MLB Player News

Varland collected the save in Tuesday's 4-2 win over the Angels, needing just one pitch to collect the final two outs of the ninth inning.

Jeff Hoffman got the call to protect the team's 4-1 lead in the ninth. However, Hoffman's control was all over the place, as he hit two batters and gave up two hits, allowing one run while recording just one out. That prompted Blue Jays manager John Schneider to quickly turn to Varland to get out of a bases-loaded jam, and the right-hander saved the day on just one pitch by getting Nolan Schanuel to ground out into a double play. It was the first save of Varland's career, and the 28-year-old has yet to give up an earned run across 12.2 innings this season. It appears Hoffman's grip on the Blue Jays' closing job is slipping.

McLean did not factor into the decision Tuesday against the Twins, allowing three runs on five hits while striking out 10 over 6.2 innings.

McLean was electric to start the day, retiring the first 15 batters he faced while racking up eight strikeouts through five perfect innings. However, his no-hit bid was broken up by Matt Wallner to lead off the sixth, and things quickly unraveled from there as Byron Buxton launched a two-run homer later in the inning. After returning for the seventh, McLean allowed back-to-back hits that tied the game and ended his outing. Despite the late fade, the right-hander recorded his third consecutive quality start Tuesday and has now recorded eight or more strikeouts in four of his five starts. McLean holds a 2.67 ERA, 0.76 WHIP and 38:8 K:BB across 30.1 innings this season and is set up for a home start against Colorado in his next outing.

Griffin (3-0) earned the win Tuesday against Atlanta, allowing three runs on five hits and one walk with three strikeouts across six innings.

After pitching the previous three seasons in Japan, Griffin has been a success story early in the season for the Nationals. He's gone at least five innings in all five starts, and Washington has now won four of those contests. The lefty doesn't throw hard or possess swing-and-miss stuff, but he keeps hitters off balance with a seven-pitch mix. Griffin now owns a 3.38 ERA and 22:8 K:BB across 26.2 innings.

Early (1-1) took the loss Tuesday against the Yankees, allowing three runs on five hits and three walks with four strikeouts across 5.1 innings.

Early had success against the non-Giancarlo Stanton members of the New York lineup, but Stanton tagged Early for a solo homer to lead off the second inning before smacking a two-run double in the sixth. It was the extent of the damage against Early, who has looked good through five starts to begin the season. The left-hander owns a 2.88 ERA and 24:13 K:BB across 25 innings. He's expected to make his next start Sunday on the road against the Orioles.

Gil (1-1) earned the win Tuesday against the Red Sox, allowing two hits and three walks with two strikeouts across 6.1 shutout innings.

After allowing four homers and seven earned runs across nine innings in his first two starts of the season, Gil was able to keep the Red Sox off the scoreboard Tuesday. Walks are still a problem for Gil, and he's also not striking out many batters. The right-hander now owns a 4.11 ERA and 9:8 K:BB across 15.1 innings. He's likely to make his fourth start this coming weekend against Houston, but Gil could be the odd man out of the rotation once Gerrit Cole (elbow) and/or Carlos Rodon (elbow/hamstring) is ready to return.

Lodolo (finger) threw 50 pitches over three innings in a simulated game Tuesday, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

This was the latest successful step for Lodolo, who had a promising two-inning sim game last week as part of his return from a blister on his left index finger. The left-hander was able to test the skin on his finger by throwing sliders -- the pitch that caused the blister during spring training -- in the bullpen but did not throw it when facing batters. The next step for Lodolo is a rehab assignment that's expected to begin with High-A Dayton on Sunday, when he'll further test the slider and is scheduled for four innings.

Matz (3-1) took the loss Tuesday against the Reds, allowing four runs on four hits and four walks with four strikeouts across three innings.

Matz didn't have it Tuesday, as he was shelled for three homers in the first two innings while walking a season-high four batters before being yanked after needing 77 pitches to record nine outs. Matz had gone at least five innings in each of his previous four starts to begin the 2026 campaign. The left-hander now owns a 4.81 ERA and 25:10 K:BB across 24.1 innings. Matz's return to starting has gone pretty well for the most part through the first month of the season.

Dollander (2-2) took the loss against the Padres on Tuesday, allowing one run on three hits and one walk while striking out nine across six innings.

Dollander followed Jimmy Herget on Tuesday, with Herget setting the tone by striking out the side in the first inning. Dollander was dominant himself for most of his outing, fanning six consecutive batters at one point, before he ran into trouble in the sixth and walked in a run with the bases loaded. While that was the only run he gave up, Dollander didn't get enough support from his teammates to avoid the loss. After giving up four earned runs and three homers in his first outing of the season against the Blue Jays on March 30, Dollander has posted a 1.71 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and 27:5 K:BB over his last five games (over 21 innings). His next appearance is tentatively slated for this weekend on the road against the Mets, and it seems likely that he'll follow an opener for that contest.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell confirmed Tuesday that Hodge (elbow) underwent UCL reconstruction surgery with an internal brace, Patrick Mooney of The Athletic reports.

Though Hodge didn't require a traditional Tommy John surgery to address the right elbow flexor strain he sustained in spring training, Counsell estimated that the 25-year-old will face an expected recovery timeline of 12-to-14 months. With that in mind, Hodge would seem likely to open the 2027 season on the Cubs' injured list, if Chicago elects to tender him a contract over the winter. Hodge showed plenty of promise in his 2024 rookie campaign with a 1.88 ERA and 0.88 WHIP in 43 innings, but he fell off badly in 2025 (6.27 ERA, 1.58 WHIP in 33 frames) and finished the season in the minors before going down with the elbow injury in the spring.

The Cubs will activate Boyd (biceps) from the 15-day injured list to start Wednesday's game against the Phillies, Patrick Mooney of The Athletic reports.

The move will likely be made official at some point Wednesday. Boyd was always tracking toward starting this week after he was shelved 15 days ago with a left biceps strain. After Boyd was roughed up in his Opening Day nod against the Nationals, allowing six runs over 3.2 innings, the left-hander bounced back with a win April 1 against the Angels. He has a 6.75 ERA, but Boyd's 1.85 FIP over 9.1 innings suggests he should have seen better results. Boyd struck out 17 and walked just three across his two starts.