MLB Player News

Manager Joe Maddon said Thursday that he now believes Rodriguez has what it takes to eventually move into a starting role, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports. "The changeup really adds another layer to him," Maddon said. "He's a strike-thrower and he can get quick outs by challenging hitters with that fastball and force them to beat it into the ground. You can see him becoming a front-line starter. It gives me a lot to think about now that I've seen it."

The skipper made some eyebrow-raising comments in spring training, saying that Rodriguez looked like a reliever to him, but apparently he is changing his tune. Moving past Maddon's lack of foresight, this is excellent news for those who have been rostering Rodriguez in dynasty leagues. Despite this high praise, the 22-year-old will likely stay in the bullpen all season given his injury history so that the Angels can monitor his innings and workload, but it sounds like he could be stretched out for the 2022 season. The righty has a 3.48 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 30.4 percent strikeout rate and 64 percent groundball rate through 10.1 innings (five appearances). His top priority in the short term will be cutting his 13 percent walk rate.

Cisnero (0-1) allowed one run on one hit over two-thirds of an inning to take the loss Thursday against the Pirates. He struck out one.

Starter Jose Urena left the game after seven innings with the score tied 2-2, but Cisnero and then Gregory Soto both struggled in the eighth as Pittsburgh scored twice. Soto has been mostly solid for the Tigers but Cisnero has struggled, as he's now allowed seven hits and five earned runs in just 6.2 innings pitched. He also blew his only save opportunity to date, and at this point, Soto should be considered the frontrunner for future save opportunities.

Ottavino allowed one run on two walks during the eighth inning of Tuesday's 7-3 extra-inning loss to the Mariners.

Ottavino failed to protect Boston's one-run lead, issuing his fifth and sixth walks of the season. He's permitted those six free passes in just 6.2 innings. Combined with Darwinzon Hernandez, another late-inning option for the Red Sox, the two have combined to walk 14 over 13.2 innings.

Trivino allowed two earned runs on two hits and a walk over 1.2 innings in an extra-inning win over the Twins on Wednesday. He struck out three.

Charged with preserving a 10-10 tie in the top of the 10th after getting through the ninth unscathed, Trivino allowed a go-ahead two-run homer to Byron Buxton but was ultimately bailed out by the Athletics' three-run rally in the home half of the frame. The round tripper marked the first time the right-hander had been scored upon since his second outing of the season back on April 3 against the Astros.

Pivetta allowed two earned runs on one hit and three walks while striking out four across six innings Thursday against the Mariners. He did not factor into the decision.

Pivetta held the Mariners without a hit through 5.2 innings and had surrendered only one walk in that span. However, he unraveled before getting his final out, walking two and surrendering a game-tying double. Even so, it was an encouraging outing for Pivetta, as he matched his longest start of the season and needed only 86 pitches to record 18 outs. He now has a 3.48 ERA across 20.2 innings to begin the campaign, but he'll need to improve on his 18:14 K:BB. Pivetta is projected to draw his next turn through the rotation Wednesday at the Mets.

Chapman struck out three and allowed one walk in a scoreless ninth inning to earn the save Thursday against Cleveland.

Chapman had a three-run cushion in the ninth inning and had no trouble slamming the door to earn his third save of the season. He's completely dominated the opposition early on, piling up 16 strikeouts across six innings of work while allowing only two hits and no earned runs.

Garcia is a candidate for an upcoming start with manager Aaron Boone indicating Thursday that he is likely to go to a sixth starter this week or next, Marly Rivera of ESPN.com reports.

Garcia, the Yankees' top pitching prospect, has been traveling with the team as part of the taxi squad. He looked to be the leading candidate for the fifth-starter role coming into spring training before Domingo German won the job with a dominant showing in Grapefruit League play. It's unclear when Garcia would pitch if he is indeed inserted as the sixth starter, but the earliest possibility would be this Sunday, per Pete Caldera of The Bergen Record.

Tapia (oblique) will be included on the Mariners' taxi squad for their upcoming eight-game road trip that begins Thursday in Boston, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.

Tapia's inclusion on the taxi squad implies that he's healthy again after he missed a good chunk of time in spring training due to a right oblique strain. If Tapia isn't called up from the taxi squad at any point during the road trip, he'll likely be making his 2021 debut at Triple-A Tacoma, which is set to begin its season in May.

Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins said Thursday that Merryweather (oblique) will be shut down for "a couple of weeks" before resuming a throwing program, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Atkins is optimistic that Merryweather will be able to build up quickly once he's cleared to start throwing again, but the right-hander will first need to make more progress in his recovery from a left oblique strain. Before being shut down, Merryweather had converted on both of his save chances and struck out seven over 4.1 scoreless innings. He looked like the leading candidate to close games for Toronto this season, but the time he's missed due to injury could be enough to put him behind others in the pecking order for saves once he's eventually healthy.

Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins said Romano (elbow) has a "strong chance" of being activated from the 10-day injured list Saturday, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Just as Toronto anticipated, Romano looks to be trending toward a minimum-length stay on the IL due to right elbow neuritis. Once activated, Romano should reenter the closer picture for Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo, who hasn't settled on a clear ninth-inning man before or since Romano was placed on the IL. Anthony Castro recorded Toronto's lone save since Romano was deactivated, and it was of the one-out variety.