MLB Player News

Kilian picked up a save against the Padres on Monday, allowing one run on one hit while striking out two batters over one inning.

With regular closer Ryan Walker having blown two straight save chances, manager Tony Vitello opted to turn to Kilian to protect a two-run, ninth-inning lead. Kilian gave up a long homer to Ramon Laureano to open the frame but was then able to set down Fernando Tatis, Jackson Merrill and Manny Machado in order. Walker didn't end up pitching in the contest, but he spent some time warming up during the seventh inning, per Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area, so he was likely available to pitch. It's not clear if the Giants are turning away from Walker as their closer just yet, though that wouldn't be surprising given his struggles so far (he's blown three of six save chances and has a 4.61 ERA through 14 appearances). Should Walker in fact be moved out of the closer role, Kilian and Keaton Winn could be the top options to step into his place, especially with Erik Miller (back) landing on the injured list Monday.

Junk (2-3) took the loss Monday against the Phillies, allowing one run on five hits while striking out six over 5.1 innings.

Junk delivered another strong outing but was saddled with the loss, as he allowed the only run of the night -- a Bryce Harper solo homer in the third inning. The right-hander filled the zone effectively, throwing 64 of his 92 pitches for strikes. He has been excellent of late, allowing just one run across his last 16.1 innings, and he's now gone at least five innings in six consecutive starts. Junk owns a 2.82 ERA and 1.04 WHIP so far, though his 27 strikeouts in 38.1 innings highlight a less appealing fantasy profile. He will look to continue his recent success in his next scheduled outing against Washington.

McDonald (1-0) earned the win over San Diego on Monday, tossing seven innings during which he allowed one run on two hits and no walks while striking out eight batters.

McDonald is one of San Francisco's top pitching prospects and was called up from Triple-A ahead of Monday's matchup. He had previously thrown 18 major-league innings across the 2024-25 campaigns. The right-hander was very impressive in his first start of 2026, racking up eight punchouts with no walks while breezing through seven frames on just 81 pitches. The only run he gave up came on a first-inning homer by Jackson Merrill. McDonald certainly pitched well enough to earn another start, but there isn't an obvious spot for him in the Giants' rotation, so it will be interesting to see what San Francisco opts to do with him moving forward.

Herrera went 2-for-5 with a double and three RBI in Monday's 6-3 win over the Brewers.

Herrera delivered a key swing for the Cardinals, drilling a bases-clearing double with the bases loaded in the fourth inning to give his team an early 4-0 advantage. The 25-year-old has logged multiple hits in three of his past six appearances and has been a steady on-base threat in 2026, slashing .256/.416/.424 with four homers, nine doubles, 17 RBI, 21 runs and a stolen base across 35 games.

Riley went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in a loss to the Mariners on Monday.

Riley belted the fourth of Atlanta's four solo homers in the game, but the team was unable to get in the scoring column otherwise. The long ball was Riley's second in his past three contests following a 13-game homerless stretch. The veteran third baseman is batting just .213 on the season, but he may be coming around at the plate, as he's gone 6-for-15 with five RBI over his past four contests.

Turang went 3-for-5 with a two-run home run in Monday's 6-3 loss to the Cardinals.

Turang did his part in sparking a comeback, blasting a two-run homer in the ninth inning to cut the deficit to three. It marked his fifth long ball and fourth three-hit effort of the year, as the second baseman has carried over his breakout 2025 campaign into a hot start to 2026. Through 31 games, the 26-year-old is hitting .304 with a .956 OPS, cementing himself as one of the most consistent and productive hitters in the Brewers lineup.

Nola (2-3) earned the win Monday against the Marlins, allowing five hits while striking out five over six scoreless innings.

Nola turned in a much-needed bounce-back performance after dropping three of his previous four starts while allowing 17 runs over 20 innings during that stretch. The right-hander was in full control, not allowing a single Marlin to even reach second base, thanks in part to catcher Garrett Stubbs, who threw out two attempted base stealers. Despite the strong showing, Nola's season line still sits at a 5.06 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 40:13 K:BB across 37.1 innings. He's slated to face Colorado next, a matchup that saw Nola strikeout nine in a win last time out.

Chourio (hand) went 4-for-4 with two doubles, a run scored and a walk in Monday's 6-3 loss to St. Louis.

In his first big-league game of the season, Chourio reached base in all five of his plate appearances, including a pair of doubles. The outfielder, who opened the season on the injured list due to a fracture in his left hand, showed no signs of rust, as his lowest exit velocity checked in at 102.8 mph. Coming off a 2025 campaign in which he posted a .771 OPS with 21 homers, 35 doubles, four triples, 78 RBI, 88 runs and 21 stolen bases across 131 regular-season appearances, the 22-year-old will look to take another step forward in 2026.

Ritchie allowed three runs on four hits and six walks while striking out two batters over five-plus innings in a no-decision against Seattle on Monday.

The Seattle-born right-hander may have been dealing with some jitters as he battled his control throughout the game and threw just 47 of 93 pitches for strikes. However, Ritchie managed to get through five frames without allowing a run despite walking four batters and hitting another during that span. The free passes finally caught up with him in the sixth; he began the inning by walking the first two batters he faced before serving up a three-run homer to Luke Raley. Ritchie was pulled after that long ball and ended up with a no-decision. The rookie has flashed his potential this year, but walks have been an issue, as he has a 13:12 K:BB through 17.1 frames spanning three starts. His spot in the rotation isn't guaranteed if he isn't able improve his control.

Patrick (2-2) took the loss Monday, allowing four runs on seven hits and three walks over 3.1 innings against the Cardinals. He struck out four.

Patrick didn't provide much length in Monday's loss, as he was chased after Ivan Herrera's three-RBI double with one out in the fourth inning. The right-hander's 3.45 ERA across 31.1 innings is solid, but a 1.44 WHIP and 20:16 K:BB highlight areas for improvement, particularly in limiting free passes and generating more whiffs. Patrick will look to get back in the win column next time out, which is tentatively scheduled for Sunday against the Yankees.