MLB Player News
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Ryan Gusto P | MIA
Astros' Ryan Gusto: Collects second win
Gusto (2-1) picked up the win in Friday's 6-4 victory over the Padres, giving up two runs on nine hits over five innings. He struck out two without walking a batter.
A two-homer game from rookie Cam Smith gave Gusto all the offense he needed, as the 26-year-old right-hander pounded the strike zone by tossing 51 of his 68 pitches for strikes before exiting. He's held his own in the big-league rotation, and through six appearances (two starts) on the season he's posted a 3.18 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 17:3 K:BB through 17 innings, but with Lance McCullers (forearm) potentially returning before the end of the month, Gusto could be headed back to the bullpen soon enough. If he gets one more turn, it would line up to come at home next week against the Blue Jays.
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Emmanuel Clase RP | CLE
Guardians' Emmanuel Clase: Notches third save
Clase recorded his third save of the season in Friday's 10-7 win over the Pirates, walking one and striking out one in one-third of an inning.
The Guardians took a 10-2 lead in the top of the seventh inning, but after Tim Herrin, Jakob Junis and Paul Sewald were all tagged for runs, Clase was forced onto the mound in the ninth to get the final out. The right-hander has had a shaky start to the season, posting a 6.48 ERA, 2.04 WHIP and 9:2 K:BB through 8.1 innings while blowing one of his first four save chances, but Clase's 34.4 percent whiff rate is actually a career high and his .467 BABIP is due for major regression.
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Griffin Jax RP | TB
Twins' Griffin Jax: Early struggles continue
Jax (0-2) took the loss in Friday's 6-4 loss to Atlanta. He allowed four runs on two hits and two walks while striking out one over one-third of an inning.
Jax began the eighth inning with a three-run lead but couldn't hit his spots and wasn't helped by a shaky defense. It's his second poor outing in a row that has cost the Twins a lead. He has an ugly 11.25 ERA and 2.13 WHIP so far this season. He does have a strong 12:3 K:BB in eight innings with an unsustainable .480 BABIP, so there's plenty of reasons to believe he'll turn his season around. Still, he may see usage in lower-leverage spots the next few games to get him back on track.
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Brock Stewart RP | LAD
Twins' Brock Stewart: Set to return Sunday
Stewart (hamstring) will be activated from the 15-day IL on Sunday, the Minnesota Star Tribune reports.
Stewart left a spring training appearance March 15 with a left hamstring strain and began the season on the injured list. He then had a setback in early April that delayed his return. He's made two minor league rehab appearances and says he's back to full strength. He should immediately have a prominent setup role when he returns.
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Tommy Kahnle RP | DET
Tigers' Tommy Kahnle: Notches save No. 4
Kahnle struck out a batter and gave up a walk in two-thirds of an inning to collect his fourth save of the season in Friday's 7-3 win over the Royals.
The Tigers put Kenta Maeda on the mound with a 7-1 lead to begin the ninth inning, but he was pulled after allowing a run and loading the bases while recording just one out. Kahnle then took the hill and walked the first batter he saw to make it a 7-3 ballgame, but the 35-year-old bounced back by striking out Cavan Biggio and getting Drew Waters to line out, putting an end to Friday's festivities. With four saves on the year, Kahnle has seemingly taken a firm hold of the closer job in Detroit and now owns a 1.17 ERA and 0.52 WHIP through 7.2 innings.
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Jonathan Loaisiga RP | ARI
Yankees' Jonathan Loaisiga: Nearing rehab assignment
Loaisiga (elbow) is scheduled to throw a live bullpen session Sunday, will toss another live bullpen after that and could begin a minor-league rehab assignment shortly thereafter, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.
Loaisiga underwent an internal brace procedure on his right elbow last April, putting him just over 12 months post-surgery. The veteran reliever began throwing to hitters this past Wednesday and seems to have come away without any setbacks given his scheduled live session Sunday. Once Loaisiga's rehab assignment kicks off he'll likely need several weeks to ramp up, but there's a chance he could be back in the big-league club's bullpen by late May.
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Liam Hendriks RP | BOS
Red Sox's Liam Hendriks: Returning Saturday
The Red Sox will reinstate Hendriks (elbow) from the injured list Saturday, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.
Hendriks has fired three shutout innings while striking out five batters across his three rehab appearances in the minor leagues, and he's now due to join the active roster for the first time since signing a two-year deal with the Red Sox prior to the 2024 campaign. Aroldis Chapman seems to have a tight grip on the closer job in Boston, but Hendriks should still be used fairly often in high-leverage situations.
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Jeff Hoffman RP | TOR
Blue Jays' Jeff Hoffman: Excelling as closer so far
Hoffman picked up the save after throwing a clean ninth inning in Friday's win over Seattle. He struck out two.
The Mariners made Hoffman work Friday, as the right-hander won a seven-pitch sequence against Randy Arozarena and an eight-pitch battle versus Dylan Moore by way of the punchout. The hard-throwing Hoffman has excelled as Toronto's closer to begin the season, posting a 1.59 ERA, 0.62 WHIP and a pristine 16:1 K:BB over 11.1 innings. The righty is a perfect 5-for-5 in save opportunities so far.
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Lucas Erceg RP | KC
Royals' Lucas Erceg: X-rays negative
X-rays on Erceg's left foot came back negative after his removal from Friday's game against Detroit.
Erceg wasn't able to walk off the field by himself after getting hit by a 109-mph comebacker in the seventh inning of Friday's contest, but it seems he escaped the incident with only a bruise. He can be considered day-to-day, though the Royals may stay away from using him out of the bullpen until his foot has time to recover.
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Lucas Erceg RP | KC
Royals' Lucas Erceg: Struck by comebacker, exits game
Erceg was removed from Friday's game against the Tigers after begin hit on his left foot by a comebacker, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
A 109-mph line drive off the bat of Riley Greene found Erceg's left foot/ankle in the seventh inning. He immediately collapsed to the ground after getting hit and wasn't able to walk off the field without the help of a trainer. The Royals should have more information on his status once they're able to take a look at him.