MLB Player News
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Max Meyer SP | MIA
Marlins' Max Meyer: Blanks Phillies in Saturday's win
Meyer (2-0) earned the win against Philadelphia on Saturday, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out seven across seven scoreless innings.
Meyer set the tone early by striking out three of the first four batters he faced. He allowed just two baserunners and generated 15 whiffs on 83 pitches (55 strikes). It was the first quality start of the season for Meyer and first in nearly a full calendar year. Saturday's efforts improved the right-hander's season-long numbers to a 2.68 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 40:13 K:BB across 37 innings. Meyer is tentatively lined up to face the Orioles at home next week.
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Ian Happ LF | CHC
Cubs' Ian Happ: Carries offense in victory
Happ went 3-for-3 with a solo home run, an additional run and a walk in a 2-0 win against the Diamondbacks on Saturday.
Happ produced all the offense Chicago would need with a solo blast to right field in the second inning. He later scored the team's only other run of the game in the eighth. Happ was the only Cub to notch multiple hits in the game -- in fact, the remainder of the lineup went a combined 2-for-25. It was a much-needed big performance from Happ, who had gone 3-for-23 with nine strikeouts (albeit with six walks) over his previous seven contests.
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Ildemaro Vargas 1B | ARI
Diamondbacks' Ildemaro Vargas: Hitting streak comes to end
Vargas went 0-for-4 in Saturday's loss to the Cubs.
Arizona's offense was limited to four hits and zero runs by Chicago, so Vargas certainly wasn't the only Diamondback to have a quiet day at the plate. The veteran infielder entered the game with three straight multi-hit performances and a 24-game hitting streak to open the campaign, and he's still slashing a robust .388/.412/.673 overall, so Saturday's hitless effort shouldn't dim what has been an out-of-nowhere torrid start.
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Ryne Nelson SP | ARI
Diamondbacks' Ryne Nelson: Gets no run support in loss
Nelson (1-3) allowed one run on four hits and two walks while striking out four batters over 5.2 innings in a loss to the Cubs on Saturday.
Nelson pitched quite well, and the only run he gave up came on an Ian Happ solo homer in the second inning. However, the Diamondbacks' offense was completely shut down by a pair of Chicago hurlers, resulting in Nelson being saddled with the loss. Still, this was a promising bounce-back for the right-hander after he was pummeled for 14 runs over 5.1 frames across his previous two starts. Those disastrous performances are largely responsible for his ugly overall 6.61 ERA, but Nelson will try to build off Saturday's good outing when he next takes the mound, which is projected to be in a home matchup versus the Mets.
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Ben Brown SP | CHC
Cubs' Ben Brown: Notches first save
Brown earned a save against the Diamondbacks on Saturday, striking out one batter in two perfect innings.
After Shota Imanaga gave Chicago seven scoreless frames, Brown was brought in to preserve a 2-0 lead in the eighth. The right-hander retired the side in order on 13 pitches in that frame and remained in the game for the ninth, when he again set down the side in order, this time on 11 pitches, to pick up his first save of the season. Brown was a popular pick to take over closer duties after Daniel Palencia went on the IL with a lat injury April 17, but this was his first save chance since that time. Brown has certainly displayed the stuff to be a ninth-inning option -- he has a 1.82 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 23:7 K:BB over 24.2 frames on the campaign. However, Palencia is on track to be activated in the coming days, so Saturday may end up being a rare save chance for Brown.
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Shota Imanaga RP | CHC
Cubs' Shota Imanaga: Shines Saturday with seven scoreless
Imanaga (3-2) earned the win over Arizona on Saturday, allowing four hits and issuing one walk while striking out five batters over seven scoreless innings.
Imanaga allowed just one extra-base hit (a double) and didn't allow any runners to reach third base. The southpaw was efficient in needing just 87 pitches to complete seven frames, and he racked up 14 whiffs. This was an excellent bounce-back performance for Imanaga after he allowed a season-worst five runs (four earned) in a loss against the Dodgers in his previous start. He's in the midst of a strong season overall, posting a 2.40 ERA, 0.85 WHIP and 43:10 K:BB over 41.1 innings spanning seven starts.
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Freddy Fermin C | SD
Padres' Freddy Fermin: Idle Saturday
Fermin isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the White Sox.
Fermin and Luis Campusano have seen a nearly even split in playing time behind the plate so far this year, though Saturday will mark the third time in four games that the latter has received the nod to start.
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Brusdar Graterol RP | LAD
Dodgers' Brusdar Graterol: Beginning rehab assignment
Graterol (shoulder) will begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Oklahoma City on Saturday, Triple-A Oklahoma City broadcaster Alex Freedman reports.
Graterol's first minor-league outing will mark his first appearance in a game at any level since the 2024 World Series. Because he's been sidelined for so long since undergoing surgery on his right shoulder, he will likely require an extended stay at Triple-A before the Dodgers add him back to their bullpen.
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Michael Harris CF | ATL
Braves' Michael Harris: Back in starting nine
Harris (quad) will serve as Atlanta's designated hitter and bat fifth Saturday against the Rockies.
Harris missed two consecutive starts due to left quad soreness, but after smacking a pinch-hit two-run homer during Friday's win, he'll receive the green light to rejoin the starting lineup. The 25-year-old is off to a brilliant start this year, slashing .324/.358/.569 with seven homers, 22 RBI, 12 runs and a pair of steals through 31 games.
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Pedro Pages C | STL
Cardinals' Pedro Pages: Resting Saturday
Pages isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Dodgers.
Pages went 1-for-4 with two strikeouts Friday to extend his hitting streak to six games, but the Cardinals will keep him on the bench to begin Saturday's contest. Ivan Herrera will handle catching duties while Nolan Gorman works as the DH and Ramon Urias starts at the hot corner.