MLB Player News

Littell (2-4) picked up the win in Friday's 3-2 victory over the Orioles, allowing two hits and two walks over five scoreless innings. He struck out three.

The 30-year-old right-hander put together his best performance of the season on 87 pitches (49 strikes), as Littell lasted at least five innings for the first time since April 22 and didn't serve up a homer for only the third time in nine trips to the mound. After a ghastly April, Littell has found a rhythm in May, posting a 2.13 ERA. 0.95 WHIP and 4:4 K:BB though 12.2 innings over three appearances, two of them as a bulk reliever. He'll look to keep rolling in his next turn through the rotation, which lines up to come at home next week against the Mets.

Soto was charged with his second blown save of the season Friday in an 11-9 extra-inning loss to the Phillies, giving up three runs (two earned) on two hits and two walks in the ninth inning.

With the Pirates holding an 8-5 lead, the southpaw was called in to get them across the finish line, but a Konnor Griffin error put the first batter aboard and things unraveled from there. It was the first time since April 10 that Soto has issued multiple walks, but he's been scored upon in back-to-back appearances, inflating his ERA on the season from 1.33 to 2.42 to go along with a 0.85 WHIP and 26:9 K:BB through 22.1 innings. His job security as the team's primary closing option likely didn't slip, however, as Dennis Santana failed to record an out while taking the loss in the 10th.

Lowe went 2-for-5 with two home runs and three RBI in Friday's 11-9 extra-inning loss to the Phillies.

The second baseman launched a two-run homer off Aaron Nola in the third inning before adding a solo shot off Tim Mayza in the fifth, but Kyle Schwarber and the Phillies' offense took control from there. It was Lowe's third multi-homer game of the season, and through his first 39 contests with Pittsburgh he's slashing .252/.352/.563 with 12 long balls, 26 runs and 31 RBI.

Ashcraft didn't factor into the decision in Friday's 11-9 extra-inning loss to the Phillies, giving up four runs on seven hits over 6.2 innings. He struck out five without walking a batter.

The 26-year-old righty had a quality start through six innings with the Pirates holding a 6-3 lead, but manager Don Kelly tried to coax one more frame out of Ashcraft. He got two outs after a leadoff single, but then got lifted after 100 pitches (76 strikes) and had to watch Mason Montgomery serve up a two-run shot to Kyle Schwarber, with the rest of the bullpen ultimately costing Ashcraft his third win of the year. Ashcraft will take a 3.09 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 56:14 K:BB through 55.1 innings into his next start, which is set to come on the road next week in St. Louis.

Moreno went 2-for-5 with a double, three RBI and a run scored in Friday's win over the Rockies.

Moreno kicked things off with a two-run single in the top of the first inning and later added an RBI double in the seventh. This was Moreno's second consecutive game with multiple hits, and he's beginning to show signs of ending his slump. Moreno has hit just .179 with a .522 OPS, a homer, seven RBI and 13 strikeouts across 39 at-bats this month.

Kerkering walked one and struck out one while giving up an unearned run in the 10th inning Friday to record his first save of the season in an 11-9 win over the Pirates.

With Jhoan Duran not yet pitching on back-to-back days and Brad Keller having worked Wednesday and Thursday, interim manager Don Mattingly has to get creative with his high-leverage arms. Jose Alvarado struck out the side in a scoreless ninth, and then after the Phillies rang up three runs in the top of the 10th, Kerkering got the call and allowed only the phantom runner to score. The right-hander hasn't seen much usage in key situations this season, and through 16.1 innings over 18 appearances he sports a 2.20 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 12:7 K:BB with just one win and one hold in addition to Friday's save.

Walker went 3-for-5 with a two-run home run in Friday's extra-innings win over the Royals.

Walker was one of three St. Louis players who recorded multi-hit performances, and the outfielder continues to enjoy a breakout season in 2026. This was his 13th long ball of the campaign, and he's hit safely in all but four of his 13 games in May. Walker is hitting .367 with a 1.181 OPS, four homers, 11 RBI, 11 runs scored, two stolen bases and a 7:10 BB:K across 56 plate appearances this month.

Schwarber went 3-for-5 with a walk, two home runs and five RBI in Friday's 11-9 extra-inning win over the Pirates.

The red-hot slugger launched two-run homers off Braxton Ashcraft in the fifth inning and Mason Montgomery in the seventh before drawing a bases-loaded walk in the ninth, fueling a Phillies rally from an early 6-0 deficit. Schwarber is the first player in the majors this season to hit 20 home runs, and he put his name in the record books alongside some very notable peers -- per Bill Ladson of MLB.com, Schwarber is the second player in Phillies history to launch nine or more long balls in an eight-game span, joining Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt, and Schwarber's the second player in history to have multiple such power surges in his career after Albert Belle. During his current eight-game heater, Schwarber's batting .353 (12-for-34) with nine homers and 15 RBI.

Nola didn't factor into the decision in Friday's 11-9 extra-inning win over the Pirates, coughing up six runs on six hits and three walks over 3.2 innings. He struck out two.

The veteran right-hander labored through 80 pitches (47 strikes) and served up homers to Brandon Lowe and Marcell Ozuna before getting lifted with the Phillies down 6-1, but Nola's offense was able to bail him out. It's the third time in his last five starts that Nola has been tagged for five or more runs, and he'll carry a 5.91 ERA, 1.55 WHIP and 46:18 K:BB through 45.2 innings into his next outing, which lines up to come at home next week against the Reds.

May didn't factor into the decision Friday against the Royals, allowing three runs on four hits and four walks across six innings. He struck out three.

May has gone winless in his last four starts (0-2), but he's posted a quality start in each of those outings. He's now allowed three or fewer earned runs in each of his last seven outings, posting a 2.83 ERA with a 1.19 WHIP and 28:12 K:BB across 41.1 frames over that stretch. May will aim to keep this strong run going in his next start, scheduled to come against the Pirates.