MLB Player News

Chapman (1-1) struck out two in a perfect inning, earning the win Saturday versus the Twins.

Chapman faltered a bit during the team's last series in Arizona, allowing three runs (two earned) over 1.1 innings in two appearances, but he got back on track Saturday. The hard-throwing lefty has pitched well this season with a 1.74 ERA, 0.87 WHIP and 19:3 K:BB across 10.1 innings. He's added a save and two holds. Chapman continues to be part of the late-inning mix, though Scott Barlow has seen the bulk of the closing duties on the rare occasions the Royals have a lead to protect.

Gott (0-2) took the loss in extra innings against the Blue Jays on Saturday, allowing an unearned run on two hits and a walk without retiring a batter.

Called on in a tie game for the second time in as many days, Gott once again faltered. Saturday, his troubles began immediately when he allowed a Vladimir Guerrero single that advanced inning-opening runner Bo Bichette to third base and then surrendered a game-winning single to Daulton Varsho after intentionally walking Matt Chapman. After opening the season with five straight scoreless appearances, Gott has now surrendered at least an unearned run in five of his subsequent eight outings.

Martin (shoulder) was activated from the 15-day injured list Sunday, Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald reports.

Martin landed on the shelf with shoulder inflammation April 13, but he'll rejoin the Red Sox after one rehab outing with Triple-A Worcester. The 36-year-old has three holds with a 2.57 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 2:1 K:BB across seven innings this season, and he could be in the mix with John Schreiber for saves in the immediate future with Kenley Jansen unavailable Sunday and day-to-day with back tightness.

Rodriguez (oblique) will start a rehab assignment this week, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.

Rodriguez has missed the first month of the 2023 campaign while dealing with an oblique strain he suffered during Grapefruit League play. The left-hander will likely need at least a handful of games before he's ready to rejoin the Boston bullpen, but he'll be a welcome addition considering how many injuries the Red Sox pitching staff has dealt with in 2023.

Swanson (1-0) issued one walk and struck out three over a scoreless inning of relief en route to claiming his first win of the season in Saturday's 1-0 win over the Mariners.

Though the Blue Jays forked over outfielder Teoscar Hernandez to bring back Swanson and lefty pitching prospect Adam Macko from Seattle over the offseason, the veteran reliever has been well worth the acquisition price thus far. He hasn't allowed a run over his last eight appearances, collecting a win and five holds to go with a 0.60 WHIP and 14 strikeouts across 8.1 innings during that stretch.

The Rays will add Guerra to their 26-man roster Sunday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

The 27-year-old was acquired from the Brewers on Saturday and will officially join his new team ahead of Sunday's series finale versus the White Sox. He finished last season with Tampa Bay before being dealt to Milwaukee during the offseason. Guerra surrendered eight runs on 10 hits with a 5:9 K:BB across 8.1 innings with the Brewers this season, and he should fill a low-leverage role for the Rays.

Tampa Bay optioned Faucher to Triple-A Durham on Sunday.

With Javy Guerra reporting to the Rays on Sunday after being acquired from Milwaukee, Faucher's demotion is necessary to create room on the 26-man roster. Faucher had been serving as an opener of late for Tampa Bay and had allowed a run in all but one of his appearances in April while registering a 6.43 ERA and 11:6 K:BB across 14 innings. He could be back with Tampa Bay in the coming weeks when the big club requires a fresh arm.

Barlow gave up two hits and struck out one in a scoreless ninth inning Saturday to record his fourth save of the season in a 3-2 win over the Twins.

He was dialed in, firing 14 of his 15 pitches for strikes, and after giving up a pair of one-out singles he retired Byron Buxton and Trevor Larnach to secure Kansas City's seventh win of the year. A couple implosions have tainted Barlow's ratios, but he remains the preferred option in the ninth inning over Aroldis Chapman despite his 6.10 ERA, 1.74 WHIP and 13:7 K:BB through 10.1 innings.

Brasier allowed three runs on one hit and two walks while striking out one over two-thirds of an inning in Saturday's 8-7 extra-inning win over Cleveland.

Brasier was the most egregious part of a bullpen meltdown and has allowed multiple runs in five of 14 appearances. He survived an offseason bullpen purge, largely because he was a strike thrower, but the right-hander has walked eight in 14 innings and sports an 8.36 ERA. With news that Kenley Jansen (back) is unavailable Sunday, Brasier, who saved a game earlier in April when Jansen was unavailable, could be in line for another opportunity to close.

Jansen will not be available to pitch Sunday due to back tightness, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.

Jansen pitched through a back issue that cropped up prior to Saturday's game and was visited by training staff during the ninth inning. "He'll be down tomorrow," Boston manager Alex Cora said. "Hopefully, he'll be back on Monday." If a save situation arises Sunday, Cora could use a returning Chris Martin (shoulder), who's expected to come off the IL before the game, while lefty Richard Bleier and righty John Schreiber are also available. Ryan Brasier, who picked up a save earlier this season, is also an option, but the right-hander threw 21 pitches Saturday and has allowed eight runs over his last 4.2 innings.