MLB Player News

Rodriguez (shoulder) was placed on the 10-day injured list Thursday, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Rodriguez exited Wednesday's contest early after feeling irritation in his right shoulder. The team remains optimistic that he will only be on the injured list for the minimum time.

Sborz earned the save against the Twins on Thursday by tossing a perfect inning that included a pair of strikeouts.

The 27-year-old entered the 10th inning with the Rangers leading by one and retired all three of his batters on just 11 pitches, including strikeouts of Willians Astudillo and Josh Donaldson. Sborz has only allowed one run over his last seven appearances, and he sports a 3.55 ERA and 0.87 WHIP across 12.1 innings this season.

Cox (not injury related) is being held back in extended spring training as he builds up before joining an affiliate in mid-May, Sam Dykstra of MLB.com reports.

It's possible Cox was delayed by COVID protocols or that the Royals are simply slow playing his buildup to manage his innings on the year. Cox will likely head to High-A or Double-A.

Kittredge opened Wednesday's win over the Angels, firing two scoreless innings during which he allowed a hit and issued a walk. He also recorded a strikeout.

The right-hander continued his extended stretch of strong pitching, getting six outs on 26 pitches to record his fifth consecutive scoreless effort. Kittredge continues to see time as both an opener and conventional reliever, and he whittled his ERA down to an impressive 1.32 with Wednesday's effort.

Manager Joe Maddon said after Wednesday's 3-1 loss to the Rays that Rodriguez was removed from the contest early due to right shoulder irritation, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

After needing just six pitches to complete a clean sixth inning, Rodriguez was slated to return to the mound for the seventh, but Maddon opted to pull the right-hander early after his shoulder began barking. The skipper indicated Rodriguez will be reevaluated Thursday before the Angels determine his next steps. The 22-year-old rookie has been solid in a setup role this season, posting a 2.30 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 17:8 K:BB in 15.2 innings while scooping up two wins and two holds.

Smeltzer was recalled by the Twins on Thursday, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

Smeltzer was sent down by the Twins in late April, but he'll return to the major-league bullpen after Lewis Thorpe was optioned in a corresponding move. Smeltzer allowed one run (zero earned) on a hit and a walk while striking out three in 4.2 innings during his first relief appearance of the season.

Fleming will serve as a bulk reliever behind opening pitcher Collin McHugh in Thursday's game against the Angels, Steve Carney of Sports Radio 620 WDAE reports.

For the second time in his five appearances on the season, Fleming will be working out of the bullpen. In his other outing as a primary pitcher April 25 against the Blue Jays, Fleming took the loss while giving up a run over 4.1 innings. Though following McHugh will likely suppress Fleming's innings count, it should increase the lefty's chances of factoring into any possible winning decision.

Manager Kevin Cash said McHugh would serve as the Rays' opening pitcher for Thursday's series finale against the Angels, Steve Carney of Sports Radio 620 WDAE reports.

Before he was activated from the injured list earlier this week after missing time with a lower-back strain, McHugh had been building up for a multi-inning relief role. As such, he should be capable of working at least two frames Thursday before giving way to primary pitcher Josh Fleming, who had served as a traditional starter in three of his prior four appearances.

King (3-1) allowed two hits and struck out three over 2.2 scoreless innings to earn the win over Minnesota on Wednesday.

With Hyeon-Jong Yang making his first MLB start and not completely stretched out, the Rangers knew there would be a need for one of their relievers to tote a multi-inning load. King was that man Wednesday, coming in during the fourth inning to get out of a bases-loaded jam. He then authored two more frames for his third multi-inning outing in his last four appearances. He's been one of the Rangers' best relievers, posting a 1.13 ERA over 16 innings -- not bad for a guy who never pitched above High-A prior to 2020. The left-hander credits a move to the third-base side of the rubber and a new meditation process for his early-season success, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

Hendriks (1-1) was tagged with the loss Wednesday after allowing an unearned run on two hits over a third of an inning against the Reds.

Hendriks entered in a non-save situation, as the game was tied with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the ninth. He rescued the White Sox from that jam but gave up two hits to open the 10th, giving Cincinnati a walkoff win.