MLB Player News

Alvarado fired a scoreless inning in Sunday's 7-1 loss to the Mariners, allowing a walk and recording a strikeout.

The 22-year-old southpaw continues to be a reliable option out of the bullpen, with Sunday's effort serving as his fourth scoreless outing over the last five. After stumbling out of the gate by giving up three earned runs against the Marlins in his first appearance on May 3, Alvarado has posted a 1.54 ERA, .154 wOBA, 0.69 WHIP and .103 BAA in 11.2 innings across 12 subsequent trips to the mound.

Alvarez (elbow) threw a 26-pitch bullpen session Sunday, T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com reports.

Alvarez last appeared in a game May 26 before being diagnosed with the strained left elbow, so he would be eligible to come off the disabled list as soon as the Rangers deem him ready to go. The team is expected to decide later this week whether Alvarez will be activated or head out on a minor-league rehab assignment.

Wilson (2-1) picked up the win Sunday against the White Sox. He allowed a single hit in a scoreless inning of work while striking out one.

Wilson pitched a clean top of the ninth inning, then grabbed the win when Justin Upton blasted a walkoff home run in the bottom half. Wilson had a hiccup against these same White Sox on May 27, allowing three earned runs in an inning of work, but he's pitched three scoreless innings across three appearances since then. He's also grabbed two saves and a win during those three appearances, so he remains a solid fantasy option out of the bullpen.

Barnes returned from a personal leave and threw a scoreless ninth inning in Sunday's 7-3 win over the Orioles. He allowed one hit and struck out the game's final batter.

Barnes, who had been away from the team Friday and Saturday while tending to a family matter, was the team's de facto closer Sunday with Craig Kimbrel unavailable after throwing a season-high 33 pitches Saturday. He would have been in position for a save opportunity, but the Red Sox pushed across a run in the top of the ninth, extending their lead to four runs.

Robertson (3-2) allowed three runs on one hit, one walk and one hit batsman over two-thirds of an inning in Sunday's 7-4 loss to the Tigers.

Robertson hung a 1-2 curveball to Justin Upton and didn't even have to watch it land as the Tigers walked off with the win. He entered a tied game in the ninth, so this wasn't a blown save, but that's a pretty faint silver lining for fantasy owners. In non-save situations, Robertson has a 4.91 ERA compared to 1.93 when presented with a save opportunity. When the game's been on the line, Robertson has been successful eight of nine times.

Martinez isn't expected to start during the upcoming week after manager Jeff Banister announced Dillon Gee would take the hill Tuesday against the Mets.

After compiling a 5.24 ERA and 1.37 WHIP over his first eight starts of the season, Martinez's spot in the rotation was on thin ice before Banister announced the right-hander would be available out of the bullpen over the weekend. Martinez ended up pitching effectively in mop-up duty during Sunday's loss to the Astros, tossing 3.1 scoreless innings of one-hit ball. Still, it wasn't enough for him to recapture a starting role for the time being. While Gee will likely need to perform well Tuesday to earn future starts, Martinez's chances of reemerging as a rotation option will take a hit with Tyson Ross (shoulder) expected to come off the disabled list during the upcoming weekend. A.J. Griffin (side) and Cole Hamels (oblique) could also be back to full strength by the All-Star break, which would push Martinez even further down in the pecking order for starting duties.

Loup allowed one hit in a scoreless inning Sunday versus the Yankees.

The left-hander needed just six pitches to get through the seventh inning with the score tied 2-2. Loup's allowed a run in just three of his 26 appearances this season, and the 29-year-old currently sports a career-best 2.14 ERA through 21 innings.

Luetge signed a minor-league contract with the Orioles on Sunday, David Hall of The Virginian-Pilot reports.

Luetge opened the season in the Reds organization, but was let go a few days earlier after logging a 4.55 ERA and 30 strikeouts over 27.2 innings with Triple-A Louisville. He'll stick at the Triple-A level with his new organization, and may have an easier path to the big leagues with the Orioles bullpen short on quality relievers.

Hendriks (2-0) fired 1.1 scoreless innings in Saturday's 10-4 win over the Nationals, allowing a hit and a walk while striking out three.

The veteran reliever posted his sixth straight scoreless outing while continuing to rack up strikeouts, as he's now notched 13 whiffs over the 7.1 innings encompassing his last seven appearances overall. Hendriks has also lowered his ERA from a season-high 11.57 to his current 3.04 figure since April 19.

Magnifico was optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake on Sunday.

Magnifico's stay with the big club lasted just one day, as the 27-year-old reliever recorded one out and walked two batters Saturday against the Twins before getting sent back to the minors. Brooks Pounders was recalled from Triple-A in a corresponding move to assume Magnifico's spot in the bullpen.