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  • Sean Newcomb RP | CHW

    Red Sox's Sean Newcomb: Handling mop-up role

    Newcomb allowed an earned run on one hit and two walks over two innings of relief Wednesday in the Red Sox's 5-1 loss to the Mets.

    Newcomb claimed a spot in the Boston rotation coming out of spring training but has been working exclusively out of the bullpen since late April after turning in a 4.43 ERA, 1.93 WHIP and 27:11 K:BB in 22.1 innings over his five starts. His results over the past month as a reliever have been only marginally better (3.06 ERA, 1.53 WHIP and 14:5 K:BB in 17.2 innings over six appearances), but Newcomb could nonetheless find himself in the mix for a spot start or bulk-relief appearance in the near future. As a result of postponements Thursday and Friday, the Red Sox will begin a stretch of six games in five days Saturday and will need to break in a temporary sixth starter at some point.

  • Pete Fairbanks RP | MIA

    Rays' Pete Fairbanks: Notches ninth save

    Fairbanks walked one and struck out two in a scoreless ninth inning Friday to record his ninth save of the season in a 3-1 win over the Blue Jays.

    The right-hander picked up his first save since May 4, but the drought was due to a lack of opportunities rather than effectiveness -- Fairbanks has blown only one save chance all season, and that came on an unearned run. Through 9.2 innings in May, Fairbanks has produced a 1.86 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 12:4 K:BB.

  • Eric Lauer SP | TOR

    Blue Jays' Eric Lauer: Hit hard in Friday's loss

    Lauer (1-1) took the loss Friday as the Blue Jays were downed 3-1 by the Rays, giving up three runs on six hits and two walks over 4.1 innings. He struck out two.

    The southpaw gave up plenty of hard contact among his 85 pitches (50 strikes), as five of the six hits off him went for extra bases, including homers by Brandon Lowe in the third inning and Curtis Mead in the fourth. Lauer sports a 3.31 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 16:5 K:BB through 16.1 innings over five appearances (two starts) for Toronto, and he'll continue to fill in as the team's fifth starter next week on the road against the Rangers.

  • Jacob Lopez RP | ATH

    Athletics' Jacob Lopez: Unlucky loss Friday

    Lopez (0-2) allowed a run on three hits and a walk while striking out eight over seven innings, taking the loss versus the Phillies on Friday.

    Lopez deserved better, but he gave up the only run of the first seven innings of the game, a Trea Turner solo shot four pitches in. The Phillies tacked on three more runs in the ninth, and the Athletics' comeback push came up one run short, leaving Lopez with a hard-luck loss. This was his second start and fifth appearance of the season, and he threw 58 of 91 pitches for strikes in an impressive showing against a tough opponent. He has a 2.57 ERA despite a 1.57 WHIP and 17:8 K:BB through 14 innings in the majors this season. Lopez has a chance to make a positive impression while J.T. Ginn (quadriceps) is on the 15-day injured list. Lopez will look to repeat his performance from this start in his next outing, tentatively scheduled to be on the road in Toronto.

  • Angels' Robert Stephenson: Rehab stint bumped up to Triple-A

    Stephenson (elbow) had his minor-league rehab assignment moved up to Triple-A Salt Lake on Tuesday, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

    Stephenson pitched in two games with Single-A Inland Empire prior to being bumped up to Salt Lake. He's gotten into two contests in Triple-A so far, allowing a run on two hits while striking out two batters and walking none over two innings. The righty reliever underwent UCL repair surgery in May of last year, and he appears on the brink of a return to the majors. If all goes well moving forward, Stephenson could join the Angels' bullpen as soon as early June.

  • Emmanuel Clase RP | CLE

    Guardians' Emmanuel Clase: Logs 10th save

    Clase earned the save in Friday's 3-1 win over the Tigers, striking out one batter in a perfect ninth inning.

    Clase needed 12 pitches (eight strikes) to protect the Guardians' two-run lead in the ninth, highlighted by a three-pitch punchout of Trey Sweeney. Clase has converted 10 of 12 save opportunities this season and hasn't yielded an earned run since April 30 against the Twins. The 27-year-old right-hander has a 4.29 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 22:5 K:BB across 21 innings in 2025.

  • Kenley Jansen RP | DET

    Angels' Kenley Jansen: Notches 11th save

    Jansen walked two and struck out one over a scoreless and hitless inning to earn the save in Friday's 7-4 win over the Marlins.

    After pitching four times in five days from May 16-20, Jansen had a couple of days off before the Angels' next save chance occurred. He made this one a little interesting, as he put two runners in scoring position, but he got Graham Pauley to pop out to end the threat. Jansen has given up just one run over his last 5.1 innings despite allowing at least one baserunner in all five appearances in that span. For the year, he's at a 4.96 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 16:5 K:BB over 16.1 innings while converting all 11 of his save chances, so his status as the Angels' closer isn't in danger.

  • Louie Varland SP | TOR

    Twins' Louis Varland: Continues success in bullpen

    Varland allowed a walk but no hits over a scoreless inning Friday against Kansas City. He has a 2.74 ERA and a 26:6 K:BB in 23 innings with eight holds this season.

    Varland moved to the bullpen this spring and has become a key setup man for the Twins. He's on a streak of nine consecutive outings without allowing a run over 7.2 innings. The right-hander struggled last season as a starter in Triple-A with a 4.75 ERA, but he showed promise as a reliever in the majors in 2023 with a 1.50 ERA and a 17:1 K:BB in 12 innings.

  • Lucas Erceg RP | KC

    Royals' Lucas Erceg: Serves up two-run walk-off homer

    Erceg (1-1) took the loss in Friday's 3-1 loss to Minnesota after allowing two runs on two hits in the ninth inning. He struck out one.

    Although it was not a save situation in a tie game, Erceg gave up a pair of runs -- on a two-run walk-off homer by Ty France -- in his second straight outing. Because he had surrendered a lone run across his first 21 outings of the campaign, the hard-throwing right-hander still has a strong 2.05 ERA, 0.73 WHIP and 17:3 K:BB through 23 appearances on the season despite his past two performances. Erceg entered Friday with an MLB-high 13 holds, and he should remain one of Kansas City's top setup men behind closer Carlos Estevez.

  • Bryan Abreu RP | HOU

    Astros' Bryan Abreu: Charged with loss, blown save

    Abreu (1-2) was charged with the loss and a blown save in Friday's 5-3 loss to Seattle after allowing two runs on three hits and a walk in 1.1 innings. He struck out two.

    It was the third blown save of the season for Abreu, who is now 0-for-3 in save situations in 2025. Even so, Friday marked his first time allowing a run since April 9, so the right-hander doesn't appear to be in jeopardy of dropping down Houston's bullpen hierarchy despite this showing. Abreu has been a key setup man behind closer Josh Hader, with the former logging a 1.99 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 28:12 K:BB over 22.2 innings this year.

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