MLB Player News

Dellin Betances will make his first back-to-back appearances of the spring on Tuesday and Wednesday. 

Betances is competing with Andrew Miller to become the Yankees' closer.  

"It'll be nice to go back to back, get out there," Betances said per MLB.com's Bryan Hoch. "I'm starting to feel stronger. Every time out, I feel a little stronger."

Athletics pitcher Jesse Chavez is leaving camp Monday for the birth of his third daughter, MLB.com reports. He'll return Wednesday to make his scheduled start against the Brewers.

Orioles pitcher Ryan Webb gave up one hit in a scoreless inning of work Saturday in his first action in March 6. Webb had been rehabbing from a left knee injury.

Coming off of a successful year in 2014, White Sox pitcher Zach Putnam has struggled in spring training, per MLB.com.

Putnam is looking to wrap up a spot on the team's bullpen roster for 2015. He finished last year with an ERA of 1.98 in 54 2/3 innings pitched. This spring has been different, as he has had a rough go of it with an ERA of 19.64 in only three innings pitched.

Manager Don Cooper is looking at the bigger picture.

"You never should go on Spring Training, good or bad," Cooper said. "For three or four innings, are we throwing out the [54 2/3] he got last year? That's silly.

"He's not where we want him to be. He's close. But it would be nice to see him go out there and have a couple of innings where he puts it all together. He's putting it together for hitters, but not for a full inning just yet."

Coming into spring training it appeared that Putnam would be a lock for a bullpen spot. His objectives have not changed as he battles to earn the role.

"Whether I'm in a position where I am in this year or a position like I have been in previous Spring Trainings, the objective is the same: Go out there and get guys out and prove to these guys that I'm the man for the job, whatever job that may be," Putnam said. "Whatever happens will happen.

"Nobody is bigger than the game. This is the ultimate humbler I guess, so coming off a good season last year, that stuff is in the past. Right now for us and guys who are struggling a little bit statistically, just put that stuff out of your mind and just focus on what you're doing, focus on your craft, which is what we're all just trying to do right now."

Indians pitcher Bryan Shaw struggled to keep his pitches down Saturday, allowing two home runs in the eighth inning. He has now allowed 12 runs on 12 hits in 4 2/3 innings of work.

"He's just up [in the zone]," manager Terry Francona said. "He's trying to get it down and, as we get further into the spring and he gets it further down, he'll be fine. He's just not there yet. The ball is coming out really good. He's just not driving it down, yet. He will."

Twins pitcher Trevor May threw four no-hit innings in Saturday's game against the Rays. May, who also did not allow a run, threw 30 of 42 pitches for strikes Saturday. May is being considered for Minnesota's fifth spot in the starting rotation.

"I felt good going in and I felt like I could locate all of my pitches pretty well, so I just kind of stayed with the program there, to build off my last time out," May said. "Just kind of fill up the zone and make them beat me. Try to establish both sides of the plate and work off that."

The Rangers are talking to the Marlins about a trade involving a pitcher, two sources told The Dallas Morning News.

The Marlins have a pair of left-handed pitchers -- Mike Dunn and Brad Hand -- available in a trade, according to the report. The Rangers are looking for a left-handed reliever that can pitch multiple innings.

The Marlins had had multiple scouts in Rangers’ camp Friday.

Red Sox starting pitcher Joe Kelly will not make his scheduled spring start Sunday against the Phillies, according to the Providence Journal. He will instead throw a side session.

Kelly left his last spring start Monday against the Mets due to biceps tightness. Kelly is 1-0 with an 11.05 ERA in three spring starts.

Kelly added he had no setback and is on track to make a start Friday against the Braves, per The Boston Globe. Kelly expects to be ready for the start of the season.

The Twins optioned pitcher Ryan Pressly to Triple-A Rochester on Saturday, per the Pioneer Press. Pressly posted an 8.31 ERA in four relief appearances this spring.

The Twins options pitcher Michael Tonkin to Rochester after he gave up a run in one inning on Friday. 

Tonkin had a 6.75 ERA for the Twins this spring. 

"He needs to become more efficient with his secondary pitches," manager Paul Molitor said, per MLB.com's Rhett Bollinger. "It seems to me he gets into trouble because people are looking for that fastball pretty much. They're going to get one at some point, so that secondary pitch has to get better to not just get ahead but to finish. He's got enough life on his fastball, but it gets a little predictable at times."