MLB Player News

Valdez pitched a perfect ninth inning with two strikeouts to earn a save in Monday's 5-3 win over Seattle.

Valdez threw 10 pitches (nine strikes) to retire the side for his seventh save of the season. The 36-year-old right-hander has been solid this year with a 1.32 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 15:3 K:BB across 13.2 innings. He's now 7-for-9 in save chances, and he's also earned two wins in 12 outings.

Clase gave up a hit and struck out one in a scoreless ninth inning Monday to record his sixth save of the season in an 8-6 win over the Royals.

The 23-year-old kept his ERA at a pristine 0.00 with another strong outing. Clase does have one blown save on his ledger, but he's otherwise been sharp in his high-leverage role, posting a 14:3 K:BB through 13.1 innings.

Puk (biceps) is slated to throw 30 pitches over two simulated innings in the bullpen Tuesday, the Associated Press reports.

The recovering southpaw threw a bullpen session Saturday that he apparently got through without setbacks, so he'll ramp up the volume Tuesday. Puk's current tenure on the injured list dates all the way back to April 7, so he may still need at least a couple of other throwing sessions, if not a rehab appearance or two, before he's deemed ready for activation.

Sulser (1-0) pitched a perfect seventh with one strikeout to earn the win as Baltimore beat Seattle, 5-3 on Monday.

Sulser found himself in line for the win after he pitched a clean bottom of the seventh and Baltimore scored five in the top of the eighth to take the lead. He's been nearly spotless in a middle-relief role this season, allowing a single run in 9.1 total innings, so the first win was well-deserved.

Misiewicz (2-1) took the loss as Seattle fell 5-3 to Baltimore on Monday, facing four batters and allowing a walk, home run and double before inducing a flyout and being removed.

This was Misiewicz's first poor outing of the season, as he had yet to allow a run in 9.1 innings prior to the blowup. His ERA jumped all the way to 2.70 but he should remain one of Seattle's more trusted relievers.

Swanson registered a no-decision Monday against Baltimore, going two innings and allowing no baserunners with three strikeouts in a 5-3 loss.

Making his first start and second appearance of 2021, Swanson shut down the Orioles over two innings as the opener. He may continue to be used as a non-traditional starter going forward.

Diekman struck out two batters in a perfect ninth earning to earn a save over the Blue Jays on Monday.

Diekman needed just 11 pitches to quickly finish off the 5-4 win for Oakland after striking out Danny Jansen and Cavan Biggio. He owns a 2.03 ERA and 18:5 K:BB while converting all three of his save chances this season. Lou Trivino, who has five saves this season for the A's, was likely unavailable after pitching Sunday.

Rogers picked up the save after allowing two runs on two hits while striking out one in one inning Monday against the Rangers.

Rogers made the ballgame interesting by giving up a single and a two-run homer before fanning the final batter to nail down a 6-5 victory. Monday marked the first time he's allowed a run on the season, boosting his ERA to 1.74 with 12 strikeouts across 10.1 innings. Rogers has converted on two of three save opportunities and is the presumptive closer with Alex Colome being transitioned to a lower-leverage role last week.

Fairbanks (shoulder) threw a 12-to-14-pitch simulated inning Monday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Rays manager Kevin Cash noted that Fairbanks looked strong during Monday's simulated action, and that the reliever is close to coming off the 10-day injured list. He's been sidelined since Apr. 9 due to a right rotator cuff strain.

Zimmermann was optioned to the Orioles' alternate training site Monday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Zimmermann will head to the minors after failing to work five innings for the third consecutive start. He surrendered 11 runs (10 earned) and walked five while fanning 11 across 13 innings during that stretch. Isaac Mattson was recalled in a corresponding move.