MLB Player News

Banda gave up one run on three hits and one walk while striking out seven over 6.1 innings Saturday against the Orioles, picking up his first win of the season. He was optioned to Triple-A Durham after the game.

He did not start the game, as the Rays continue to start relief pitchers in some of their games, but Banda acted as the de facto starter, needing just 81 pitches (54 strikes) to cruise to his first win of 2018. The hard-throwing lefty now sports a 3.68 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 10 strikeouts in 14.2 innings in the big leagues. He could be back up sometime soon to pitch every fifth day for the Rays.

Kelly walked one and struck out one over a scoreless inning to log his eighth hold of the season in Friday's 6-2 win over Atlanta.

Kelly hasn't allowed a run over his last seven outings, holding opponents to one hit and two walks over 6.1 innings. After a spectacular flameout on Opening Day, Kelly has been electric out of Boston's bullpen. In 22 appearances since he allowed four runs in a third of an inning March 29, Kelly has allowed one run on 10 hits and six walks while striking out 25 over 23.1 innings.

Moore (knee) emerged from a throwing session Thursday without setbacks and is hopeful to be activated off the disabled list to start Tuesday in Seattle, Gerry Fraley of the Dallas Morning News reports.

Moore, who is battling soreness in his right knee, will go through another workout Saturday before manager Jeff Banister makes a decision on the left-hander.

Diaz struck out one in a clean ninth inning to earn the save Friday against the Twins.

Diaz got through Eddie Rosario, Miguel Sano and Eduardo Escobar to secure the win in a one-run ballgame. Diaz is now tied with Colorado's Wade Davis for the major-league lead in saves, as both are 18-for-20 in save chances. The young right-hander, who has gone his last three appearances without allowing a hit, is holding opponents to a meager .105 batting average on the season. Diaz has recorded at least one strikeout in his last 10 consecutive appearances and is sporting a 46:9 K:BB in 26.1 innings.

Manaea (5-5) allowed six runs on eight hits in 3.2 innings against the Diamondbacks on Friday, striking out two and walking two in a losing effort.

Manaea allowed four extra-base hits on the evening, the last of which was a two-run triple by Paul Goldschmidt that knocked him out of the game in the fourth inning. This was Manaea's shortest start of the year and the first time he's given up more than four runs in an outing. After a fantastic April -- he allowed just four earned runs across five starts -- Manaea has allowed a total of 21 earned runs through five starts in May, bringing his ERA to 3.34 on the year. His next start will be against the Rays at home.

Yarbrough allowed one run on seven hits over seven innings of relief in Friday's 2-0 loss to the Orioles, striking out eight.

With Sergio Romo making another abbreviated start against a righty-heavy lineup, Yarbrough put together what would have amounted to a fantastic traditional start behind him, throwing 72 of 105 pitches for strikes with his only real mistake resulting in a solo shot by Jonathan Schoop. The rookie now sports a very solid 3.21 ERA and 43:14 K:BB through 47.2 innings, and while It's impossible to predict what the Rays will do next with their pitching staff, Yarbrough should be unavailable for either a start or a long relief outing until at least Wednesday.

Chapman recorded the final four outs of Friday's game against the Angels for his 10th save of the season. He struck out one batter.

This was Chapman's first save of more than three outs this season. He hasn't pitched much lately -- this was just his second appearance since May 12 -- but that's just because the Yankees haven't had many close leads to protect in recent weeks.

Farmer (1-3) grabbed the win Friday against the White Sox by tossing a scoreless inning of relief with two strikeouts.

Farmer needed just nine pitches to retire Chicago in order in the top of the eighth inning, then became the pitcher of record when the Tigers went ahead in the bottom of the inning with three runs. The 27-year-old has been struggling lately, so it was nice to see him rebound, though he still has an unsightly 5.32 ERA for the season and will need to string together more outings like this one to show he's turned a corner.

Lopez didn't factor into the decision in Friday's 5-4 loss to the Tigers, allowing two runs on five hits and three walks over seven innings while striking out three,

The right-hander didn't have his best stuff, throwing only 59 of 96 pitches for strikes, but Lopez was still in line for his second win of the season before Bruce Rondon fell apart in the eighth inning. Lopez will carry a 2.93 ERA and 42:26 K:BB through 61.1 innings into his next outing Wednesday in Cleveland.

Alvarado could see save chances in Tampa Bay after Alex Colome was traded to the Mariners on Friday.

The Rays have not yet named a replacement for Colome in the ninth inning, but Alvarado is the presumptive favorite to step in. He's the only other pitcher besides Colome to have recorded a save for the Rays this season, plus he throws hard and misses bats. Alvarado, a left-hander, has also been mostly split-neutral, holding opposite-handed hitters to a .167/.271/.225 batting line so far this year (with lefties batting .161/.257/.161).