MLB Player News

Athletics reliever Fernando Rodriguez began his minor-league rehab assignment Thursday for Triple-A Sacramento as he recovers from Tommy John surgery.

Rodriguez pitched one scoreless inning, allowing one run and striking out one batter, while throwing  11 of 18 pitches for strikes.

It is not yet known how long he is expected to remain in the minors on his rehab assignment.

Yankees closer David Robertson got his first chance to step into Mariano Rivera's footprints Thursday, as he shut the door on the Astros in a 4-2 win.

Robertson worked an uneventful ninth inning to record his first save of the season. He retired the Astros in order on 13 pitches, striking out one batter to close out the win.

Robertson has proven to be a strong option late in games, but this is his first opportunity to pitch as a full-time closer. He posted a 2.04 ERA in 66 1/3 innings a year ago.

Twins reliever Brian Duensing has returned from paternity leave and will be activated before the Thursday game against the White Sox, per MLB.com.

Fellow pitcher Michael Tonkin, who was promoted from Triple-A Rochester to replace Duensing, will be sent back. He did not get into a game.

Angels pitcher Hector Santiago took the loss in Wednesday's season debut, giving up four earned runs on seven hits and three walks in five innings while striking out four in his team's 8-2 loss to the Mariners.

Santiago is in his first season with the Angels, and he turned in a decent spring before struggling in Wednesday's loss. He'll face the Mariners again Tuesday.

Indians closer John Axford secured his second save of the season Wednesday, striking out one in a perfect ninth inning in his team's 6-4 win over the A's.

Axford walked two in his first save but pitched better Wednesday, throwing eight of his 12 pitches for strikes. He struggled last season but recorded 81 saves between 2011 and 2012 and is capable of another quality season in the ninth inning.

Astros pitcher Josh Fields picked up the save in Wednesday's 3-1 win over the Yankees, striking out one and giving up no hits or walks in a scoreless ninth inning.

The Astros closing situation is expected to be handled by a committee, and it was Fields on the mound with the first save chance of the season. He gave up just one earned run in seven innings during the spring while striking out six and walking none.

Rays pitcher Matt Moore took the loss in his season debut, giving up two earned runs on six hits and three walks in 5 2/3 innings while striking out four in Wednesday's 3-0 loss to the Blue Jays.

Moore struggled with control issues last season en route to posting a 143:76 K:BB ratio in 150 1/3 innings, and it was more of the same in Wednesday's debut. He threw 60 of his 106 pitches for strikes in the loss. Moore will face the Royals in Kansas City Monday.

Athletics reliever Fernando Rodriguez will begin a rehab assignment Thursday at Triple-A Sacramento. He is recovering from Tommy John surgery.

Bob Melvin has stated that he expects Rodriguez to return to the big league team soon.

Though Bo Porter has declared a closer-by-committee approach for the Astros to start the season, one might glean from the Tuesday box score that early favorite Josh Fields has a leg up on the job.

Kevin Chapman, Chad Qualls and Matt Albers all pitched in the victory over the Yankees in non-save situations. Fields was held back, which indicates he will be first in line to close out games. Albers pitched the ninth, but since it was the season opener for Houston, it cannot be argued that he was merely getting his work in.

The Athletics have decided to push the regular-season debut of pitcher Jesse Chavez back to Thursday in the wake of Tuesday's rainout, MLB.com reports.

Chavez was originally scheduled to pitch Wednesday, but it appears Oakland will go with Tuesday's scheduled start Scott Kazmir and a minor-league pitcher in Wednesday's doubleheader. Pushing Chavez back a day means he'll face the Mariners at home on Thursday, while the rest of the team's rotation will also move back a day to accommodate the rainout.