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  • Merrill Kelly SP | ARI

    Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Decision coming Sunday

    Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said Saturday that a decision whether to activate Kelly (back) when eligible will be announced Sunday, Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports reports. The right-hander can be activated April 8.

    Kelly is fresh off a 72-pitch outing at Triple-Reno on Friday and responded well the following day. His activation would force an adjustment to the existing five-man rotation. The Diamondbacks could move a current starter with relief experience to the bullpen -- Michael Soroka or Ryne Nelson -- or option Brandon Pfaadt to the minors.

  • Zack Wheeler SP | PHI

    Phillies' Zack Wheeler: Slated for two more rehab starts

    Phillies manager Rob Thomson said Saturday that Wheeler (shoulder) will continue his rehab assignment Wednesday with Triple-A Lehigh Valley and will make another minor-league start after that, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

    Wheeler struggled in his second rehab start with Lehigh Valley on Friday, allowing five runs on four hits and two walks while striking one batter over three innings. His four-seamer averaged 92.7 mph, and Philadelphia will give him at least two more starts to build up in the minors after he threw 49 pitches Friday. That puts a possible return to the major leagues around April 18 or 19, depending on how Wheeler fares as he completes his recovery from venous thoracic outlet syndrome surgery.

  • Zachary Neto SS | LAA

    Angels' Zach Neto: Nets only run with leadoff homer

    Neto went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Saturday's 1-0 win against Seattle.

    Neto led off the game with a solo blast off Emerson Hancock, and that proved to the only run scored by either team in the contest. The talented young shortstop has gone deep three times through nine games to begin the campaign, though he's tallied just four RBI. Nonetheless, Neto is looking like one of fantasy's top shortstops again this season after posting a .793 OPS with 26 homers and 26 steals over 128 contests last year.

  • Mariners' Emerson Hancock: Saddled with tough-luck loss

    Hancock (1-1) took the loss against the Angels on Saturday, allowing one run on six hits and no walks while striking out five batters over 6.2 innings.

    Hancock served up a leadoff home run to Zach Neto but bounced back by keeping the Angels off the scoreboard over the remainder of his outing. He tossed 58 of 82 pitches for strikes and induced 13 whiffs, but the Mariners' offense couldn't produce any runs -- largely due to Angels right fielder Jo Adell, who robbed Seattle of a homer on three different occasions. Despite the loss, this was another promising start for Hancock, who has now given up just one run across 12.2 frames while posting a 14:1 K:BB through two starts. He began the season in the rotation because of Bryce Miller's oblique strain and placement on the 15-day IL, but it's hard to see Hancock giving up his starting role if he continues to pitch anywhere near this well.

  • Jordan Romano RP | LAA

    Angels' Jordan Romano: Tallies third save

    Romano earned a save against the Mariners on Saturday, striking out one batter in a perfect inning of work.

    Romano entered in the ninth frame with the task of protecting a 1-0 lead. He got through the inning unscathed thanks in part to right fielder Jo Adell, who robbed J.P. Crawford of what had appeared to be a game-tying leadoff homer. Romano retired the next two batters on a popout and a punchout, giving him three saves in three chances to begin the campaign. He's putting a stranglehold on the Angels' closer role with 4.2 scoreless frames and a 7:2 K:BB through five appearances.

  • Angels' Jack Kochanowicz: Rebounds with 5.2 scoreless frames

    Kochanowicz (1-0) earned the win over Seattle on Saturday, allowing four hits and issuing two walks while striking out seven batters over 5.2 scoreless innings.

    Kochanowicz gave up six runs (five earned) over four innings in his season debut against Houston last Sunday, but he was much more effective Saturday. The right-hander held the Mariners without a run over his 5.2 frames, though he got some help from right fielder Jo Adell, who robbed Seattle of one homer while Kochanowicz was in the game and two more following the hurler's departure. One particularly promising aspect of Kochanowicz's outing was his 12 whiffs and seven punchouts -- he posted a 5.8 K/9 over 111 innings last season and topped seven strikeouts only once across 23 starts. Kochanowicz will try to build upon this impressive appearance the next time he takes the mound, which tentatively lines up to be next week in Cincinnati.

  • Tyrone Taylor RF | NYM

    Mets' Tyrone Taylor: Comes up big after late entrance

    Taylor went 2-for-3 with a three-run home run and an additional RBI in a 9-0 win against the Giants on Saturday.

    Taylor began the game on the bench, but he was called upon to pinch hit for Jared Young in the fifth inning. That decision proved to be wise for the Mets, as Taylor blasted a three-run homer on the fifth pitch he saw and later added an RBI single. This was a much-needed performance by Taylor, who entered the game 0-for-9 through four contests. Taylor could see more opportunities moving forward if Juan Soto, who left Friday's game due to a minor right calf strain, needs to miss more time.

  • Giants' Landen Roupp: Can't build on season-opening win

    Roupp (1-1) took the loss against the Mets on Saturday, allowing seven runs (five earned) on seven hits and one walk while striking out seven batters over 4.2 innings.

    The seven punchouts were useful for fantasy managers who deployed the hurler, but there were few (if any) other positives to take away from Roupp's performance. His outing was particularly disappointing given the strong six innings of shutout ball he tossed against San Diego in his season debut Monday. Roupp was similarly up-and-down last season -- he had six outings of zero runs allowed and five of four or more runs permitted over 22 regular-season starts -- so consistency seems to be his biggest issue. He'll try to get back on track in his next start, which is tentatively scheduled to come in Baltimore next week.

  • Clay Holmes RP | NYM

    Mets' Clay Holmes: Shuts down Giants in victory

    Holmes (2-0) earned the win over San Francisco on Saturday, allowing three hits and walking two batters while striking out four over seven scoreless innings.

    Holmes allowed exactly one baserunner in each of his first four innings and then went into shutdown mode. Over his final three frames, he yielded just one baserunner (on a single). Holmes wasn't overpowering, getting just seven whiffs and four punchouts, but he picked up his second win and first quality start of the campaign. Through two outings, he has allowed just two runs across 12.2 frames while posting a 9:5 K:BB.

  • Rockies' Chase Dollander: Takes tough-luck loss Saturday

    Dollander (1-1) took the loss against Philadelphia on Saturday, allowing one run on four hits and one walk while striking out six batters over 4.1 innings.

    Dollander didn't start, but he handled a relatively big workload of 71 pitches with previously scheduled starter Jose Quintana (hamstring) landing on the injured list Thursday. Dollander followed two other pitchers Saturday and entered in the third inning, with his exit coming after getting one out in the seventh. Despite giving up just one run in a strong performance, the right-hander was charged with the loss as Colorado's offense was unable to score after the third inning. Dollander seems primed to pitch on days when Quintana had been scheduled to start, though it's unclear if Dollander will continue to work in bulk relief or if he'll transition to a traditional starting role.

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