MLB Player News

Orioles reliever Pedro Strop came off the disabled list Saturday and was immediately put into the ballgame at Tampa Bay. Strop gave up a hit in a scoreless inning and had two strikeouts now that he's back from his back injury. Manager Buck Showalter said it was good to see, MLB.com reports. 

"There’s a lot of things you work on, and when they’re healthy to do it, and if he can just repeat it. Sometimes the emotions get in the way of the mechanics," Showalter said. "It was a good first step for him. I know he felt good about it. Was a positive out of the game yesterday. It’s not like Pete hasn’t pitched any good innings out of the bullpen for us this year, it’s just he hasn’t been as consistent as he was last year. That’s a good start. We will see where it takes us."

The Orioles activated Pedro Strop off the disabled list and placed him back in the bullpen, MLB.com reports. Strop was out with a back injury. 

The reliever is 0-2 this season with an ugly 6.11 ERA over 22 appearances. He went 5-2 with a 2.44 ERA last year over 70 appearances. 

Rays closer Fernando Rodney continues to put his slow start behind him, as he saved his fourth game in a row Friday against the Orioles.

Rodney tossed a perfect ninth to preserve a 2-1 win.  He struck out two batters and needed just nine pitches to finish off his 13th save of the season. 

Rodney has allowed just one hit in 6 1/3 innings since his last blown save, May 25. 

Blue Jays pitcher Esmil Rogers pitched well Friday in a spot start against the Rangers. 

Rogers was limited to just 73 pitches as a result of spending most of the season as a reliever, but he pitched well. Rogers held the Rangers to just one run in four innings of work, but he did not last long enough to earn the win in a 6-1 game.

Rogers struck out six batters and walked just one, while surrendering three hits, all of them singles. He lowered his ERA to 3.60, and he has allowed just one run in 7 1/3 innings in two starts.

It is not clear if Rogers will make another start moving forward, or if he will return to the bullpen. 

The White Sox expect Hector Santiago to remain in Jake Peavy's spot in the rotation for the foreseeable future, as pitching coach Don Cooper told ESPN.com Friday.

"I made out the schedule and he's going to be in there for a while,” Cooper, said. "And you know, listen, he's done a good job for us. 'Hey, take these 10 days and pitch twice, go back to the bullpen, stay out there for 10 days, go back out and start.' You don't want to do that, but sometimes it's out of necessity."

Santiago has made five starts this season, with a 2.96 ERA. He could spend up to six weeks in the rotation while Peavy recovers from a rib fracture, and the team does not expect a major drop in production. 

"We're comfortable with him starting, for sure," Cooper said. "And we'll see how it goes from there, but yeah, he’s penciled in."

Orioles reliever Pedro Strop threw an indoor bullpen session Friday at the team's spring training complex, and appears nearly ready to return from a back injury.

Manager Buck Showalter told MASNSports.com the team is considering activating Strop from the disabled list Saturday against the Rays, the first day he is eligible. 

Orioles reliever Pedro Strop (back) continues to make progress, as he threw 25 pitches in a simulated inning Thursday in Sarasota. Strop is on track to be activated from the disabled list prior to Saturday's game against the Rays at Tropicana Field, according to the Baltimore Sun.

Rays closer Fernando Rodney gave up a hit and a walk in the ninth inning Wednesday night in Detroit. He held on to close out the 3-0 win for his 12th save. 

Rodney struck out two batters in the inning after Tampa Bay scored three times in the top of the ninth. Rodney has gone 12 for 17 in save situations this season, but hasn't blown a save now in his last six appearances and three save chances. His ERA is at 4.74. 

Hector Santiago will join the White Sox rotation in the wake of Jake Peavy's rib injury, MLB.com reports.

Peavy suffered a rib injury in Tuesday's start and will miss 4-6 weeks. Santiago will retake his spot for at least Sunday's turn. Given his success this season -- he owns a 2.96 ERA and 31 strikeouts in 27 1/3 innings -- Santiago will likely stay in the rotation until Peavy is ready to return.

Contrary to prior reports, White Sox pitcher Hector Santiago is merely the contingency plan for Sunday's game against Oakland if Jake Peavy can't make the start due to a rib injury, ESPN Chicago reports Wednesday.

Santiago is lined up to make the start Sunday just in case, so don't expect him to make any appearances out of the bullpen until results from Peavy's MRI come back.