MLB Player News

Casparius notched a hold against the Phillies on Saturday, striking out one batter in two perfect innings.

Casparius entered the game in the sixth frame and breezed through two perfect innings on 23 pitches (15 strikes). The 26-year-old has taken up a prominent place in the Dodgers' bullpen early in the season -- he leads the team's relievers with seven innings of work and is tied for the club lead with three holds. Casparius has excelled in his role thus far, as he has yet to allow an earned run and has a 7:2 K:BB while surrendering just three hits.

Mervis went 3-for-5 with a pair of home runs and three RBI in Saturday's 4-0 win over Atlanta.

Mervis got the scoring started with a two-run shot off AJ Smith-Shawver in the first inning, his first homer of the season, before launching a 421-foot blast off lefty Jose Suarez in the seventh. It was quite a performance from the 26-year-old Mervis, who had gone just 2-for-15 (.133) in five games prior to Saturday. Mervis should continue to see regular playing time in the middle of Miami's order.

Patrick is slated to start Sunday's game against the Reds in Milwaukee.

Patrick secured a spot on Milwaukee's Opening Day roster with the rotation having been hit hard by injuries early on, and he made his first MLB start Tuesday. The 26-year-old right-hander acquitted himself well in a matchup versus the Royals, taking a no-decision while striking out five and allowing six baserunners over 4.2 scoreless frames. He'll make another turn through the rotation Sunday, and he should be able to provide the Brewers with a little more length after building up to 86 pitches in his first start.

Banda (3-0) picked up the win against Philadelphia on Saturday, pitching one perfect inning.

Roki Sasaki logged another short outing (four-plus innings) for Los Angeles, and Banda took over in the fourth with a pair of runners on base and nobody out. He managed to escape the jam with the help of some poor Phillies baserunning -- after J.T. Realmuto advanced to third on a flyout, Bryson Stott was thrown out at first for a double play on another flyball that would have easily scored Realmuto. Still, it was another effective performance for Banda, who has pitched five scoreless frames over five outings to begin the campaign. He leads MLB with three wins, though given the unpredictable nature of reliever victories, that doesn't mean much for fantasy purposes.

Conforto went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Saturday's 3-1 win against Philadelphia.

Conforto capped the scoring in the contest with a sixth-inning solo shot. The veteran outfielder has enjoyed a strong start to his tenure with the Dodgers, slashing .308/.419/.692 with two homers, five RBI, six runs and a 5:7 BB:K through 31 plate appearances. Conforto appears to be more than a platoon option for Los Angeles, as he started the team's most recent game against a left-handed pitcher.

Encarnacion-Strand went 1-for-5 with a solo home run in Saturday's 11-7 win over the Brewers.

Encarnacion-Strand ended a string of 18 at-bats without a hit when he belted a solo homer to lead off the fourth inning. The blast was his second of the season. He's been the Reds' primary first baseman and does not appear to be in danger of losing that role at this time despite a .172 average. That could eventually happen if he continues to struggle, but manager Terry Francona has limited options due to injuries.

Trevino went 2-for-3 with a walk, a home run, two RBI and two additional runs scored in Saturday's 11-7 win over Milwaukee.

Trevino extended an early Cincinnati lead to 7-0 with his first home run of the season, a two-run shot in the fourth inning. He's the primary fill-in for the injured Tyler Stephenson (oblique) and has gone 5-for-12 over the last four contests.

Espinal started at second base and went 2-for-5 with a double and two runs scored in Saturday's 11-7 win over the Brewers.

Espinal filled in at second base after Matt McLain (hamstring) was a late scratch. It was the second straight start at the keystone for Espinal, who is 6-for-21 with two walks and two runs scored through seven games. McLain may also be held out of Sunday's lineup, per a report from Charlie Goldsmith of the Cincinnati Enquirer.

Hampson will continue in a utility role while Tim Tawa gets the majority of playing time at second base in place of the injured Ketel Marte (hamstring), Paige Leckie of MLB.com reports. "Yeah, I think we'll still put Garrett into that role of, you know, primary backup, occasional starting," Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said.

Hampson filled in for Marte on Friday when he was removed in the first inning of Arizona's 6-4 win over the Nationals. The club placed Marte on the injured list Saturday and called up Tawa for his MLB debut. Hampson entered Saturday's game in the ninth inning as a pinch runner for third baseman Eugenio Suarez.

Arizona manager Torey Lovullo suggested that Tawa will get the majority of playing time at second base while Ketel Marte (hamstring) is on the injured list, Paige Leckie of MLB.com reports.

Tawa, who was called up from Triple-A Reno on Saturday, made his MLB debut later that day in a 4-3 loss to the Nationals. He started at the keystone and went 1-for-3 with a walk, an RBI and a run scored. Though Garrett Hampson came off the bench Friday to fill in for Marte when he got hurt, Lovullo said that he'll likely keep Hampson in a utility role and use him only occasionally at second base while Marte is on the shelf.