MLB Player News

Crochet (shoulder) was able to play catch Sunday for the first time since landing on the injured list Wednesday, Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reports.

The Red Sox plan to proceed cautiously with Crochet while he works his way through left shoulder inflammation, but the club is optimistic that it caught the injury before it became a greater concern. For his part, Crochet believes that he'll be ready to return from the IL when first eligible May 12, but the two-time All-Star still has a few more checkpoints to hit in his recovery before rejoining the rotation.

Erceg earned the save in Saturday's 3-2 extra-inning win over the Mariners, striking out two in a perfect 10th inning.

Erceg was called in after the Royals took the lead in the top of the 10th inning and slammed the door on 17 pitches. It marked back-to-back clean appearances for the 31-year-old, who has now gone six straight outings without allowing an earned run. On the year, he's 9-for-11 in save chances with a 3.77 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 13:10 K:BB across 14.1 innings.

Munoz blew the save in Saturday's 3-2 extra-inning loss to the Royals, allowing one unearned run on two hits and no walks with one strikeout in the ninth inning.

Munoz was called upon to protect a one-run lead in the ninth but gave up a run on a one-out single that was uncharacteristically misplayed by Julio Rodriguez. It continued what has been a somewhat rocky start for the top-tier closer, though the appearance actually lowered Munoz's season ERA from 6.00 to 5.54. Overall, he's 6-for-8 in save chances while also posting a 1.38 WHIP and 21:6 K:BB across 13 innings in the early going.

Dominguez earned the save in Saturday's 4-0 win over the Padres, striking out one and retiring both batters he faced in the ninth inning.

Dominguez entered with a four-run lead and the bases loaded after Grant Taylor struggled to open the ninth inning, and the former slammed the door on just six pitches. Since blowing a save April 16, the 31-year-old has converted five straight opportunities while keeping opponents off the board in seven of eight outings during that span. For the year, he's 8-for-10 in save chances with a 3.95 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 17:9 K:BB across 13.2 innings.

Holton will serve as the Tigers' opening pitcher for Sunday's against the Rangers, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.

Manager A.J. Hinch has already indicated that Detroit plans to treat Sunday as a bullpen day, so Holton is likely to cover an inning or two before the Tigers turn to a cadre of relievers to finish out the contest. The lefty has made 13 appearances this season, registering a 5.54 ERA, 1.92 WHIP and 9:8 K:BB across 13 innings.

Scholtens (3-1) earned the win against the Giants on Saturday, allowing one run on four hits while striking out three across three innings. He did not issue a walk.

For a second consecutive game, Griffin Jax served as the Rays' opener while Scholtens followed. Jax set up Scholtens for success after tossing 2.2 scoreless innings, and the latter was effective on the mound himself, with his lone blemish coming in the sixth inning after he yielded an RBI double to Rafael Devers. Following Saturday's outing, Scholtens sits at a 3.18 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 17:6 K:BB across 22.2 innings. He's lined up to face the Red Sox on the road next week, and it wouldn't be surprising to see Jax serve as the opener for that contest.

Jax did not factor into the decision in Saturday's game against the Giants. He allowed one hit and one walk while striking out two across 2.2 scoreless innings.

Just like he did against the Twins last Sunday, Jax was effective as the Rays' opener Saturday, tossing 29 strikes on 45 pitches while generating eight whiffs. That set up Jesse Scholtens to take over in the third, and he proceeded to earn the victory after allowing just one run over three innings' work. The Jax/Scholtens duo seems to be working for the Rays this season, so it wouldn't be surprising to see Tampa Bay roll with that combo again next week on the road against the Red Sox. Over his last seven games, Jax has posted a 3.00 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 11:6 K:BB across nine innings.

Lopez (2-2) took the loss Saturday as the A's were routed 14-6 by the Guardians, coughing up six runs on eight hits and a walk over 5.1 innings. He struck out five.

Half of the hits off Lopez went for extra bases, including homers by the light-hitting Austin Hedges in the third inning and David Fry in the sixth. Lopez hadn't made a start since April 21, making only a one-inning relief appearance in between, but the extra rest didn't help the southpaw find his form. He'll carry a 6.60 ERA, 1.90 WHIP and 23:22 K:BB through 30 innings into his next outing -- if he doesn't have his turn in the rotation skipped again, it's scheduled to come on the road next weekend in Baltimore.

Bolton will serve as the Astros' starter for Sunday's series finale against the Red Sox, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Bolton was activated from the 15-day injured list Thursday and pitched out of the bullpen later that day against the Orioles, allowing one run on one hit and one walk in one inning. He's previously started on two occasions for Houston this season, maxing out at 4.1 innings between those outings. With that in mind and because he's pitching on two days' rest, Bolton is unlikely to work deep enough into Sunday's contest to qualify for a win, though he should offer the Astros more length than a typical opening pitcher.

The Mariners optioned Simpson to Triple-A Tacoma on Saturday, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.

The Mariners recalled Simpson from Triple-A on Friday, but he'll now be sent back to the minors a day later without appearing in a game for Seattle. Nick Davila was selected from Double-A Arkansas in a corresponding move.