MLB Player News

Smith retired all three batters faced to pick up the save in Sunday's 2-1 win over Philadelphia.

Smith got the call for the first save situation presented to the Rangers. Jose Leclerc exited spring training as the presumptive closer, but he was bypassed in favor of Smith, who was a late addition to the roster this spring. Leclerc was well rested, having thrown 21 pitches Thursday.

De Los Santos (1-0) struck out one in a perfect inning Sunday versus the Mariners, earning the extra-inning win.

De Los Santos worked the ninth inning of a 5-5 game, which was his third appearance of the young season. He's picked up a 3:1 K:BB over 2.2 hitless innings so far. The right-hander was mostly limited to middle-relief assignments in 2022, but he excelled in that role with a 3.04 ERA and 1.07 WHIP across 53.1 innings. He's unlikely to challenge for many saves with Emmanuel Clase, Trevor Stephan and James Karinchak in the high-leverage mix, but De Los Santos could be part of the bridge to get to the late innings.

Stephan picked up the save Sunday against Seattle with a perfect ninth inning. He struck out one batter.

Stephan picked up 20 holds over 66 appearances last season while posting a 2.69 ERA, and he was called upon in the bottom of the 10th inning Sunday to preserve a one-run lead. While it was encouraging to see the righty earn the save, he's unlikely to see many save chances this year behind Emmanuel Clase, who picked up the save against Seattle on Saturday.

Pagan allowed one run on two hits and no walks while striking out one over one inning in Sunday's 7-4 win over Kansas City.

Pagan struggled with the Twins last season, posting a 4.43 ERA and seven blown saves, and it was a mild surprise that he wasn't non-tendered. His 2023 debut in a low-leverage spot (the Twins were up four runs in the ninth) didn't build confidence for a turnaround as he gave up a hit to his first two batters. He'll likely work in low-leverage spots until he gains the team's confidence again.

Holmes tossed two-thirds of an inning against San Francisco on Saturday, allowing two runs on three hits. He did not walk or strike out any batters.

Holmes is expected to get most of the save opportunities for the Yankees this season, but his first appearance of the campaign came with New York trailing by a run in the top of the ninth inning. The right-hander was unable to maintain the narrow deficit, as he allowed two runs to cross the plate while registering just two outs. It's unlikely that the poor debut will push Holmes out of the primary closer role, but it's also worth noting that he hadn't saved any games in four seasons prior to last year and struggled in the second half of last season, so he may not have a long leash if he struggles early in the campaign.

Oller (illness) allowed five runs (four earned) on six hits and two walks over 4.2 innings of relief in a loss to the Angels on Saturday. He also uncorked a wild pitch and recorded a strikeout.

Oller had been in contention with JP Sears for the final spot in the rotation to open the season, and based on the former's deployment out of the bullpen Saturday, it seems evident he lost out on the competition. Nevertheless, Oller essentially put in a starting pitcher's workload thanks to Shintaro Fujinami's nightmarish MLB debut that saw him get chased after just 2.1 innings. Oller gave up his fair share of runs as well, but he was able to gobble up some key innings and preserve the arms of several bullpen mates. He'll likely remain ticketed for multi-inning, low-leverage relief assignments for the time being.

Yarbrough pitched 1.2 perfect relief innings without recording a strikeout in Saturday's 2-0 loss to the Twins.

Yarbrough was slowed by a groin strain during spring training, so he hasn't had the ability to stretch out yet. He was efficient Saturday, throwing just 12 pitches (nine strikes) to get five outs. It appears Yarbrough could be headed for a multi-inning role out of the bullpen this season, which would sap most of his fairly limited fantasy value. Should Kris Bubic falter as the fifth starter, Yarbrough still has a path to the rotation if he can build up during the season.

Clase earned a save Saturday against the Mariners, striking out one batter in a perfect inning of work.

After Aaron Civale gave Cleveland seven scoreless innings, manager Terry Francona turned to James Karinchak in the eighth. Karinchak continued the shutout, and Clase finished things off with a perfect ninth. He needed just eight pitches, seven of which were strikes, to earn the save. Clase is among the most reliable closers in baseball, having converted 67 of 76 save chances since the start of 2021.

Fujinami (0-1) took the loss against the Angels on Saturday, allowing eight runs on five hits and three walks while striking out four batters over 2.1 innings.

After 10 years pitching in Japan with Nippon Professional Baseball's Hanshin Tigers, Fujinami signed on with the Athletics in January. This probably wasn't how he envisioned his first major-league start going, as the Angels chased him after just 2.1 frames. The right-hander actually looked great over his first two innings, striking out four batters without allowing a baserunner. Things completely unraveled for him in the third, however, as Los Angeles put eight of the first nine batters on base, with the only out being recorded on a sacrifice fly. Fujinami will look for much better results the next time he takes the mound, which is tentatively scheduled to be next Saturday in Tampa.

Davidson picked up a save Saturday against Oakland, hurling four scoreless innings during which he allowed three hits and one walk while striking out three batters.

Davidson will presumably be the Angels' sixth starter the first time the team needs a pitcher to fill that role, but with the Angels getting a day off Friday, the left-hander was tabbed to stretch out in long relief for his season debut. He got through four frames on 41 pitches (25 strikes) and looked good in keeping the Athletics off the scoreboard. Fantasy managers shouldn't read into Davidson's save Saturday as any indication of him jumping into the Angels' unsettled closer situation, so those who roster him for his potential future starts and happened to have him in their lineup this weekend should see this as a happy, but probably one-time, bonus.