MLB Player News

Fujinami (5-7) got the extra-inning win over the Tigers on Tuesday, striking out the side in a perfect ninth frame.

Fujinami threw arguably his sharpest inning of the season, firing nine of his 12 pitches for strikes while recording swinging punchouts of Jake Rogers, Zach McKinstry and Miguel Cabrera. The right-hander now has four consecutive scoreless appearances -- including three straight hitless efforts -- and hasn't walked a batter across the seven innings spanning his last six outings, his longest stretch by far without issuing a free pass. With a recent body of work that includes a 3-1 record, 2.19 ERA and 10.2 K/9 across his last 11 appearances, Fujinami appears to be increasingly earning the trust of manager Mark Kotsay in higher-leverage scenarios.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora said they are building up Pivetta's pitch count ahead of a potential start Sunday, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

With Garrett Whitlock (elbow) joining Chris Sale (scapula) and Tanner Houck (facial fracture) on the injured list this week, the Red Sox are limited in the rotation. Pivetta has been a revelation since moving from the rotation to the bullpen in May, and Cora has been reluctant to use him as a starter, feeling his pitch mix plays better in relief. At this point, however, the Red Sox need bulk innings, and keeping Pivetta in the bullpen is a luxury.

Moore (oblique) threw a bullpen session Tuesday and is expected to be ready to return to the Angels following the All-Star break, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Moore was temporarily shut down from throwing after experiencing some soreness following a simulated game June 24. However, the southpaw was able to get back on the mound Tuesday and is slated to throw another bullpen this weekend. If he does so without any setbacks, Moore appears in line to be activated for the Angels' first game back from the All-Star break July 14.

Joyce (elbow) will continue his rehab in Arizona but isn't expected to be able to pitch off a mound for at least three weeks, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.

Joyce recently resumed throwing on flat ground after going on the injured list June 10 due to right ulnar neuritis. Though the rookie reliever appears to be making progress, he won't be rushed in his rehab and isn't slated to see mound work until the final week of July at the earliest. With that timeframe in mind, Joyce is unlikely to be ready to return to the big-league staff until sometime in August or September.

Smith recorded the final out Tuesday to collect his 15th save of the season in a 6-2 win over the Red Sox.

Josh Sborz began the ninth inning on the mound for the Rangers, but a single and a catcher's interference call on Mitch Garver put two runners aboard with two outs, and Smith got the call to retire Alex Verdugo and end the threat. The veteran lefty reliever had just blown his second save of the season Monday, but since the beginning of June, Smith has a 2.92 ERA, 0.81 WHIP and 10:2 K:BB through 12.1 innings. His spot as the closer doesn't appear to be in any jeopardy from the newly acquired Aroldis Chapman.

Romano struck out the side in a perfect inning to earn the save in Tuesday's 4-3 win over the White Sox.

Romano's hit a bit of a rough patch lately, allowing a run in three of his last five outings. He's picked up three saves and taken two losses in that span, but Tuesday's appearance was a sharp one for the veteran closer. He's up to 25 saves in 28 chances while pitching to a 3.03 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 45:10 K:BB over 35.2 innings on the year.

De Los Santos (4-1) pitched a perfect inning to earn the extra-inning win over Atlanta on Tuesday.

De Los Santos worked the 10th inning and got some help on an outfield assist from Myles Straw to nab the potential go-ahead runner at the plate on a double play. David Fry then walked it off in the bottom of the 10th. De Los Santos has allowed just two hits while striking out five over his seven-inning scoreless streak. For the season, he's at a 2.57 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 31:13 K:BB while adding six holds and a blown save over 35 innings. He's not firmly in the high-leverage mix, but he's pitched well enough to be trusted to protect leads.

Clase allowed a run on one hit and struck out one in one inning, taking a blown save in Tuesday's extra-inning win over Atlanta.

Clase was dominant for much of the first three months of the campaign, but he's now given up seven runs (six earned) over 2.1 innings across his last three appearances. Ozzie Albies tagged him for a solo home run in the ninth inning Tuesday, though Cleveland ultimately won in the 10th. Clase now has a 3.54 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 37:11 K:BB through 40.2 innings, and he's 24-for-31 in save chances this season. He had just nine blown saves combined over the previous two years, but he's taken a step back in 2023.

May picked up the save in Tuesday's 1-0 victory over Detroit. He allowed no hits and one walk while striking out one over a scoreless inning.

Oakland broke a scoreless tie in the top of the 10th inning, and May worked around the designated runner and a two-out walk in the bottom of the frame for his sixth save of the year. The right-hander gave up eight earned runs over his first eight outings of the season before he landed on the injured list in mid-April for anxiety issues, but since rejoining the active roster May 23, he has a 2.70 ERA with six saves in 17 appearances.

The Tigers optioned Hill to Triple-A Toledo on Tuesday, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.

Hill will return to the minors to make room for Eduardo Rodriguez (finger), who will return from the injured list and start Wednesday. Hill made one appearance after getting called up June 28, allowing four earned runs across two innings, and he holds a 9.88 ERA and 2.20 WHIP through 13.2 frames.