MLB Player News

Pagan allowed two earned runs on two solo home runs over 1.1 innings in a 10-8 loss to the Mariners on Saturday.

Kyle Seager and Daniel Vogelbach both got to Pagan for solo blasts, the second and third homers allowed by the right-hander on the season. All three round trippers have come over the 26-year-old's last two appearances, following a stretch of four straight scoreless efforts. Pagan displayed a bit of vulnerability to the long ball in his rookie 2017 campaign with the Mariners as well, posting a 1.2 HR/9 across 50.2 innings over 34 appearances.

Pruitt allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits, a walk and a wild pitch over five innings in a 9-4 loss to the Phillies on Saturday. He also recorded a strikeout.

Pruitt was pressed into long-relief duty after Chris Archer was chased following a forgettable four-inning appearance. The versatile right-hander responded with a bullpen-preserving, 70-pitch performance that was pivotal to allowing his fellow relievers some much-needed rest. The versatility that Pruitt displayed Saturday crystallizes his value to the Rays' fluid pitching staff situation at present.

Busenitz was recalled from Triple-A Rochester on Sunday.

Busenitz missed out on an Opening Day roster spot due in part to a poor spring performance, but he'll now head back to the majors to join the Twins' bullpen. The righty posted a 1.99 ERA (4.20 FIP) over 31.2 innings of relief with the big club last season.

Hart was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk on Sunday.

After getting a total of eight outs out of the big-league bullpen Friday and Saturday, Hart will head to Triple-A to recharge his batteries before presumably being recalled in the coming weeks. The Orioles brought up starter David Hess to serve as a fresh multi-inning arm out of the bullpen in the short term.

Weber was outrighted to Triple-A Durham on Sunday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

He cleared waivers and will head to Triple-A to provide organizational depth, although now that he is no longer on the 40-man roster, he is unlikely to return to the majors anytime soon. Weber gave up one run on three hits and a walk while recording just one out in his lone appearance in the majors this year.

Manager A.J. Hinch acknowledged he needs to be better at incorporating Giles, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. "I haven't done a good enough job incorporating him into the mix if I'm not going to close him. I'll do a better job of that," said Hinch.

Those comments suggest the manager wants to be better at having Giles enter games when Hinch doesn't plan to use him as a closer, as if there are plenty of games where Giles is not expected to close out a game. That adds more mystery to Giles' exact job, or if there is even one defined role for him. The flame-throwing Giles entered Saturday's game with the score tied in the ninth inning, the fifth time in six outings he's pitched in a non-save situation, and easily dispatched the lower third of the Rangers' lineup before Houston lost in the 10th inning. How Hinch is managing the back end of the bullpen has been a hot topic, as Giles, Brad Peacock and Chris Devenski have all picked up saves over the first two weeks of the season. This is a situation not easily manageable for fantasy owners, so strict attention is required.

Graveman (0-3) allowed five earned runs on eight hits while walking two and striking out five across four innings to take the loss Saturday against the Mariners.

Graveman routinely allowed runners on base Saturday, but the big blow came on a three-run homer by Jean Segura. He has now allowed at least one home run in each of his starts this season and sports an ugly 9.87 ERA as a result. There's no reason to trust him in any fantasy format until he starts to show signs of turning things around.

Diaz allowed one hit and struck out one in a scoreless ninth inning to record the save Saturday against the Athletics.

Diaz allowed his first hit of the season Saturday but had no problem getting his sixth save in as many opportunities. Everything in his profile is stellar and he appears to be an elite closing option.

Junis (2-1) allowed four earned runs on seven hits while walking one and striking out seven to take the loss Saturday against the Angels.

Junis was one was one of the hottest pitchers entering Saturday's game but was outdone by an Angels lineup that has been swinging hot bats. He gave up home runs in three consecutive innings, accounting for all of the earned runs he allowed. On the positive side of things, Junis remained deceptive in the strike zone, generating 11 swinging strikes and seven strikeouts. He should remain a popular addition to fantasy rosters despite this poor start.

Yarbrough will start Sunday's matchup with the Phillies, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Sunday is a scheduled bullpen game for the Rays, but Yarbrough is a good choice to start the contest given his experience as a starter in the minors. He's pitched four innings on two occasions this season, so that seems like a reasonable expectation for how long he'll stay in Sunday's contest. He'll take the hill opposite Ben Lively in the series finale.