MLB Player News

Green pitched three shutout innings in Thursday's loss to the Royals, allowing just one hit while striking out six.

The game had mostly been decided when Green entered in the sixth inning and the Yankees down 5-0, but the 25-year-old needed just 34 pitches to complete three extremely effective innings. Although he's currently serving as a long-relief option in the Bronx, the righty was in contention for a rotation spot heading into spring training and has stayed stretched out as a starter in the minors, so outings like Thursday's will keep his name in the mix if the need for another starter arises at any point.

Covey allowed four runs on five hits and three walks while striking one over six innings in Thursday's 5-4 loss to Seattle.

Covey, who allowed a third-inning solo shot, was pitching one of his better games until the fifth inning -- the third time through the order -- when Jean Segura took him deep for a three-run homer. Other than the fifth, he was pretty efficient, needing only 87 pitches to get through six innings, the second time in seven starts he's lasted that long. It was the fourth straight start in which he's allowed multiple homers. He's been taken deep 11 times in 35.1 innings, tied for fourth in MLB. The rookie right-hander has managed to dodge the ax for a couple of turns through the rotation and will get another chance next Tuesday in Arizona.

Farmer was recalled from Triple-A Toledo on Thursday, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.

In a corresponding move to Victor Martinez being placed on the paternity list, the Tigers opted to bring Farmer up to the majors. Farmer has made eight starts and pitched 48.2 innings with Toledo this season. In that time he's built a 3.51 ERA and 1.31 WHIP while notching a respectable 8.8 K/9.

Kimbrel came on in a tied game and pitched a perfect ninth inning in Boston's 5-4 extra-inning win over St. Louis on Wednesday.

Bucking baseball's convention of only using closers on the road when you have a lead, manager John Farrell brought Kimbrel in to face the top of the Cardinals' order in the bottom of the ninth. Farrell has modified his usage of Kimbrel this season, having him enter games in the eighth inning in addition to Wednesday's deployment in a tie game on the road. He's been the most stable of Boston's relievers so it makes sense to use him in big spots regardless of if a save is on the line.

Betances recorded the final out of the game to pick up his first save of the season in Wednesday's 11-7 win over the Royals.

The Yankees actually took an 11-4 lead into the ninth inning, but mop-up man Giovanny Gallegos made a mess of things and Betances had to come on to retire Eric Hosmer on four pitches with the tying run on deck to end the game. Betances may not get an easier save chance while Aroldis Chapman (shoulder) is out of commission, but he should see plenty more with New York holding the second-best record in the AL at the moment.

Wilson gave up a hit and a walk in Wednesday's save chance against Baltimore, but he struck out two and closed it out successfully.

That marks save No. 3 for the lefty since taking over for Francisco Rodriguez, and it's a good one for his psyche because Wilson just blew a save Tuesday against these same Orioles. His stats this year are nothing short of spectacular -- a 1.50 ERA, 0.61 WHIP and 30 strikeouts in 18 innings -- so fantasy owners should feel pretty confident that he's going to hold on to the ninth-inning role successfully.

Fulmer (5-1) gave up four runs (three earned) on 10 hits over seven innings against Baltimore on Wednesday, but that was good enough for a win. He whiffed four.

Fulmer's gone at least six innings in each of his starts this year, and he's yet to allow more than three earned runs in an outing. Last year's debut was impressive, but he's been even better this season, again outpitching his peripherals to the tune of a 2.72 ERA. The hard-throwing 24-year-old has rapidly developed into one of the more valuable fantasy starters around.

Leclerc (finger) will not be activated from the disabled list Thursday, the first day he is eligible, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Leclerc is still experiencing some discomfort while throwing, so he has yet to throw off a mound since landing on the disabled list May 8 with a bruised right index finger. The 23-year-old should reclaim a high-leverage role in the Rangers' bullpen upon his return, as Leclerc held an impressive 2.31 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 18:5 K:BB through 11.2 innings (10 appearances) before injuring his finger. A return date should become clearer once he is able to toss off a mound.

Diaz is likely to be deployed in a multi-inning, low-leverage scenario the next time he takes the mound, Bob Dutton of The News Tribune reports. "I'd like to get him out there and let him go a couple of innings," manager Scott Servais said. "As a pitcher, that's when you have a chance to work on things. You can go out there for an inning and not get into your pitches or get a feel for what you're doing."

The young reliever was demoted from the closer's role after a disastrous outing Monday, and Servais wants to make sure he's able to get enough throws in to work out any kinks his next time out. Diaz's control has been one of his main problems, as his BB/9 has shot up from last season's 2.61 to 5.87 over 15.2 innings in 2017.

Giles walked one and struck out one in a scoreless inning to register his 11th save in Wednesday's 3-0 win over the Marlins.

Giles has converted four straight save opportunities after picking up his first blown save of the season on May 5. Closing games for the team with the best record in the league should afford Giles plenty of save chances this season.