MLB Player News

Athletics pitcher Jesse Chavez put together a gem for his first win of the season Tuesday night against Minnesota.

Chavez tossed seven scoreless innings before leaving the game with a runner on base. Evan Scribner permitted a run-scoring single to Brian Dozier in the eighth inning, which was charged to Chavez. Chavez surrendered one unearned run on four hits and one walk while striking out seven over 7 1/3 innings of a 2-1 victory. Of his 87 pitches, 58 were strikes.

Chavez lowered his ERA from 2.55 to 1.80 after his third start of the season. He will make his next start Sunday in Seattle.

The Royals activated closer Greg Holland from the 15-day disabled list following Tuesday's win over the Indians, per MLB.com. In a corresponding move, the team optioned Yohan Pino down to Triple-A Omaha.

White Sox closer David Robertson needed 13 pitches (10 strikes) to close out a 5-2 victory over the Tigers on Tuesday. Roberston allowed Yoenis Cespedes on base due to an error by second baseman Micah Johnson. He retired the next three batters he face to secure his fourth save of the season.

Robertson has not allowed a run over his first 10 innings pitched.

Yankees reliever Dellin Betances, who has pitched three out of the last four games, will not be available out of the bullpen Tuesday night against the Blue Jays, per the Journal News. Betances has not permitted an earned run through 15 1/3 innings of relief this season.

Mariners closer Fernando Rodney gave up a home run in the ninth inning Monday but was able to finish off his team's 3-2 win over the Angels for his eighth save.

Rodney retired the first batter he faced in the ninth inning but then served up a homer to center field to bring the Angels within one. After another out, the closer put a man on base with a walk, but catcher Mike Zunino was able to throw out a pinch-runner on a steal attempt to finish the game.

Rodney owns a 5.56 ERA and 11:7 K:BB ratio in 11 1/3 innings.

The Yankees bullpen has been outstanding all season but showed some weakness Monday as relievers Chris Martin and Dellin Betances allowed three runs on four hits in the eighth inning against the Blue Jays in an eventual loss, reports NJ.com. 

"It's a lot of innings they've had to log," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said after the loss. "We've had a couple long stretches that are not helping."

Starting pitcher Joe Kelly struggled once again for the Red Sox during Sunday night’s 8-5 loss to the Yankees, with home runs being the primary concern.

Kelly lasted just 4 2/3 innings, allowing nine runs on five hits, including a first-inning homer to the Yanks’ Mark Teixeira. It’s the fourth straight non-quality start for Kelly, who only managed to strike out three batters. 

In losing his first career game against the Yankees in four starts, Kelly drops to 1-1 and his ERA rises to 5.72. 

Mariners rookie relief pitcher Carson Smith had gotten off to a fantastic start, not allowing a run in his first 19 1/3 appearances in the majors, but he finally picked up a blemish on his ledger Sunday, allowing a home run to Houston's Evan Gattis.

Smith had pitched in 20 straight scorless games to start his career, the third-longest streak in MLB history. But Gattis' home run sent the Mariners to their fourth straight defeat. 

"It's baseball," Smith told MLB.com. "You give up hard-hit balls and get outs and you can give up soft-hit balls and get hits. That's the way it works. Today it didn't work out in my favor. I'll learn from it and move forward."

The Twins are working without a dedicated long reliever. Tim Stauffer is on the 15-day disabled list, and the team decided to send Tommy Milone to Triple-A so he could remain a starter, instead of sending him to the bullpen. 

Manager Paul Molitor said he'd mix and match pitchers in long-relief situations. Aaron Thompson got the first call, going 2 1/3 innings on Saturday. Ryan Pressly is probably next. 

Pressly was promoted from Triple-A on Friday. 

"Pressly is probably one of the longer guys I could use in a game right now, but it could change day to day," Molitor said, per MLB.com. 

"It's all fine by me," Pressly said. "I just want to pitch and prove to them I've made some tweaks, and I'm not the same reliever that was all over the place in Spring Training. I just have to take the opportunity and run with it."

White Sox closer David Robertson hasn't pitched since last Sunday. With an off day scheduled for Monday, manager Robin Ventura said that Robertson could go two full innings for the team, if needed on Sunday, per the Chicago Sun Times.