MLB Player News

Brash blew the save Sunday against the Angels, allowing one unearned run while striking out one in one inning.

After entering the 10th inning with a one-run lead, Brash was charged with a blown save in his first opportunity of the season, as the Angels capitalized on the extra-innings automatic runner. Following a successful bunt that moved the runner over, Logan O'Hoppe lifted a sacrifice fly to bring home the tying run. The 27-year-old has yet to allow an earned run this season and has recorded four strikeouts across his first four appearances, and though the blown save Sunday won't look good on his stat sheet, it's hardly a concern given how the run against him came about.

Baker (1-0) was credited with the win Sunday against the Twins, striking out two in a clean ninth inning.

The Rays have a pretty wide open closer competition during the early going of the season. Griffin Jax has an 11.25 ERA through his first four innings, while both Garrett Cleavinger (calf) and Edwin Uceta (shoulder) are on the injured list. That said, the door is open for Baker, who has tossed three scoreless innings with a 4:0 K:BB thus far, to at least claim more high-leverage work.

Abreu (0-1) took the loss Sunday against the Athletics, allowing three runs (two earned) on two hits and one walk across one-third of an inning.

Abreu came on in the bottom of the ninth with the game tied 9-9 and was able to get the final out to send it to the 10th inning. Houston scored one in the top half of the inning, and Abreu stayed on to try to close out his own win. He walked Tyler Soderstrom before allowing a three-run, walk-off homer to Brent Rooker. Abreu has allowed at least one run in all four of his appearances to open the season and now owns a hideous 23.63 ERA and 6:5 K:BB across 2.2 innings. He's already served up three home runs after allowing four all of last season. With Josh Hader (biceps) still on the injured list, Abreu appears to still be the favorite for saves in Houston, but his hold on the job has got to be loosening after four rough outings.

Leiter was charged with a blown save Sunday against the Astros, allowing one hit and one walk across one inning.

After Scott Barlow was unable to retire any of the four batters he faced to begin the eighth inning, Leiter was brought on with a 9-7 lead and runners on second and third. Leiter walked Yordan Alvarez to load the bases and allowed a game-tying, two-run single to Cam Smith two batters later. Leiter still owns the Athletics' lone save through nine games and has a 2.45 ERA across 3.2 innings.

Barlow allowed four runs on two hits and two walks without recording an out in Sunday's 12-10 win over the Astros.

With the Athletics leading 9-5 headed into the eighth inning, Barlow was brought on to protect the lead but allowed a solo homer to Jake Meyers, walked Joey Loperfido and Nick Allen and served up an RBI double to Jose Altuve before Barlow was yanked in favor of Mark Leiter. Leiter wasn't all that much better, walking Yordan Alvarez before allowing a two-run single to Cam Smith two batters later. Leiter was charged with the blown save, but most of the damage was charged to Barlow. Thought to be in the mix for saves with the Athletics, Barlow has an ugly 9.82 ERA and 1:3 K:BB through his first 3.2 innings this season.

Woods Richardson did not factor into the decision in Sunday's 4-1 extra-inning loss to the Rays, allowing one run on five hits and two walks with four strikeouts over 6.2 innings.

Despite throwing just 51 of 88 pitches for strikes, Woods Richardson turned in a quality start and kept the Rays in check aside from a solo homer by Junior Caminero in the fourth inning. While he's posted a modest 6:3 K:BB through two starts, the 25-year-old owns a 2.31 ERA and 1.11 WHIP across 11.2 innings. He lines up for a road matchup against the Blue Jays next weekend.

Lopez (0-1) didn't factor into the decision Sunday against the Astros, allowing three runs on three hits and five walks with six strikeouts across 4.1 innings.

After walking five batters in his first start of the season last Monday against Atlanta, Lopez again struggled badly with his command Sunday, throwing just 51 strikes on 92 pitches. Lopez worked around a walk to strike out the side in the first inning. He later served up a two-run home run to Yordan Alvarez in the fifth. Lopez will carry a 6.48 ERA and 6:10 K:BB across 8.1 innings into his next start Saturday against the Mets.

Martinez did not factor into the decision in Sunday's 4-1 extra-inning win over the Twins, allowing one run on one hit and one walk with four strikeouts over six innings.

Martinez surrendered a solo homer in the second inning but was extremely efficient, throwing 52 of 81 pitches and retiring 10 straight batters at one point. Though he's generated just seven strikeouts over 12 innings this season, the veteran has allowed just one earned run in each of his two starts while yielding only eight total baserunners. He's slated for a tough home matchup against the Yankees next weekend.

Kelly earned the save in Sunday's 4-1 extra-inning win over the Twins, striking out one in a perfect 10th inning.

Kelly was summoned after the Rays scored three runs in the top of the 10th and closed the door on 19 pitches. The two pitchers presumed higher in the ninth-inning pecking order, Griffin Jax and Bryan Baker, combined for three scoreless frames before he got the call. Despite yielding six runs (five earned) in Friday's outing, it's now Kelly who owns both of the club's saves this season.

Bolton is slated to start Monday's game against the Rockies at Coors Field, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Bolton will be tasked with making a spot start Monday after Hunter Brown (shoulder) was placed on the 15-day injured list Sunday, leaving a significant void in the rotation. The start will be the first of Bolton's major-league career, and it'll be his first appearance since he tossed three innings while allowing one run on three hits and a walk while striking out five in his season debut last Tuesday against Boston. The three innings marked the longest outing of his major-league career, so he likely won't be asked to work deep into his start against the Rockies.