MLB Player News

This certainly qualifies as a surprise after Dotel spun four perfect innings during a bulk relief appearance against the Cardinals on Monday. The 23-year-old rookie has vastly outperformed expectations with a microscopic 1.35 ERA and 4/3 K/BB ratio across 6 2/3 innings over three appearances this season. He’ll presumably be back at some point in a couple weeks when the Pirates need some long relief depth.

Meyer got the victory, moving him to 6-0 with a 2.81 ERA. He actually gave up 10 hard-hit balls today, but they turned into 10 outs; one was a single and another one saw a batter reach on an error, but two turned into GIDPs. He gave up one other single on an 85-mph liner to the outfield. He struck out seven. Meyer’s next start will come at home versus the D-backs.

Fairbanks plunked Dylan Crews and gave up a single to Curtis Mead to open the ninth, but he then retired CJ Abrams, Jacob Young and Daylen Lile in order. It’s the 11th time in 18 appearances this year that Fairbanks has gone without allowing a run. He still has a 6.61 ERA overall.

A solid first start for Alvarez this year after he previously posted a 4.02 ERA in 15 2/3 innings over five relief appearances. There’s no real upside here, but Alvarez is more likely to give the Nationals five decent innings each time out than a few other pitchers the team has tried in recent years. He’ll likely continue to start for now and face the Giants next week.

Beeter entered with the bases loaded and two outs in the seventh and struck out Kyle Stowers to end the rally. Unfortunately, he couldn’t keep it going in the eighth. After a walk and a single, Jakob Marsee went to put down a sac bunt, only to wind up with a single because Curtis Mead was very late in charging the ball from third base. Joe Mack later hit a two-run single with two outs. Beeter might still be the favorite for saves in D.C., but as today’s usage showed, he’s not being saved for the ninth.

It’s Mack’s first multihit game since May 9 in the Marlins’ previous series against the Nationals. This one rates his best series to date, as he went 4-for-9 with a homer in the three-game sweep. It raised his OPS from .500 to .597.

Marte was jettisoned by Cincinnati earlier this week following just one appearance where he allowed four runs and recorded only one out. The 31-year-old journeyman reliever holds an underwhelming 5.94 ERA across 113 2/3 innings at the big-league level since 2022.

Smith gets the nod to return to San Francisco’s relief corps to replace injured lefty Matt Gage (knee). The 26-year-old recorded two outs during his season debut last month after coming over from the Tigers in a trade back in March. He’ll operate in low-leverage spots for the Giants.

Gage has emerged as a key cog in San Francisco’s high-leverage mix with an encouraging 2.63 ERA, 1.29 QHIP and 19/13 K/BB ratio across 24 innings. The well-traveled 33-year-old southpaw appears to have found a more permanent home with the Giants after making 49 appearances in the big leagues between four different organizations since 2022.

Gasser draws the starting assignment for Wednesday’s showdown against the Giants at American Family Field after compiling a respectable 3.38 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 38/8 K/BB ratio across 26 2/3 innings over seven starts at Triple-A this season. The 27-year-old southpaw has allowed seven runs over 8 1/3 innings during a pair of starts for the Brewers this year. He offers some streaming appeal in extremely deep mixed leagues since San Francisco has been a middle-of-the-road offense against left-handed pitchers this season. It’ll likely be a one-and-done spot start for Gasser unless Milwaukee decides they’re ready to replace a struggling Brandon Sproat in the rotation.

Zastryzny hits the shelf after posting a strong 2.45 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 20/10 K/BB ratio across 22 innings this season. There is no timetable for his return. The 34-year-old’s absence is a significant hit to Milwaukee’s left-handed relief depth.