MLB Player News

Rays pitcher Matt Moore, returning from elbow surgery, threw a 25-pitch batting practice session before Sunday's game. 

Moore mixed fastballs, curves and changeups, per the Tampa Bay Times. He kept his velocity between 89 and 92 mph. 

Moore said that he "felt really good" and was "very happy to be around the zone."

The fine first start of the season for Athletics starter Drew Pomeranz is becoming more of a distant memory with every mediocre one.

Pomeranz added a fourth straight so-so effort Saturday in Texas. He again failed to make it through six innings, pitching 5 1/3 and surrendering three runs on eight hits with one walk and four strikeouts. He settled for a no-decision.

The lefty allowed just one run in the first after a single and double, but an RBI single by Adrian Beltre in the third and leadoff blast by Kyle Blanks in the sixth all but ended his night. He was lifted after throwing just 84 pitches.

Pomeranz, who has yielded 14 earned runs in his last 20 1/3 innings pitched, will try to reverse course Thursday in Minnesota.

The Athletics got one ball out of the infield in the seventh inning Saturday off Rangers heretofore sensational starter Nick Martinez. But it didn't matter. His victory was all but gone.

Martinez entered with a 3-1 lead, but an error set a disaster in motion. Brett Lawrie followed with a single to center, Mark Canha beat out an infield hit and Martinez hit Josh Phegley with a pitch to force in a run and his removal.

The right-hander watched as Oakland completed a six-run inning, but though his win was out the window, his teammates battled back for an improbable triumph.

Martinez finished having yielded five runs, but only two earned in six innings with no walks and two strikeouts. His ERA inched up to a still-brilliant 0.84. It marked the first time he has given up more than one earned run in five starts.

He will hope for better luck Thursday at Tampa Bay.

Astros pitcher Collin McHugh allowed four runs on six hits, including four home runs, in Houston's 11-4 win over the Mariners Saturday. 

McHugh's biggest rough patch came in the second inning when he allowed three solo shots to Nelson Cruz, Logan Morrison and Mike Zunino. Then in the sixth, Cruz got ahold of another one, his league-leading 13th of the season. But McHugh was able to limit the damage and add three strikeouts to his totals.

"It helps when your team scores 11," McHugh said per the Associated Press. "Our guys did an unbelievable job. Every time they threw a punch, our guys came back and counter-punched and even more. It makes it a little bit easier, breathe a little easier after the guys put you back on top."

McHugh, who moves to 4-0 with the win, moved his ERA to 3.41 and will look to keep rolling Thursday against the Angels.

Angels left-hander Hector Santiago was a little lucky in allowing 10 baserunners in his last start against Texas and allowing just one run in a no-decision.

His luck ran out Saturday against the Giants.

Santiago gave up nine hits and two walks in five innings. The result was four runs and a record that fell to 2-2. He fanned four along the way.

His trouble began in the second with three singles, including a two-run job for Nori Aoki. Santiago then surrendered a solo home run to Brandon Crawford in the fourth and run-scoring single to Casey McGehee in the fifth. A pinch-hitter in the sixth ended his afternoon.

Santiago will seek a bounce-back Thursday against Houston.

Yankees reliever Dellin Betances faced and struck out the final four Red Sox batters Saturday to earn his first save of the season.

Betances, the Yankees' setup man, filled in for usual closer Andrew Miller, who's pitched in four of the Yankees' last six games.

"I feel good, I feel comfortable," Betances said. "I feel like I'm going out there with a game plan and trying to make pitches."

"He's elite," Yankees catcher Brian McCann said. "He's the standard ... he's got two unbelievable pitches. No one wants to face him."

Rays starting pitcher Matt Moore will take an important step forward in his recovery from Tommy John surgery on Sunday when he faces live hitters for the first time since the procedure, the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Moore is now targeting a mid-June return to Tampa Bay's rotation based on his setback-free recovery thus far. Once he faces live hitters, he'll take part in batting practice/simulate games before starting a minor-league rehab assignment.

"It definitely feels more real now," Moore said. "In spring training it was one feeling, now it's more of a right-around-the-corner type feeling."

Closer Brad Boxberger struck out the side Friday to earn his fifth save of the season in the Rays' win over the Orioles.

Boxberger has now recorded 16 strikeouts in 10 1/3 innings this season.

Rays starter Alex Colome (1-0) made an impressive return from the 15-day disabled list on Friday, holding the Orioles scoreless in his five innings of work to earn the victory in his first start of the season.

Colome scattered three hits and struck out six in the win.

"This was a really nice day for me," Colome said. "[I had] control of my fastball, of all my pitches. I felt like I could throw one or two more innings, but in my first outing, they wanted to take care of me. It was important to have good location. Every day I work with my slider and my curveball."

Colome had been sidelined with an illness.

Colome's next start is scheduled for Wednesday in Boston.

Twins pitcher Tim Stauffer was placed on the 15-day disabled list Friday with a right intercostal strain. The move was retroactive to April 30.

To take his spot on the roster, the Twins recalled pitcher Ryan Pressly from Triple-A Rochester. Pressly went 0-2 with a 4.50 ERA in seven relief appearances for Rochester.