MLB Player News

Crews went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Saturday's 2-0 win over Atlanta.

Crews launched what proved to be the game-winning homer off Grant Holmes in the top of the fourth inning. While it's amounted to just a .200 average through 21 plate appearances, he's hit safely in four of five games since rejoining the Nationals on Tuesday. The former top prospect will need to do more to matter in most fantasy formats, but he has flashed his power-speed upside with a steal Friday and Saturday's long ball.

Irvin (shoulder/lat) will undergo an MRI on Sunday, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports.

Irvin spun five scoreless and hitless innings Saturday, earning the win against Atlanta despite feeling something in the back of his shoulder/lat area during the contest. He tried to throw a warmup pitch prior to the sixth and still felt it, and so the Nationals made the call to remove him from the game. The right-hander will undergo imaging to determine the exact nature and full extent of the issue -- one which Irvin told manager Blake Butera he's dealt with in the past.

Holmes (3-2) took the loss against the Nationals on Saturday, allowing two runs on six hits and two walks with 10 strikeouts over five innings.

Holmes was burned by two solo homers but was otherwise impressive, piling up a ridiculous 18 whiffs on 87 pitches en route to a season-high 10 strikeouts. The 30-year-old has yielded three earned runs or fewer in nine of 10 starts this season, though he's topped 90 pitches only once and completed more than five innings just four times. He'll carry a 3.78 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 48:24 K:BB across 52.1 innings into a road matchup against the Reds next weekend.

Lovelady earned the save in Saturday's 2-0 win over Atlanta, striking out one in a perfect ninth inning.

After opening Friday's contest, Lovelady got the call with a two-run lead in the ninth inning Saturday and slammed the door on 11 pitches. Clayton Beeter pitched each of the previous two nights after returning from injury while Gus Varland threw 12 pitches Friday, so Lovelady drew the assignment against two lefties and the switch-hitting Ozzie Albies. The versatile southpaw is now 4-for-4 in save chances with a 2.38 ERA, 1.54 WHIP and 21:4 K:BB across 22.2 frames, while also recording three holds and opening three games.

Phillips will start Sunday's game against the Mets, Stephen Strom of Marlins Radio Network reports.

The Marlins sent Braxton Garrett down to Triple-A Jacksonville after just two starts, and the team will now give Phillips the next shot at replacing Robby Snelling (elbow) in the rotation. The right-handed Phillips has pitched well out of the bullpen in 2026 with a 1.20 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 27:16 K:BB over 30 innings, but he hasn't thrown more than three innings in an appearance this season. With that in mind, Phillips is unlikely to reach the five innings necessary to qualify for the win in his first start Sunday in a game that the the Marlins will likely treat as a bullpen day.

Manager Dave Roberts said Saturday that Hernandez (elbow) will be activated from the injured list Monday, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.

Further, Hernandez is expected to start at third base against lefty Kyle Freeland in the series opener against Colorado, affording Max Muncy (wrist) another day of rest. Hernandez has been on the 60-day IL all season after undergoing surgery in November to repair a torn tendon in his left elbow. The three-time World Series champion and clubhouse favorite has played in 11 rehab games with Triple-A Oklahoma City, slashing .237/.326/.342 across 43 plate appearances.

Julien isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against Arizona.

Julien's recent 0-for-25 stretch at the plate will leave him out of the starting nine for a third consecutive game. His absence from the lineup will allow Chad Stevens to start at second base, batting eighth.

Merrill (ribs) will start in center field and bat sixth Saturday against the Athletics.

Merrill sat out Friday's contest to recover from his collision with the outfield wall Wednesday, but he's now been cleared to return to the starting nine. The young outfielder has been stuck in a slump recently, going just 3-for-34 (.088) with 12 strikeouts across his last 10 contests.

Laureano isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Athletics.

Laureano will grab a seat on the bench Saturday after going 1-for-3 with a solo homer in Friday's series opener. His absence will move Gavin Sheets into left field, opening up first base for Ty France.

Bogaerts isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Athletics.

Bogaerts will take a day to regroup Saturday after going just 1-for-17 with six strikeouts over his last five games. Sung-Mun Song will replace him as San Diego's shortstop and bat ninth.