MLB Player News
-
Paul Skenes SP | PIT
Pirates' Paul Skenes: Struggles again Saturday
Skenes (6-4) took the loss against Toronto on Saturday, allowing four runs on nine hits and one walk while striking out two batters over five-plus innings.
It didn't take long for Toronto to get to Skenes, as George Springer led off the bottom of the first inning with a solo homer. Skenes recovered to get through the fifth frame with just that one run on his ledger, but he fell apart in the sixth. In that inning, the Blue Jays opened with four straight hits before Skenes was pulled, and he was ultimately charged with three runs. This was the second straight uncharacteristically mediocre start for the right-hander, who gave up five runs in five innings against Philadelphia in his previous outing. That's pushed his season ERA up to 3.00, and he'll look to get back on track his next time out, which lines up to be a home start against the Cubs.
-
Tommy Troy OF | ARI
Diamondbacks' Tommy Troy: Contract selected
The Diamondbacks selected Troy's contract from Triple-A Reno on Saturday.
With Lourdes Gurriel (hamstring) landing on the injured list Saturday, the Diamondbacks will call upon Troy to add depth to their position-player group. The 24-year-old has slashed .307/.397/.449 with three homers, 28 RBI, 39 runs and six steals through 205 plate appearances at Reno, and he's capable of playing in the outfield and middle infield. He'll be making his MLB debut whenever he gets into a game.
-
Jeff Hoffman RP | TOR
Blue Jays' Jeff Hoffman: Records save Saturday
Hoffman notched a save against the Pirates on Saturday, striking out all three batters he faced in a scoreless inning.
Hoffman entered in the ninth inning with Toronto holding a three-run lead and dominated with three punchouts, throwing nine of 13 pitches for strikes. The save was Hoffman's second in the past three days after he lost his hold on the closer role in late April. Louis Varland has since taken up that mantle and has thrived, but he was presumably unavailable Saturday after tossing two frames en route to a save Friday. With that in mind, Hoffman probably isn't a reliable target for saves moving forward, though he's pitched relatively well in May, giving up four earned runs while recording a 13:1 K:BB over 10.1 innings spanning 11 appearances.
-
Patrick Corbin SP | TOR
Blue Jays' Patrick Corbin: Fires six innings in win
Corbin (2-1) earned the win over Pittsburgh on Saturday, allowing one run on five hits and no walks while striking out seven batters over six innings.
Corbin looked to be in for a tough matchup with Paul Skenes working as the opposing starter, but the veteran lefty excelled in route to the victory. Corbin completed six innings for the first time on the campaign and notched a season-high seven punchouts while throwing 57 of 84 pitches for strikes. He hadn't been able to finish five frames in either of his past two starts, so this was a great bounce-back effort. Corbin will carry a 3.86 season ERA into his next start, which lines up as a road tilt in Baltimore.
-
Lourdes Gurriel LF | ARI
Diamondbacks' Lourdes Gurriel: Lands on injured list
The Diamondbacks placed Gurriel on the 10-day injured list Saturday with a left hamstring strain.
Gurriel was pulled from Friday's contest with hamstring tightness after making a sliding catch in the outfield. Further evaluation confirmed that he suffered a strain, so he'll move to the injured list and remain sidelined until at least June 2. In the meantime, Jorge Barrosa and Tim Tawa are candidates for extra reps in the outfield, though Tommy Troy looks like the main beneficiary in terms of playing time.
-
Yordan Alvarez DH | HOU
Astros' Yordan Alvarez: Won't play Sunday
Alvarez (back) won't be in the lineup for Sunday's series finale against the Cubs, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Alvarez was pulled from Saturday's contest in the sixth inning due to back spasms, but he said after the game that his absence Sunday had already been planned and has nothing to do with his injury. Scheduled or not, a day off for Alvarez will give his back more time to recover and help his chances of returning to the lineup for Monday's series opener against the Rangers.
-
Jose Franco RP | CIN
Reds' Jose Franco: Sent back down
The Reds optioned Franco to Triple-A Louisville on Saturday.
Franco gave up three earned runs over two innings during the first half of Saturday's doubleheader, inflating his ERA to 5.40 through 16.2 frames in the big leagues this season. He'll be joined by Connor Phillips on the trip back to Louisville, and the Reds will bring up Zach Maxwell from Triple-A and activate Caleb Ferguson (oblique) from the IL to round out the active roster.
-
Nate Lowe DH | CIN
Reds' Nathaniel Lowe: Homers in matinee
Lowe started at first base and went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in a 9-1 loss to the Cardinals in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader.
Lowe gave the Reds an early lead with his second-inning homer, but other than that, Cincinnati didn't put up much of fight. It was the seventh homer of the season for Lowe, who has hits in five consecutive starts, going 7-for-22 with three doubles, a home run and five RBI during that span. He could earn more playing time after the Reds placed third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes (back) on the 10-day injured list Friday. Whether Sal Stewart moves from first to third or the recently activated Eugenio Suarez handles the hot corner, Lowe could see time at first base or DH.
-
Connor Phillips RP | CIN
Reds' Connor Phillips: Optioned to Louisville
The Reds optioned Phillips to Triple-A Louisville on Saturday.
After posting a 2.88 ERA through 25 innings last season, Phillips has struggled to the tune of a 5.53 ERA and 1.77 WHIP over 27.2 frames to begin the 2026 campaign, so the Reds will send him and Jose Franco down to the minors to right the ship. To fill the open roster spots, Caleb Ferguson (oblique) was activated from the IL, and Zach Maxwell was promoted from Louisville.
-
Zach Maxwell RP | CIN
Reds' Zach Maxwell: Up from Louisville
The Reds recalled Maxwell from Triple-A Louisville on Saturday.
Maxwell gave up four earned runs in just one inning during his season debut May 1, but he's since fired 7.1 shutout innings at Louisville while tallying 10 strikeouts. He'll get another look in the Reds' bullpen as a result, and the team will clear room for him on the active roster by sending down Connor Phillips and Jose Franco.