MLB Player News

Loup will serve as the Jays' primary left-hander out of the bullpen until J.P. Howell (shoulder) returns from the 10-day DL, Gregor Chisholm of MLB.com reports.

Howell's placement on the DL was retroactive to his last appearance on April 7, meaning he'll be eligible to return on April 18. In the meantime, Loup should have a chance to pick up a couple holds in Howell's stead. Through three games (2.2 innings), Loup has allowed one run on five hits and one walk while notching six strikeouts.

Diekman (abdomen) underwent surgery on his colon Tuesday and is recovering well, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reports.

This second operation was expected to occur sometime during April, and it seems at this time like everything went off without a hitch. As long as no extraneous circumstances occur, Diekman is still slated to return to action sometime around the All-Star break.

Colome credits his cutter as one of the primary reasons for his success as a closer over the last few years, Bill Chastain of MLB.com reports.

In July 2015, a struggling Colome was booted from the Rays' starting rotation to the bullpen, a move that would initiate a makeover of the hard-throwing right-hander's career. The 28-year-old posted an 0.29 ERA over 21 relief appearances over a two-month period late that season and then became the closer at the beginning of 2016 after Brad Boxberger began the season on the disabled list. He's never looked back, and a pared-down arsenal that now mainly consists of a fastball and cutter has been key to his success. Colome actually shows a preference for the latter, which was taught to him by roving pitching instructor Dick Bosman. The Rays closer has used the pitch 44 percent of the time since the beginning of last season and has the fourth-lowest BAA in the majors over that span when his cutter has been put in play. Colome has also notched a majors-best 25 percent swinging strike rate when deploying it, helping him quickly rise in stature as one of the most effective ninth-inning options in baseball. "Maybe our confidence has grown for good reason, because he's been so successful," manager Kevin Cash said. "Every time he's out, it's a pretty calming effect on the dugout and the players that are playing out there. He's just got a tremendous demeanor."

Kelly (illness) allowed one walk in a scoreless ninth inning in Boston's 8-1 win over Baltimore on Tuesday.

Kelly, like several others in Boston's clubhouse, had been feeling the effects of the flu. Tuesday's performance was his first since last Friday. He's now firmly behind Matt Barnes in terms of the eighth-inning role and needs to post a few scoreless outings to get back in the good graces of manager John Farrell.

Giles allowed two runs on two walks, a double and a wild pitch over one inning in a non-save situation in Tuesday's 7-5 win over Seattle.

Giles has allowed multiple runs in two straight appearances, both coming in non-save situations. This sometimes happens with closers, as the same adrenaline they feel when the game is on the line isn't quite there in non-save situations. When Giles starts blowing saves, that's when we should start to worry.

Pomeranz (1-0) tossed six innings of one-run ball en route to a victory Tuesday against the Orioles, allowing four hits and one walk with six strikeouts.

Pomeranz was fresh off the disabled list after recovering from a forearm injury but showed no lingering effects of the ailment in limiting a strong Baltimore offense. He worked efficiently and needed just 91 pitches to make it through six-plus frames, with the only run on his ledger coming on an RBI groundout after he had already exited the game in the seventh. Boston will look to Pomeranz as a solid arm in the middle of the rotation this season and he'll look to build on an impressive debut Sunday against the Rays.

Layne has a 3.86 ERA, two strikeouts and a hold through four appearances so far this season.

The Yankees have only played seven games thus far, so it appears they plan on calling Layne's number frequently. He's only pitched 2.1 innings in those four appearances though, and each time he came in with a left-handed hitter due up first. While he's capable of getting out righties as well, it seems as though he'll mostly be deployed as a lefty specialist, thereby limiting much of his fantasy value to his ability to rack up holds.

Chapman has pitched twice in the team's opening seven games, tallying four strikeouts over two innings.

The Yankees haven't found themselves in a save situation yet, so Chapman hasn't been able to get on the board in that category. He's still been extremely effective when called upon though, tossing 20 of 26 pitches for strikes in a pair of perfect appearances. He's arguably the top closer in all of baseball, so the only thing that could hold back the left-handed flamethrower this season will be if the youth-focused Yankees don't put the 29-year-old in enough save situations.

Shaw picked up the win by recording the final two outs, one via strikeout, in Tuesday's 10-inning victory over the White Sox.

The 29-year-old has now recorded a win, save and hold through his first four appearances of 2017. It's a much better start for Shaw than last season's nine runs on eight hits allowed through four games. It's extremely early, but he's been much more efficient at this juncture of the campaign than he was a year ago.

The Tigers were prepared to rest Wilson on Tuesday, but he ended up pitching a scoreless inning in the win over the Twins, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.

Tigers manager Brad Ausmus was prepared to give Wilson the day off, but the lefty said before the game he was good to go. Wilson has now pitched in four of the team's last five games, and he credited better conditioning for allowing him to pitch more frequently. He should be a good source of holds, and occasionally wins and saves, this season.