MLB Player News

Rangers pitcher Nick Martinez tweaked a muscle in his upper back and is not certain to make his scheduled Tuesday start against the Astros, reports the Dallas Morning News. Martinez suffered the injury taking batting practice for a start against the Mets he didn't end up making.

He's 1-6 with a 5.10 ERA in 16 appearances, including 11 starts.

Angels starting pitcher Hector Santiago escaped a rough outing Saturday night against the Astros with a no-decision. The left-hander was shelled for five runs on six hits and three walks while striking out seven over five innings of an 11-5 defeat.

Santiago owns a 4.50 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP over 58 innings of work this season. He will make his next start Friday at Texas.

Astros reliever Anthony Bass took the loss Saturday night against the Angels in Anaheim.

Bass served up homers to David Freese and Albert Pujols in the seventh inning to blow a three-run advantage. He was charged with four runs on four hits and no walks while striking out one over two-thirds of an inning in an 11-5 defeat. He owns a 6.20 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP over 20 1/3 innings of relief.

The Rangers have made a change to the rotation, swapping Miles Mikolas and Nick Martinez in the team's upcoming series against the Astros, MLB.com reports.

Mikolas has been moved up to Monday so that he can pitch on four days' rest after turning in a solid effort Wednesday. Martinez, who was initially scheduled to pitch Sunday before getting pushed back a day, moves back another day to pitch Tuesday.

Athletics pitcher Jesse Chavez will stay in the rotation as the fifth starter, edging out Brad Mills, who will move to the bullpen for now, Comcast SportsNet Bay Area reports Saturday.

The A's acquired starters Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel via trade on Friday. Chavez will make his next scheduled start on Monday against San Francisco.

Mariners closer Fernando Rodney earned his 25th save Saturday, striking out one in a 1-2-3 14th inning to finish off his team's 3-2 win over the White Sox.

Rodney has delivered three straight perfect outings, and he hasn't blown a save opportunity sine May 13, converting 14 straight opportunities. He owns a 2.10 ERA and 39:11 K:BB ratio in 34 1/3 innings.

White Sox pitcher Zach Putnam was charged with a blown save Saturday after giving up one earned run on three hits in one inning of action in his team's 3-2, 14-inning loss to the Mariners.

Putnam wasn't brought in to start the ninth inning with his team up 2-0, but he was quickly summoned after the leadoff batter drew a walk. After giving up a hit to the first batter he faced, he was able to record the first out of the inning but saw the inherited runner score when the next batter delivered a sacrifice fly. The Mariners managed consecutive two-out singles to tie the game before Putnam escaped the inning. After taking his first blown save, Putnam owns a 2.41 ERA and 27:12 K:BB ratio in 33 2/3 innings.

Twins pitcher Yohan Pino didn't factor into Saturday's decision, giving up one earned run on three hits and two walks in six innings while striking out three in his team's 2-1 win over the Yankees.

Pino was able to hold the Yankees to one hit over four scoreless innings before beginning the fifth with a walk. After a fielder's choice and a strikeout put two outs on the board, the runner on base was able to steal second and take third on a wild pitch before coming home on a single, scoring the only run allowed by the starter. Pino owns a 4.98 ERA and 15:5 K:BB ratio in 21 2/3 innings after delivering his best start of the season Saturday. He's slated to face the Mariners Thursday.

The extra roster spot for Game 2 of the Saturday doubleheader for the Red Sox will be taken by lefty reliever Tommy Layne, who has been promoted from Triple-A Pawtucket.

Layne has been lights-out at that level with a 5-1 record and 1.50 ERA. He has fanned 46 in 41 2/3 innings.

Yankees pitcher David Robertson didn't have much of a cushion Friday, as he closed out a 6-5 win over the Twins.

Robertson struck out the first two batters he faced, but ran into trouble after allowing a two-out double to Kurt Suzuki. With the tying run in scoring position, however, he sat Chris Parmelee down looking on strikes to end the game.

Roberts is now 20 for 22 on save tries this season, with a 2.73 ERA and 1.01 WHIP in 29 2/3 innings.