MLB Player News
-
Joe Barlow RP | TEX
Rangers' Joe Barlow: Makes season debut
Barlow pitched a scoreless third of an inning in Wednesday's 6-5 loss to Atlanta.
Barlow was called up this week and made his season debut Wednesday. He was Texas' closer for stretches in 2021 and 2022, notching 24 saves, but was held back this spring in Arizona due to a velocity drop before joining Triple-A Round Rock. He went 2-0 with a 2.63 ERA over 11 relief appearances for the Express, and manager Bruce Bochy said he's comfortable using Barlow in high-leverage situations. That indicates Barlow could be thrown into the setup mix, which has not performed well of late, including Wednesday when Josh Sborz and Brock Burke combined to blow a 5-3 lead in the eighth and ninth innings.
-
Josh Sborz RP | TEX
Rangers' Josh Sborz: Can't hold lead
Sborz allowed two runs on two hits and a walk while striking out one over one-third of an inning in Wednesday's 6-5 loss to Atlanta.
Jonathan Hernandez struggled his last three appearances, so manager Bruce Bochy opted for Sborz while nursing a 5-3 lead. He walked the leadoff batter before allowing a single and double that tied the game. Brock Burke then surrendered the game-deciding home run to Orlando Arcia in the ninth. Outside of closer Will Smith, the Rangers' bullpen (4.48 ERA, 26th in MLB) has not supported a starting staff that ranks fourth (3.52 ERA). Wednesday's results marked the sixth time Texas held a seventh-inning lead only to end up losing.
-
Pete Fairbanks RP | MIA
Rays' Pete Fairbanks: Takes loss and blown save
Fairbanks (0-1) took the loss and blew a save against the Mets on Wednesday, allowing three runs (two earned) on two hits while striking out one batter over one-third of an inning.
Jason Adam actually got the first crack at a save for the Rays in the contest, but he gave up three runs in the ninth inning to blow the opportunity and allow the game to go into extra frames. After Tampa Bay put up two runs in the top of the 10th, Fairbanks was summoned to close things out, but he took the loss when Pete Alonso crushed a walk-off three-run homer against him. This was Fairbanks' first game back after a stay on the 15-day injured list with a forearm injury, so some rust may have factored into the poor outing.
-
Jason Adam RP | SD
Rays' Jason Adam: Blows save against Mets
Adam blew a save against the Mets on Wednesday, allowing three runs on one hit and one walk while striking out two batters over one inning.
Adam got the call from the bullpen with the Rays up by three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning, but he couldn't get the job done. The right-hander put the first two batters he faced on base via a walk and hit-by-pitch, then retired the next two hitters before serving up a game-tying three-run homer to Francisco Alvarez. It was the second blown save over the past three outings for Adam, whose ERA shot up from 1.59 to 3.00 as a result of Wednesday's collapse. Co-closer Pete Fairbanks also blew a save with a poor appearance Wednesday, and the pair will likely continue sharing fireman duties moving forward.
-
Josh Fleming RP | TOR
Rays' Josh Fleming: Tosses five scoreless frames
Fleming did not factor in the decision against the Mets on Wednesday, pitching five scoreless innings during which he allowed three hits and two walks while striking out two batters.
Fleming worked in a traditional starting role for just the second time this season and delivered five shutout frames to counteract a strong start by opposing hurler Kodai Senga. Fleming's approach was the opposite of Senga's -- he notched just four whiffs and two strikeouts to Senga's 18 and 12 -- but the efficiency helped him get through five frames on a modest 67 pitches. Fleming doesn't have the strikeout stuff to be a popular option in fantasy, though he's posted a decent 3.68 ERA through 36.2 innings on the campaign.
-
Josh Taylor RP | KC
Royals' Josh Taylor: Snags win Wednesday
Taylor (1-1) allowed two runs on two hits and a walk while striking out two in two-thirds of an inning, earning the win Wednesday over the Padres.
Taylor got the last out of the fifth inning and then ran into some trouble in the sixth, but the Royals gained the lead while he was on the mound to give him his first win with the team. The southpaw has had a rough May, allowing nine runs (eight earned) over 6.1 innings. He's at a poor 6.91 ERA with a 1.60 WHIP and 22:8 K:BB through 14.1 innings overall while working in a low-leverage role.
-
Carlos Hernandez RP | CLE
Royals' Carlos Hernandez: Strikes out four as opener
Hernandez allowed two hits and struck out four over two scoreless innings in a no-decision versus the Padres on Wednesday.
Hernandez has kept runs off the board in five of his seven appearances in May, including this turn as an opener. The right-hander hasn't had much success at the major-league level, but he's been more effective as a reliever this season. He has a 4.09 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 28:8 K:BB through 22 innings while adding an 0-1 record, three holds and a blown save in 19 appearances.
-
Lucas Erceg RP | KC
Athletics' Lucas Erceg: Traded to A's
The Brewers traded Erceg to the Athletics on Wednesday in exchange for cash considerations.
Erceg has struggled to begin the season in Triple-A Nashville, holding a 6.46 ERA and 1.57 WHIP through 15.1 innings. Despite his below-average performance, Oakland's lack of talent at the major-league level makes it possible that Erceg debuts in the majors at some point this season, although he would have to be added to the 40-man roster before that could happen.
-
Scott Barlow RP | ATH
Royals' Scott Barlow: Nails down sixth save
Barlow picked up the save Wednesday with a perfect inning against the Padres, including one strikeout.
Barlow made quick work of the Padres in the ninth, as he needed just seven pitches to retire the side. The closer has worked 10 straight outings, and 10.2 innings, since he last allowed a run April 19. All seven earned runs Barlow has allowed came in an eight-day span in April. The righty has 24 strikeouts in 17.1 innings this season.
-
Liam Hendriks RP | MIN
White Sox's Liam Hendriks: Won't be activated this week
White Sox manager Pedro Grifol confirmed Wednesday that Hendriks (illness) won't be activated this week, James Fegan of The Athletic reports.
Hendriks has temporarily paused his minor-league rehab assignment and will head to Chicago on Thursday for a meeting with White Sox management. The veteran closer has allowed six earned runs through five innings so far with Triple-A Charlotte, which works out to a 10.80 ERA. He's on the road back from an offseason diagnosis of Stage 4 non-Hodgkin lymphoma.