MLB Player News

Manager Alex Cora said Pivetta (illness) was feeling better Thursday, leaving the Red Sox optimistic he'll be ready to start Friday's game against the Angels, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.

Boston placed Pivetta on the COVID-19 injured list Wednesday after he experienced side effects of a second vaccine shot. The transaction gave Boston some extra flexibility in the short term, but the team will have to make a corresponding roster move in order to reinstate Pivetta. Assuming Pivetta is continuing to feel well Friday, he should be cleared to take the hill for the series opener.

Mills was optioned to Triple-A Tacoma on Thursday.

Mills struck out one in a scoreless inning during Wednesday's loss to the Dodgers. However, he'll now head back to the minors as part of a shuffle after right-hander Paul Sewald's contract was selected by Seattle.

Sewald's contract was selected by the Mariners on Thursday.

Sewald signed a minor-league deal with the Mariners during the offseason but was unable to break camp with the club after he served as a non-roster invitee this spring. The right-hander made two appearances (one start) for Triple-A Tacoma to begin the season and struck out 10 in 4.1 scoreless innings.

Staumont allowed a walk and struck out three in one inning of Wednesday's 4-2 loss to Detroit.

Staumont emerged as Kansas City's top closing option in late April, but he's allowed four runs over his last 3.1 innings to open May. To make matters worse, Kansas City is mired in a 10-game losing streak, which has removed any save opportunities recently. Staumont will look to build off Wednesday's scoreless inning. He owns a 2.70 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 19:9 K:BB with three saves and two holds in 16.2 innings this season.

Chapman pitched a clean ninth while striking out a batter en route to earning his ninth save of the season in a 1-0 win over the Rays on Wednesday.

Chapman was reported to have been pitching through a fingernail issue after he picked up a save in Tuesday's win over the Rays but did not appear to be bothered by it at all after manager Aaron Boone confirmed he was "fine." The hard-throwing lefty has looked as dominant as ever in his age-33 season, as he's third in Major League Baseball with nine saves and has yet to allow a run while sporting a 31:5 K:BB over 15 innings.

McHugh did not allow a hit over two scoreless innings in a no-decision against the Yankees on Wednesday. He walked one batter and struck out two.

McHugh was deployed as an opener again Wednesday after appearing out of the bullpen in his first four outings this year. He faced the minimum six hitters after he walked Luke Voit in the second but got Aaron Hicks to ground into an inning-ending 3-5-3 double play. The 34-year-old has had a pair of shaky outings but has otherwise been pretty reliable in multi-inning scenarios. His 6.75 ERA and 1.50 WHIP isn't a pretty sight, but McHugh does own a respectable 12:2 K:BB over 9.1 innings.

Diekman struck out two in a perfect ninth inning Wednesday to record his fifth save of the season in a 4-1 win over the Red Sox.

Lou Trivino worked the eighth inning against the heart of Boston's order, including right-handed hitters J.D. Martinez and Xander Bogaerts, leaving the ninth -- and the 7-8-9 hitters -- to Diekman. The duo will likely continue trading closing duties back and forth between them depending on matchups, but Diekman has been the more effective pitcher overall, posting a 2.12 ERA and 25:7 K:BB through 17 innings.

Soto worked around a walk to pitch a scoreless ninth inning and earn the save in Wednesday's 4-2 win over the Royals. He struck out one.

Soto started the top of the ninth inning by walking Jorge Soler but then quickly settled down and retired the next three Kansas City hitters. The lefty has four saves in four chances this season to go with a solid 2.87 ERA and 18 strikeouts across 15.2 innings. He should remain a serviceable fantasy asset, though the 12-24 Tigers aren't likely to give him too many save opportunities moving forward.

Pitching coach Scott Emerson said Puk (biceps) began a rehab assignment at Triple-A Las Vegas on Tuesday and will need "a couple more outings" before returning from the injured list, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

The 26-year-old threw 20 pitches and recorded three strikeouts over a scoreless frame in his first rehab appearance Tuesday with the Aviators. Puk landed on the injured list after covering 3.1 innings during his season debut April 5, and he could return sometime next week if all goes well on the rehab stint.

Smeltzer (elbow) was placed on the 10-day injured list Wednesday with left elbow inflammation, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

The 25-year-old was promoted from Triple-A last Thursday and will land on the injured list without appearing in a game during the current stint in the majors. It's unclear how long Smeltzer is expected to be sidelined.