MLB Player News

Johnson (1-0) struck out the side in the eighth inning and earned the win in Boston's 7-6 come-from-behind victory over Seattle on Friday.

Johnson gained some ticks on his fastball -- touching 92.9 mph -- while throwing a clean inning and was credited with the win after Mitch Moreland's three-run homer put Boston ahead in the ninth. The left-handed Johnson has thrown an inning in both of Boston's games thus far.

Barnes pitched the bottom of the ninth for his first save of the season during Friday's come-from-behind win against the Mariners, working a perfect inning with two strikeouts.

Barnes looked good in the process, with the other takeaway being that Ryan Brasier was also available after neither pitched in Thursday's opener. The Boston closer situation was and still is one of the more uncertain ones around baseball, but Barnes was expected to be the leading closer candidate and certainly held serve in this one. It'll be interesting to see what happens if the defending champs get another save opportunity right away again Saturday.

Alvarado secured his first save of the year and allowed a hit and a walk while striking out one in a scoreless ninth inning Friday against Houston.

Alvarado ultimately managed to slam the door, but he allowed two batters to reach base before doing so. The 23-year-old finished the 2018 campaign with eight saves (against four blown saves) but should have more opportunities this year, even though the Rays haven't officially designated him as the team's closer.

Farquhar will stay in Tampa to continue building back to a normal pitching workload before heading to a minor-league affiliate, James Wagner of The New York Times reports.

Farquhar will presumably being sent to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre once he's up to speed. The 32-year-old suffered a brain aneurysm at the beginning of last season and was cleared to resume baseball activities in late November, but struggled in his one appearance in spring training, giving up six runs on four hits in two innings pitched. If the righty is able to re-establish his command, it's possible he find his way onto the major-league roster.

Gearrin worked a scoreless seventh inning in a win over the Red Sox on Thursday, recording a strikeout.

Gearrin has gotten his Mariners tenure off to an efficient start, with Thursday's effort the latest example. The veteran reliever needed a quick 13 pitches, nine of which he threw for strikes, to get through his one frame. Gearrin had also worked a scoreless, one-strikeout inning versus the Athletics on Opening Day in Japan on March 20 and should serve as a solid component of the middle-relief corps for manager Scott Servais in 2019.

Beeks fired three scoreless innings in a season-opening loss to the Astros on Thursday, allowing four hits while recording five strikeouts.

Manager Kevin Cash wasted no time in affording Beeks a multi-inning assignment after starter Blake Snell worked up to 91 pitches through the first six frames. The versatile reliever responded with efficient work that negated the need for any of his bullpen mates to take the hill. Beeks fired 54 pitches Thursday, and his wealth of minor-league starting experience will allow Cash to utilize him in a similar innings-eating fashion when necessary.

Giles struck out all three batters he faced Thursday against the Tigers.

Giles entered the game in the ninth inning with the score knotted at 0-0. He made quick work of the three batters he faced, needing only 12 pitches to complete the frame. Locked into the closer's role for the Blue Jays to begin the season, Giles did nothing to raise concern in his season debut.

Boxberger recorded a one-out save in a 5-3 victory against the White Sox on Opening Day.

The Royals open the season without a full-time closer. Wily Peralta began the ninth inning on the mound Thursday but in a non-save situation. Peralta gave up two runs and only recorded one out, and after two other relief pitchers also couldn't finish the game, Boxberger entered with the bases loaded and two outs. In three pitches, he forced Yolmer Sanchez to line out. It was certainly a nail biter, but with this result, Boxberger may be the Royals' new leader for more save opportunities.

Rogers retired all four batters he faced to earn a save in Thursday's Opening Day win over the Indians. He threw 1.1 scoreless innings with three strikeouts.

Twins manager Rocco Baldelli has been guarded about his bullpen plans and has hinted he'll use a closer-by-commitee. Rogers may emerge as the closer, but he also faced a lefty and two switch hitters in his four batters, which suggests his usage to finish the game may have been based on matchups. It's possible the Twins don't follow much of a pattern for saves and Rogers, Trevor May, Blaker Paker and Trevor Hildenberger all get chances to finish games.

The Royals placed Flynn (elbow) on the 10-day injured list Thursday.

Flynn was diagnosed with a left UCL sprain late in spring training and is without a clear timeline to return to game action. The lefty is expected to join the Royals in a long-relief role once activated from the IL.