MLB Player News
-
Tyler Samaniego RP | BOS
Red Sox's Tyler Samaniego: Summoned from minors
The Red Sox recalled Samaniego from Triple-A Worcester on Wednesday.
Samaniego was a late cut after a nice spring training and didn't have to wait long for a promotion. The lefty has permitted three runs (two earned) with a 3:2 K:BB over 5.1 frames in his first three appearances with Worcester. Samaniego will be making his major-league debut when he gets into a game.
-
Mark Leiter RP | ATH
Athletics' Mark Leiter: Surrenders four runs
Leiter (0-1) blew the save and took the loss in Tuesday's 5-3 loss to the Yankees. He allowed four runs on four hits and no walks with no strikeouts over two-thirds of an inning.
Leiter entered in the eighth inning with a two-run cushion but quickly gave it up, highlighted by a two-run homer from Amed Rosario that gave the Yankees the lead. The veteran right-hander has now recorded a blown save in each of his past two appearances and owns a 10.38 ERA and 2.54 WHIP through 4.1 innings. Leiter is still the only Athletics reliever to record a save this season, but with a closer-by-committee setup and a lack of defined roles in the bullpen, blow-up outings like Tuesday's hurt his chances of seeing consistent high-leverage opportunities.
-
David Bednar RP | NYY
Yankees' David Bednar: Notches fifth save
Bednar struck out one in a perfect ninth inning Tuesday to record his fifth save of the season in a 5-3 win over the A's.
The right-hander leads the majors in saves in the early going, one ahead of a group that includes the Dodgers' Edwin Diaz, the Phillies' Jhoan Duran and the Padres' Mason Miller. Bednar hasn't been quite as sharp as some of his peers, posting a 3.38 ERA, 1.88 WHIP and 5:3 K:BB through 5.1 innings, but he has a firm hold on the closing gig with the Yankees.
-
Shane Smith RP | CHW
White Sox's Shane Smith: Sent to minors after sluggish start
The White Sox optioned Smith to Triple-A Charlotte on Wednesday.
Smith was Chicago's Opening Day starter but finds himself back in the minors after putting up a 10.80 ERA, 2.52 WHIP and 11:9 K:BB over 8.1 innings in his first three starts. The right-hander should rejoin the Chicago rotation eventually, but he will try to get sorted out at Charlotte first. Jonathan Cannon had been on the same schedule as Smith at Charlotte and could be recalled to take the latter's spot in the big-league rotation Sunday in Kansas City.
-
Nick Mears RP | KC
Royals' Nick Mears: Strong start to season
Mears allowed no hits and a walk while striking out two over a scoreless inning in Tuesday's 2-1 loss against Cleveland.
Mears delivered a clean eighth inning Tuesday, with a Chase DeLauter walk serving as the only blemish in a scoreless frame that kept the game tied heading into the ninth before a Cleveland walk-off. Coming off a 3.49 ERA and 0.97 WHIP across 56.2 regular-season innings last year with Milwaukee, Mears is off to a strong start this campaign with Kansas City, as he's yet to allow a run through five innings while already picking up a win and a hold.
-
Mason Englert RP | TB
Rays' Mason Englert: Hit with loss during bullpen game
Englert (0-1) took the loss Tuesday, giving up four runs (three earned) on seven hits and a walk over 3.2 innings as the Rays were downed 9-2 by the Cubs. He struck out two.
Tampa Bay rolled out a bullpen game after Drew Rasmussen (personal) was a late scratch, with Englert getting the start and lasting 65 pitches (48 strikes). The right-hander won't be available for long-relief duties for a few days as a result, so it wouldn't be a surprise if he were optioned to Triple-A Durham for a fresh arm. Through four appearances this season, Englert has a 9.45 ERA, 1.95 WHIP and 4:1 K:BB over 6.2 innings.
-
Aroldis Chapman RP | BOS
Red Sox's Aroldis Chapman: Picks up third save Tuesday
Chapman secured his third save Tuesday against the Brewers, allowing a walk in a hitless and scoreless ninth inning.
After taking the loss in his previous outing Saturday against the Padres, Chapman got Luis Matos to fly out on the first pitch of the ninth inning before walking Sal Frelick on four pitches only to get Blake Perkins to ground into a game-ending double play on the first pitch of his at-bat. Chapman is now a perfect 3-for-3 in save chances this season and has a 1.80 ERA and 3:2 K:BB across five innings.
-
Garrett Crochet RP | BOS
Red Sox's Garrett Crochet: Strikes out seven in win Tuesday
Crochet (2-1) earned the win Tuesday against the Brewers, allowing two runs on five hits and two walks with seven strikeouts across 6.1 innings.
It was a nice rebound outing for Crochet after he was tagged for five runs (four earned) in a loss last Wednesday against the Astros. Crochet got back to using his fastball against Milwaukee, averaging 95.7 mph with the heater. Crochet got into some trouble in the seventh inning, allowing four of the five batters he faced to reach base, including a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch, but Zack Kelly was able to come on and get the final two outs to stop the bleeding. Crochet owns a 3.12 ERA and 22:4 K:BB across 17.1 innings. He'll take the mound in Minnesota on Monday for his fourth start.
-
Ryan Pepiot RP | TB
Rays' Ryan Pepiot: Likely needs rehab assignment
Pepiot (hip) threw another bullpen session Tuesday, per MLB.com.
It was Pepiot's second session amid his recovery from right hip inflammation. The next step entails the right-hander progressing to facing hitters in live batting practice, which is then likely to be followed by a minor-league rehab assignment. Given the nature of his injury, Pepiot may only require a brief stint in the minors before being deemed ready to make his season debut for the Rays. Meanwhile, Joe Boyle looks likely to make at least two more starts for Tampa Bay.
-
Edwin Uceta RP | TB
Rays' Edwin Uceta: Rehab assignment begins
Uceta (shoulder) began a rehab assignment with Double-A Montgomery on Tuesday, allowing one hit and no walks with one strikeout in a scoreless inning.
Uceta, who opened the season on the injured list due to a right shoulder impingement, took a big step forward in his recovery Tuesday. The Rays will presumably want to see the right-hander make it through a handful of rehab outings before they consider reinstating him from the IL, but a return for Uceta in mid-April appears to be on the table. Tampa Bay has a bit of a carousel forming at closer, and the expectation is that Uceta will join the open competition for save chances upon his season debut.