handle closing duties Saturday and had no trouble dispatching Washington's 9-1-2 hitters, ending the game by getting James Wood to offer at a curveball in the dirt for strike three. Faucher's had a bumpy beginning to the season, posting a 6.75 ERA, 1.69 WHIP and 4:4 K:BB through his first 5.1 innings, but he remains in the high-leverage mix for Miami along with Bender.

Lee (1-1) picked up the win Saturday against the Rays, giving up two hits and a walk in a scoreless eighth inning.

It wasn't the cleanest outing, but the left-hander helped his own cause by picking off Jose Caballero as he attempted to steal third base. Lee was then in the right place to collect his first win of 2025 when Atlanta completed a late comeback with a two-run homer by Michael Harris in the top of the ninth. Through seven appearances this season, Lee has a 4.05 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 3:2 K:BB over 6.2 innings with two holds.

Chapman (2-1) was tagged for his first loss Saturday as the Red Sox fell 3-2 to the White Sox. He allowed a run on a walk and a single while striking out one over a third of an inning.

Chapman had not allowed a run over his first six appearances. He gave up a leadoff walk to Luis Robert, who eventually stole second base and scored on a Brooks Baldwin walk-off single. Through six innings this season, Chapman has a 1.50 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 9:4 K:BB while converting both his save chances.

The Nationals placed Ribalta on the 15-day injured list Sunday due to a right biceps strain, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.

Ribalta made his last appearance Tuesday against the Dodgers, during which he allowed one run on three hits and one walk while striking out three in three innings (58 pitches). According to Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com, Ribalta felt tightness in his arm coming out of the appearance and was diagnosed with a bicep strain. Ribalta underwent an MRI earlier Sunday, but the severity of his injury won't be known until the results of his tests are in. With Ribalta sidelined, the Nationals replenished their bullpen by recalling Cole Henry from Triple-A Rochester in a corresponding move.

The Nationals recalled Henry from Triple-A Rochester on Sunday.

Washington placed reliever Orlando Ribalta (biceps) on the 15-day injured list. Henry will be available out of Washington's bullpen and could make his major-league debut as soon as Sunday's game against Miami. A 2020 second-round draft pick, Henry had spent most of his minor-league career as a starter before shifting to the bullpen this season and tossing a pair of scoreless innings for Rochester prior to his call-up.