MLB Player News

Orioles pitcher Ryan Webb picked up a win Saturday, pitching a scoreless 10th inning and striking out two in his team's 5-4 win over the Astros.

Webb (2-0) has picked up two wins over the last four days while putting together three scoreless outings. He owns a 4.20 ERA and 14:5 K:BB ratio in 15 innings.

Astros pitcher Anthony Bass couldn't convert a save opportunity in the ninth inning Saturday, giving up one run on three hits and a walk in his team's 5-4 loss to the Orioles.

Bass has been shaky lately, surrendering runs in five of his last seven innings. He owns a 4.50 ERA and 4:5 K:BB ratio in 18 innings.

Astros pitcher Collin McHugh didn't factor into the decision Saturday after giving up two earned runs on seven hits and two walks in 6 1/3 innings and striking out four in his team's 5-4 loss to the Orioles.

McHugh made it through five scoreless innings before serving up a sixth-inning solo home run. The Orioles were able to tack on another run on a wild pitch in the seventh inning to even the game at 2-2. McHugh has performed very well in three of his four starts en route to a 2.81 ERA and 27:6 K:BB ratio in 25 2/3 innings. He's scheduled to face the White Sox Friday.

The Indians have removed pitcher John Axford from the closer role, the team announced Saturday.

Manager Tito Francona said the goal is to get him back into the ninth inning after he pitches in less-stressful situations earlier in games. He is 1-3 with a 4.91 ERA and 15:13 K:BB ratio in 14 2/3 innings. The Indians haven't named a replacement, but Cody Allen, Scott Atchison, Marc Rzepczynski and Bryan Shaw could get save opportunities.

Yankees starting pitcher David Robertson had enough of a cushion to make up for one mistake Friday, as he closed out a 5-3 win over the Brewers.

Robertson was mostly untouchable in the ninth inning, but he made one mistake pitch to Mark Reynolds, who deposited into the right field seats for a solo home run. Otherwise, he struck out the side on 19 pitches for his sixth save of the season.

Robertson is 6 for 6 on save opportunities this season, with a 2.00 ERA in nine innings of work. 

Indians closer John Axford set down the first two batters he faced Friday against the Rays, but needed help to end the inning in a 6-3 win.

Axford came apart after striking the first two hitters out. He allowed a pair of doubles and a pair of walks before leaving with the bases loaded and two outs in the inning. Cody Allen came in and finished it off, after Axford threw 31 pitches in the inning.

Axford wasn't pitching in a save situation, but was shaky for the third time in four trips to the mound. He now has a 4.91 ERA to go with his nine saves in 11 chances.

Mariners starting pitcher Brandon Maurer took one for the team Friday, pitching into the eighth inning despite being hit hard in a 6-1 loss to the Royals.

Maurer pitched a season-high 7 1/3 innings, his first time pitching past the fifth in four starts. He allowed six runs -- four earned -- while the Royals tagged him for 14 hits. He had no strikeouts or walks on 97 pitches in the loss, his first of the season.

Maurer dropped to 1-1 with the start, while his ERA actually fell slightly, to 6.20. He has allowed 29 hits in 20 1/3 innings heading into his next start, scheduled for Wednesday against the Rays.  

Athletics pitcher Drew Pomeranz was a logical choice to step into the rotation following Dan Straily's demotion, and manager Bob Melvin confirmed as much Friday.

"He has pitched his way into this role," Melvin told MLB.com. "It's difficult to be that long guy, too, when you're not getting regular work. But each and every time we've called on him, he's done a good job for us, and certainly in a starting role, as we saw the day before yesterday."

Pomeranz impressed in a brief starting opportunity Wednesday, as he tossed five shutout innings in a doubleheader against the Mariners. He now has a 1.45 ERA with 16 strikeouts and only six walks in 18 2/3 innings of work on the season.

Pomeranz will likely make his next start Monday against the White Sox. 

A surprisingly effective stint in the bullpen, strong start Wednesday and demotion of Dan Straily have likely combined to open up a permanent rotation spot for Athletics left-hander Drew Pomeranz, per the San Francisco Chronicle.

The 25-year-old Pomeranz, who yielded two hits and fanned five in five shutout innings against Seattle, is 2-1 with a 1.45 ERA this season. He has developed far better control, walking six in 18 2/3 innings after allowing 19 in 21 2/3 innings a year ago.

The Athletics have promoted right-hander Fernando Rodriguez and lefty Joe Savery from Triple-A Sacramento.

The former had been sent down in late April. The latter has not pitched for Oakland this season, but did perform well in 18 appearances with Philadelphia in 2013.