MLB Player News

Rays pitcher Matt Moore is scheduled to throw 35 to 40 pitches in two innings of work during an extended spring training game on Saturday, the Tampa Tribune reports.

Moore had no issues after Wednesday's bullpen session, putting him line to take the next step on Saturday. He was limited to just two starts last season before undergoing Tommy John surgery.

Athletics pitcher Jesse Chavez gave up three earned runs during Thursday night's 3-0 loss to the Rays. 

Chavez allowed one in the fourth and two in the seventh before being pulled. He struck out six batters, walked one and gave up five hits in six innings. He now has a 2.89 ERA for the season. 

Chavez has struck out 23 batters in his last four starts. 

His next start is projected for May 26 against the Tigers. 

Rays pitcher Brad Boxberger earned his 12th save of the season in Thursday's 3-0 win over the Athletics. 

Boxberger gave up two hits but was able to get out of the jam without allowing a run. This is Boxberger's seventh consecutive converted save opportunity. 

Boxberger now has a 1.13 ERA for the season. 

Rays pitcher Alex Colome put in five scoreless innings of work in Thursday night's 3-0 win over the Athletics. 

Colome had a solid day on the mound, striking out three batters and walking one. He gave up four hits. This was a much better outing than Colome's previous two games, which saw him give up 11 combined earned runs.

"Can't say enough about Alex Colome, what he provided tonight," manager Kevin Cash said after the game, per MLB.com. "Kind of a bounce-back start for him. Really did a nice job of controlling the hitters."

Colome now has a 4.81 ERA for the season.

"Like a two-ball, one-strike [count], and I have to come in the middle and they got the chance to swing the bat," Colome said about being behind the hitter in his last start. "But tonight I'm attacking the zone. Throwing strikes, making my pitches. Nothing today any different. The only thing I did was be a little more aggressive, and more attacking the zone."

Colome's next start is projected for May 26 against the Mariners. 

Athletics left-handed starter Drew Pomeranz, who has been placed on the disabled list as expected with a shoulder issue, has received a cortisone shot and will resume throwing next week, per the San Francisco Chronicle.

The hope is that the shot will calm the inflammation that has prevented Pomeranz from going deep into games, which has become a greater concern given the struggles of his team's bullpen.

Pomeranz has pitched more than 5 1/3 innings only twice in eight outings, both of which were quality starts, and owns a 4.40 ERA.

Mariners pitcher J.A. Happ was only able to pitch two innings during Thursday afternoon's 5-4 loss against the Orioles due to rain. 

A two-hour delay ended Happ's day on the mound and forced the Mariners to go through six pitchers. However, Happ may have been pulled anyway because in those two innings he allowed four earned runs on four hits. He struck out three batters and walked two others. 

Happ now has a 3.61 ERA for the season. This performance came after two consecutive games where he only allowed one earned run in each. 

With the game tied at 4-4 in the bottom of the eighth inning, Danny Farquhar entered the game and surrendered an RBI single to J.J. Hardy. This would prove to be Baltimore's winning run for the game. Farquhar is now 0-3 with a 5.48 ERA this season. 

For Happ, his next start is projected for May 26 against the Rays. 

Astros pitcher Josh Fields was forced out of Thursday's contest against the Tigers after taking a line drive off the leg in the bottom of the ninth inning. Fields limped off the field and was escorted by team trainers to the locker room after pitching just one-third of an inning. He was replaced by Will Harris with a runner on first base in the bottom of the ninth.

Fields was diagnosed with a bruised right leg after undergoing an X-ray after the game. His status for the remainder of this weekend's series at Detroit remains uncertain.

Rays manager Kevin Cash told reporters it was "all thumbs up" after Matt Moore completed his recent bullpen session on Wednesday, per the Tampa Bay Times.

Moore, who is currently on the 60-day DL working his way back from Tommy John surgery, could pitch a simulated game or move to an extended spring game on Saturday. Cash will determine his next step on Thursday, as Moore nears a minor-league rehab stint.

Red Sox pitcher Joe Kelly allowed two runs on seven hits in seven innings of work in Boston's 2-1 loss to the Rangers on Wednesday.

"I made some pitches when I had to and had command of my heater," Kelly said after the game, per the Boston Herald. "We played some good defense tonight, but it’s baseball and we lost, 2-1. That guy over there pitched a good game and sometimes you just have to tip your hat."

Kelly allowed two consecutive singles in the second, putting runners on first and third. Elvis Andrus produced a sacrifice fly to score the first run. Then in the third, Robinson Chirinos blasted a solo home run to center field. 

"Fastball command pretty much nails it down," Kelly said of the key to his success. "Getting ahead of hitters and locating the pitch where I want to locate it. I didn’t really have any off-speed tonight. I went out there with just one pitch and I tried to locate it as best I can to get out of it."

Kelly, who also struck out seven and walked just one, moved his ERA to 5.13 in 47 1/3 innings of work. Kelly, now 1-3, will look to get back on track Monday against the Twins. 

Mariners closer Fernando Rodney surrendered one earned run on three hits but struck out two and earned his 10th save in his team's 4-2 win over the Orioles on Wednesday.

Rodney has surrendered runs in four of his last five appearances, including three straight, but he's managed three saves during that stretch and just one loss. His recent string of earned runs has given the closer a 5.87 ERA and 16:8 K:BB ratio in 15 1/3 innings.